like, i'm chris! >> inside the white house with someone who knows the president better than just about anybody else -- the first brother-in-law. what do you call the president? >> oh, when i see him i call him barack or president obama or mr. president. the best one is that guy who goes to his left all the time on the basketball court. >> michelle obama's brother, craig robinson. this is "piers morgan tonight." google chris culver and you'll get more than 2.5 million results. he's an overnight sensation and has millions of fans across the country hanging on his every word. i will be, too. >> awesome. great. thank you. >> i don't know why i do this to myself. there you are, the cover. >> yes. >> which has eluded me so far. >> it's coming. >> two copies of hollywood reporter. this year alone. there you are on both of them. and then this one, which absolutely -- i've got to be honest -- sickens me. i have spent 46 years in journalism, in broadcasting. desperate to get on the top 100 of "time" magazine's most influential people. >> there i am. >> there you are, first shout. you're not even inside. you're on the cover under the banner. >> right under the -- yeah. >> the most prominent head on the whole damn thing. >> right on my forehead. >> how old are you? >> i am turn 2g 1 in two weeks. >> this is ridiculous. how did you do this? >> i have an fastic publicity team. but, i mean --? >> when you think of "time" magazine, i mean, you weren't doing anything before you got this job, were you? >> no. i was just a student and i was in high school a few months before i got the show, then i was in college for two weeks when i officially got it. i was working at a dry cleaners in the summers. >> earning how much? make it even more annoying. >> at the dry cleaners i was making, i think, $7.25 an hour. i think that was minimum wage at the time. >> $7.25 an hour. >> yes. >> at a dry cleaners. >> yes. >> when you get a call saying are you available to be the heartthrob star of the biggest tv show in america? >> well, i wish it was that picturesque. but, no, no. in a way, yeah. yeah. i was just -- >> where were you when you got the call? >> i was driving back from the last audition, and i was with my mom and my mom was driving. and i'll never forget, we were just passing santa monica pier and the phone rang. she answered it, and then she just looked at me with that look and i knew i had it. >> what's the look? >> the look was like looked like she should be driving, paying attention to the road. just like that, ooh! the look. >> what an extraordinary story for you. did you realize when you got got that call how big it might be? did you have an inkling? >> absolutely not. absolutely not. and had i had any -- any notion that it would become what it was, i would have been insane. who could predict all of this? >> i was trying to think of anyone in recent time that has gone from where you started at the dry cleaners and college to the cover of "time" magazine within a year. it's absolutely startling. >> it is. it's so surreal that whenever i have a minute to myself and i stop and think about it, i get so lost in this cloud nine world that it's so hard to come back down from it. >> did you dream of being famous? were you like all these kids who do a bit of acting and singing and dancing, were you thinking in your head i really want to be whoever? tom cruz. >> no. definitely not. >> zac efron. >> definitely not. i never thought i'd be of heartthrob stature. i think i always dreamed of being respected, but i never had any aspiration of being famous or just being known. >> who did you look up to? who were your celebrity icons? >> oh, gosh. yikes. honestly, i don't know if i really had any because there really wasn't anyone there for me to look up to. i mean, yeah, i obviously had myself along the way but -- >> you never had anyone, i want to be like that? >> everybody wants to be lady gaga at one point or the other. >> i didn't want to be lady gaga. >> now you're lying. everyone wants to be lady gaga. >> i never woke up and said that. >> have you ever wanted to be oprah? >> not actually oprah. >> okay, because i always wanted to be oprah. >> really? >> absolutely. >> fascinating. why would you want to be oprah winfrey? >> who wouldn't want to be? are you kidding? if you don't want to be oprah winfrey, there's something wrong with you. >> funny enough, i do get. lady gaga -- >> no, she was never, like, a -- she's very inspirational for my character but never -- i don't know. there wasn't really -- i didn't have a hero growing up, unfortunately. >> did you want to be an actor? >> yes. i remember when i was 3 years old and watching a movie, the title of which escapes me, and i remember the credits came on and asked my mom why it was over. and i just desperately wanted to be on the other side of it and, you know, as i got older i found out what movies actually were and actors playing these roles and those kids weren't actually living the adventures that you saw them living. but i knew i wanted to be a part of that world. >> when was the moment with "glee" when you realized your life was never going to be the same again? when did it pop for you? >> i don't know. i think it's a constant bubble that keeps getting popped more and more. >> originally, when the ratings come in. you go, whoa. >> yeah. i mean, of course, when you're -- it's your first thing, you think as soon as the pilot airs, the first time it's going to be this huge thing and you won't be able to walk outside. it doesn't work that way. it's more a gradual process. >> for you, what was the pinch-me moment? >> oh, god. what was the first pinch-me moment? >> the moment when you rang your mom and you were both getting carried away on the phone. >> i don't know. maybe it was the first time i was recognized or maybe it was -- maybe it was the first time i drove up to paramount studios and had a place for my car to go. that was crazy. >> through the gates. >> through the gates. they let me in. they didn't call security. >> ied that same moment when i signed up for "america's got talent" and the first day of filming was through the famous gates. that is a moment, isn't it. >> amazing moment. >> a long way from the dry cleaners. >> i think actually getting work, being a working actor was the moment for me, when i really had the realization. >> and then it explodes and your character becomes this iconic character, really fast. >> hmm. >> and you -- i think you're very smart the way you handled the character and the brand and everything else. >> thank you. >> you do this extraordinary speech at the golden globes. i'll play a little clip of. >> chris colfer. ♪ >> i have to thank ryan murphy for basically being my fairy godfather. everybody at fox. robert oreck, for submitting me to the show when there was nothing to submit me for. our amazing, amazing -- >> i get really high pitched when i get mervous. >> a verial ended cast. you guys deserve this as much as i do. but most importantly to all the amazing kids that watch our show and the kids that our show celebrates who are constantly told no by the people in the environments, bullies at school that they can't be who they are or what have what they want because of who they are. well, screw that, kids. >> i mean, that for me was the moment. you won the golden globe. that was big enough. but i remember the media reaction after you made that short but perfectly phrased speech. and you became a kind of poster boy for kids who are being bullied, you know, for whatever reason. there's something -- it wasn't just about kids who may be gay or whatever, just kids who feel they're outsiders. right? >> absolutely. i think maybe somewhere in my mind i knew when i made that speech that kurt was affecting more than just gay kids but kids bullied in general. i don't remember that moment at all. i was in such an adrenaline high that i can't recall anything. >> if your voice had got much higher -- >> if it got higher -- >> i would have recommended you joining the bee gees. >> had it been higher, god. can you imagine the dogs that would have been howling for miles and miles? i know, gosh. people's glasses would have been breaking. yeah. >> what a thrilling moment for you, though. >> yeah. >> you had the poise to do what you did. what were you thinking? >> when i was walking up i kept thinking to myself do not trip on a chair or table on the way up there because it was so possible because there were so many things in my way. honestly, i don't remember anything about the moment. i just remember getting up there and saying what i felt and then looking out in the audience and thanking everyone that i could physically see and remember who they were. because there were people i saw but couldn't remember their names at the moment so i didn't thank them. thank god i was on speech team in high school and thank god because otherwise i probably would have spoken spanish up there. >> obviously, i would imagine all people get bullied in school. you can probably remember who they were. >> yes. >> does it please you you were able to have this wonderful moment of payback, really? >> there's a diplomatic answer that i could give, but absolutely yes. >> give me the straight answer. >> oh, god, yes. yes. those individuals, it's almost like you want to say "suck it" to them. i shouldn't have just said that. like given names and social security numbers instead. but, no, it's great. >> do you remember their names? >> yes, of course. of course. >> was there any one in particular you'd like to smoke now? >> no. i hate them all equally. >> tell me about that period when you were being bullied, because obviously that speech you made applied, as you said, to all kids being bullied out there. what is that feeling like for someone who's never been through it? how did it make you feel? >> i was just embarrassed because i'd walk by people i barely knew in the hallway and they would just scream profanities at me that i didn't think were true at the time and of course everyone else in the hallway would laugh. of course i had amazing legendary comebacks but it's embarrassing and uncalled for, especially when they don't know you and you don't know them. and i was a really, really good kid. i wasn't necessarily the best student, but i was a fantastic kid. and it was just heartwrenching. heartbreaking. >> let's take a short break. when we come back, we'll talk about "glee," the phenomenon. >> sure. >> and how important is it is to you, the cast, and also to america. thing under the gas cap, thing... do you even have a name? 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[ female announcer ] phillips' colon health. like every single american airlines flight. orbitz doesn't have them. but you'll find all 3,400 of them at aa.com. every day. ♪ hafs the lady gaga episode of "glee," of course, which was brilliant to watch. i love lady gaga. she's just a phenomenon who completely gets what it takes to be a modern-day brand, doesn't she. >> she understands her fans. mm-hmm. >> did you meet her? >> a couple times. >> what did you make of her? >> i completely embarrassed myself to no end. i mean, i bowed. who does that? >> you bowed? >> i bowed to lady gaga. >> she's not royalty. >> well, she had a crown on, so, you know, but -- >> ba what did she say to you? >> thank you. >> did you have to then do anything else? >> no. i kind of ran out of the -- no, no. thank god i didn't. it crossed my mind. i ran out after that. >> did you have a public conversation with her? >> i don't think i'll ever be able to have a proper conversation with her. >> too nervous. >> yeah. >> is she like an iconic figure for you? >> she's actually one of the first people in my generation whose music i liked. everyone before her i didn't care for too much, like growing up. there wasn't much to choose from. she's the first person i've connected oher music and have liked it. >> you recently went to the white house correspondents dinner. there you are at one of the top tables. i'm always curious about the reality. when you meet, for example, the right-wing politicians or commentators, whatever, i bet it's all over you about "glee." >> everyone loves "glee." everyone loves "glee" and me in "glee." it's hysterical. >> you quietly know they're all voting for gay rights. >> i do watch c-span occasionally. it's great when people come up and, oh, my god, i love you, can i have a picture? sure, you don't believe in me and my rights but you can. >> do you let them have the picture? >> i might as well. >> do you ever say, i know how you voted? >> here's the thing, what if somebody else comes along and they go, no, that gay kid from "glee" didn't give me a picture. >> will they change their minds because you gave them a picture? >> who knows? i think it's more likely they will change it positively if i give them a picture. you know who they are when they ask you. >> absolutely. >> you know how they voted. >> usually. >> i love that. >> yeah. yeah. >> do you feel like you're winning when that you have moment? >> a little bit. it is kind of nice when people -- yeah, when people believe so strongly against you yet they want proof that they met you. it's kind of awesome. >> you've obviously become this, as i say, iconic figure. do you feel that america is fast becoming much less homophobic, or do you feel as gay rights become much more prominent and successes are being achieved in a funny way it's becoming -- it's more homophobic as they try and resisz this change? >> you know, i don't know, because i know that i surround myself with positivity towards the situation and not negativity, but i certainly hope so and i certainly have witnessed first hand the progress that's been made and some progress that myself and the show have made. so i like to believe, yes, it has definitely improved. >> you stopped googling yourself? >> oh, god, yes. >> the if it makes you feel better, you should have a look at my name. >> the last time i googled myself i think was september 2009. >> and it's so shocking. what did you find there? >> just high school again. it was high school all over again, people making fun of my voice, of the way i looked. i mean, it was just -- it was just bullying in another form. >> and that hurt? >> yeah, because, i mean, it's ridiculous when people have, like, strong opinions about you when it's about things you can't control, like an example, my voice. i can not control how high pitched i get when i get excited. i wish i could control it. there are so many situations when i wish i wasn't squealing, but it just -- >> your voice didn't have that kind of tone to it you wouldn't be the singer you are. >> maybe not. >> all hand in hand. >> it comes back. >> can't give away everything you are. >> well, i mean -- >> rubbing it in. i like that. enjoy it. if i was on the cover of "time" magazine, i would carry this around with me all day long. >> hey, might as well. >> i would. >> i almost did. >> what did your mother say when she saw that? >> it's so funny. whenever i call my -- my dad is always overly excited and just so proud and so excited, and whenever i call my mom, my mom will get psi leapt for like two minutes on the phone and she'll go, who are you? she gets -- she apologizes. i'm so sorry, christopher, i don't mean to be silent. i'm so proud of you. i just can't believe you came out of me. it's just -- it's crazy. >> my mother said to me, you're looking very pale. are you working too hard again? >> oh. >> that's what mothers do. they don't see you the way everybody else does. >> no, no. >> tell me about how the fame thing has impacted your life. i mean, are you finding you're getting more attractive because of the fame? >> oh, sure. i hope so. i don't know. i think -- >> you know what i mean. fame is such a sort of magnet to people, isn't it? >> kind of. a little bit. i mean, i think fame is great until the day comes when you are afraid to leave your house alone and then the day when your name is used as an adjective in a negative way. >> it's interesting. it's like culture, isn't it, of envy, of resentment of people's success. i mean, that goes with the territory, doesn't it? >> yeah. >> are you equipped to deal with all this? >> sometimes. sometimes not. sometimes i do get very overwhelmed with it, and sometimes -- i'm quite frightened by it, to be honest. >> it is scary. >> it is scary. it's very scary. and there really is a whole other world people don't see. they always see in front of the camera. they never really see the behind-the-scenes stuff. >> what's behind-the-scenes stuff with you? >> the security risks and the security issues that are very frightening that people don't know about, because i don't want them to know about. but -- >> what's the scariest thing that's happened to you? >> i was at a movie theater once, and i was by myself, stupidly, and i was semimobbed, but it got very physical and people were pulling at me and grabbing at me, and i had to call the police. and the next day i was covered in bruises because people got so physical with me. >> you. >> yeah. >> as it was going on, what were you thinking? >> not much. i went to my happy place. but -- >> i would go to my unhappy place. >> no, i definitely had to go to my happy place. >> were you worried about whether you might survive this? >> absolutely. >> it was crazy. >> it's crazy, but it's really a mind trip because on one hand you want them to stop, you want it to stop, and on the other hand you know that if you -- ins you are in the public eye, that you are a raging jerk and say get off me, leave me alone, it's going to be written about the next day and, you know, people are going to say, you know -- there will be talk about what a jerk you are. >> have you had stalkers? >> not -- not really. some form of staubing is is flattering, you know. >> yeah. if they're good looking. >> if they're very good looking and stalking i call it pursuing. strongly pursuing. >> how do you deal with the date progress says when you're really famo famous? i mean, how can you trust people? >> i don't know. i mean, i think it's -- i don't know how you deal with it. i -- because i think there's always the question if -- what people's real intentions are. >> yeah. >> but i don't know. i think you just have to wish for the best. it's a gamble. >> life's a gamble, though, isn't it? >> life is a gamble. >> when we come back, we'll talk about projects outside "glee," this movie you're about to start making. >> sure. sure. ♪ [ male announcer ] every day thousands of people are switching from tylenol to advil. to learn more and get your special offer, go to takeadvil.com. take action. take advil. the new blackberry playbook. it runs all this