'Glee's' Darren Criss performs 'Teenage Dream' and 'Not Alone,' remains awesome while doing so

"Glee" star - and new series regular - Darren Criss is a phenomenon within a phenomenon. Who'd have thought that a relative unknown singing a Katy Perry song while backed by a college a cappella group would launch the biggest single "Glee" has ever released?

The newbie made an appearance on MTV's "The Seven" on Tuesday (Nov. 30) to perform his own arrangement of Perry's "Teenage Dream." We are officially putty in his hands. He also treated fans to his original song "Not Alone."

While he was in the house, he chatted a bit about tonight's Nov. 30 episode of "Glee" - though it was hard to get a straight answer from him about Kurt and Blaine's relationship moving forward.

"I think the most important thing that's being conveyed is the fact that Kurt has a support system and a friend he can confide in," he says. "I think that's the most important message being given to young people watching, whether or not it actually evolves into a romantic relationship eventually."

Criss says that Katy Perry is among his many fans. "She was sweet. I gave her a big old hug at the American Music Awards and said 'Thank you for being so supportive and letting me be a part of something that is so very much yours.' I have a lot to owe her. She can do no wrong by me."

We're pretty sure that Criss is going to be the first Gleek to carve himself a niche in the music industry with a solo record (no offense, Mark Salling). He's got the pipes, the look, and he's already built up enough of a cult following from his "A Very Potter Musical" YouTube video to have had his own Comic-Con panel this year.

"I played Harry," he says. "I'm involved in a production company called StarKid Productions. We've got a show we're working on right now called StarShip, which goes up in February. It's kind of a big romantic sci-fi adventure. It's an original show, and I'm writing all the music and the whole score. I don't think I'll be able to be in it because I'll be doing 'Glee.'"

More dirty details on "Glee's" squeaky-clean choir boy? He sings original songs in the shower. "They just kind of come to me. Like 'I'm using the soap, now, I'm using the shampooooo!' Whatever inspires me, like if there's gunk on the shower, which there usually is because my shower is gross. 'Hair in the drain! Really gross!'"

He's had Passion Pit's "Manners" stuck in his car stereo for two years and the craziest thing he's indulged in since he's become more famous was the American Music Awards. "I completely milked that. I bumped shoulders with the Backstreet Boys and I fist-bumped Usher."