Business Unit News
Glee, The Season's No. 1 New Scripted Series, Adds Another Trophy To Its Case With Third Season Pickup
The Glee Club Performs Music of Lady Gaga Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 25, on FOX
Monday, May 24, 2010 – Before even finishing its
first season, the genre-defying, award-winning, underdog comedy
Glee has been picked up through its third season, it
was announced today by Peter Rice, Chairman, Entertainment, Fox
Networks Group; and Kevin Reilly, President, Entertainment, Fox
Broadcasting Company.
“In just one year, Glee has transcended the television
landscape and emerged as a global pop culture phenomenon,” said
Rice. “We are incredibly proud to have talent like Ryan Murphy
and the Glee cast in our FOX family, and we can’t wait
to see where Ryan takes the show in Seasons Two and Three.”
“Everything about Glee – from the concept to the
characters to the marketing – has been innovative and risky, but
with Ryan Murphy tapping into the zeitgeist, the risk has paid
off with this truly remarkable series,” said Reilly. “Glee
has one of the most active, devoted fan bases I’ve ever seen,
and we couldn’t be more thrilled to give Gleeks a third season
of their favorite show.”
“Brad, Ian, Dante, the cast and I are all thrilled and honored
by the overwhelming support of Glee from FOX, the
studio and our amazing fans,” said Ryan Murphy, co-creator and
executive producer of Glee. “It’s been a whirlwind year
– from shooting the pilot to performing at the White House to
the concert tour that began last week – and yet we all feel like
we’ve just begun this amazing musical journey. Having time to
plan ahead is wonderful, and we think our Gleeks worldwide are
going to love what we’ll have in store for them in Seasons Two
and Three.”
In the next all-new episode, Glee takes on the music of
Lady Gaga when MR. SCHUESTER (Matthew Morrison) encourages the
Glee club members to express themselves using the pop
superstar’s music. Meanwhile, RACHEL (Lea Michele) has a
life-changing encounter, and TINA (Jenna Ushkowitz) embraces her
inner goth in the “Theatricality” episode – featuring guest
stars Idina Menzel and Jonathan Groff – airing tomorrow,
Tuesday, May 25 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
The first season finale of Glee airs Tuesday, June 8
(8:59-10:00 PM ET/PT). The series then returns this fall to kick
off its second season on Tuesdays (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT).
As its freshman year comes to a close, Glee has become
a bona fide cultural phenomenon. The highest-rated new scripted
series of the season among key demos is also the most
award-winning show on television – honored with a Peabody Award;
a Golden Globe for Best Television Series, Comedy or Musical;
and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by
an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. The music has become an
international sensation with the soundtracks topping the charts
all over the world – from Australia and the U.K. to New Zealand,
Ireland and Canada. In the U.S., close to 7 million songs have
already been downloaded and two albums have been certified Gold.
The most recent Glee soundtrack, “The Power of
Madonna,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart helping
Glee surpass U2 as the group with most Billboard charting
songs of the past 10 years.
The series follows an optimistic teacher, WILL SCHUESTER
(Matthew Morrison), who – against all odds and malicious
cheerleading coach SUE SYLVESTER (Jane Lynch) – inspires
McKinley High’s Glee Club to conquer the world one
singing competition at a time. The group of aspiring stars
includes RACHEL (Lea Michele), a pint-size diva with powerhouse
pipes; FINN (Cory Monteith), the gullible quarterback with
rock-and-roll blood; KURT (Chris Colfer), the fashionable
soprano with a heart of gold; diva extraordinaire MERCEDES
(Amber Riley); geeky guitarist ARTIE (Kevin McHale); TINA (Jenna
Ushkowitz), the punk rocker with a sweet side; pregnant
cheerleader QUINN (Dianna Agron); and the arrogant PUCK (Mark
Salling). Will is determined to make the Glee club
great again with the help of his colleague and love interest
EMMA PILLSBURY (Jayma Mays).
In addition to the regular cast, Glee has featured guest
appearances by a wide range of talented performers, including
Kristen Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Molly Shannon,
Neil Patrick Harris, Mike O’Malley and Olivia Newton-John.
Glee is produced by Ryan Murphy Television in
association with 20th Century Fox Television. Ryan Murphy, Brad
Falchuk and Ian Brennan are co-creators of the series. Murphy,
Falchuk and Dante Di Loreto serve as executive producers, while
Ian Brennan serves as co-executive producer.
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Contact:
Tracey Raftery
310-369-1425
tracey.raftery@fox.com