Glee goes disco this April with a Saturday Night Fever themed episode. Ryan Murphy told TVGuide Magazine:

“We’ve never done disco on the show, but I’m interested in the genius of The Bee Gees.”

Rumor has it that the movie’s star John Travolta may also make an appearance in the episode as part of a Finn dream sequence.

Source: Keck’s Exclusives: Glee Takes on The Bee Gees

Looks like you better get your dancing shoes and white gloves out in anticipation for a Michael Jackson tribute episode! TV Guide revealed yesterday that the January 24th episode, will be a tribute to the King of Pop and will feature “10-12 songs from Jackson’s library.”

Jackson’s family have reportedly given their support to the episode, but only after some convincing from Ryan Murphy to make sure that MJ would be honored appropriately.

I personally can’t wait for this episode, since I am a big Michael Jackson fan, and if the performances are anything like last night’s Jackson-inspired Sectionals performance, it’ll definitely be worth the wait.

What’re your thoughts on the tribute episode?

Source: Glee to Celebrate Songs of Michael Jackson in Tribute Episode – TV Guide

Season 3 is barely underway and we already have a treasure trove of goodies to look forward to, straight from the mouth of Ryan Murphy as reported by TVGuide. We already know that Idina Menzel’s Shelby Corcoran is coming back for a multiple episode arc, and Lauren Zizes (Ashley Fink) is quitting New Directions. Worried about Lauren being written out of the show? Don’t worry; she has a “major story with Chris Colfer” later in the season, according to Murphy.

It’s already shaping up to be a big year for Mike Chang (Harry Shum Jr.). Not only was he just given parents earlier in the summer, Murphy confirms that the infamously bad singer will sing at least two songs by the time the fourth episode rolls around, and that’s not a typo– he’s singing, not dancing.

And what about those promises made earlier in the summer, that there would be no more special guests, no more tribute episodes, that the Glee Project winners would get some great roles? Well, so far he’s mostly sticking to his guns. Aside from new characters played by Vanessa Lengies and LaMarcus Tinker, there are no current plans to add any more guest stars, although Gwyneth Paltrow making a return to her Emmy-award winning performance as Holly Holiday is possible later in the year. The Glee Project winners will be staggered throughout the season, with Damian McGinty arriving in the fourth episode as a foreign exchange student staying with Brittany (Heather Morris). Naturally, she “thinks he’s a leprechaun with magical powers”. Samuel Larsen will be appearing mid-season as a relative of Mark Salling’s Puck. One or both of them might still be around for the one tribute episode they’re planning this year. The details are still fuzzy and secretive, but if it works out it will be a two-hour episode in the spring dedicated to the music of an act they’ve been trying to license for the past couple years.

What’s your favorite bit of news, Gleeks? Being able to add some more Harry Shum to your iPod? More drama for Will and Emma? Seeing Gwyneth Paltrow, Damian, and Samuel back on your TV screen? Excitement for the season is already amping up, and we’re only in the first week! Share your thoughts below!

Source: We’ve Seen the Glee Season Premiere– Here’s Your Spoilerpalooza! –TVGuide.com

It looks like Glee fans have another new face to look forward to in the near future! According to Entertainment Weekly, writer and executive producer, Ryan Murphy has sent out yet another casting call in search of an ‘attractive male’ to keep consistent with the already good-looking cast.

The casting call featured some other requirements to keep consistent with the current acting talent they already have, stating:

“Young man 18 and over to play 17. He is extremely handsome. Must be an excellent singer. HUGE guest star, MAJOR recurring role.”

It looks as if Murphy is looking for some other recurring roles for the upcoming season, too, including an Ohio State football recruiter, and of course Mike Chang’s parents and Emma Pillsbury’s parents.

Do you think you have what it takes to be the next major Glee star?

Source: ‘Glee’ scoop: Time to add a new hottie?

Fox and Glee have teamed up with the National Association for Music Education to hold an amazing competition that will put funding back in to the arts programs of 73 schools across the United States.

High school glee and drama clubs, as well as other high school arts programs, are invited to enter the competition by submitting videos to GleeGiveANote.com, explaining why their school deserves a grant. Starting in October 2011, voting will begin on the site for approved videos. In December, after 2 rounds of voting, Fox will announce the 73 winning schools who will then receive grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000.

Already, Glee has pledged $1 million from the sales of the show’s season 2 DVD/Blu-ray release. Visit www.GleeGiveANote.com to find out what you can do to get involved and donate to this worthy cause.

What a wonderful thing to see one of TV’s top shows, using their powers of influence for such a great cause. Good luck to all of the entrants from everyone here at GleeFan.com!

Source: Glee Gives Back! Promises To Grant $1 Million To Arts Program Across The Country!

It has today been revealed that Keong Sim and Tamlyn Tamito, who viewers may recognize from her role as Miwako Nishizawa on Law and Order: Los Angeles, are the two actors set to play Mr. and Mrs. Chang.

We already know the pair to be conservative after not allowing their son to adopt the role of Frank-N-Furter in the Glee club’s rendition of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, but what do you think their appearance this season will mean for Mike?

Source: ‘Glee’ casting exclusive: Meet Mike Chang’s Parents! – EW

Glee will once again be attending the San Diego Comic-Con! Since last year’s panel, Glee has exploded into an international phenomenon, winning at the Golden Globes, SAG awards, and People’s Choice Awards, just to name a few. The fanbase has exploded, twitter accounts gaining thousands of followers, and the actors have become household names. Some people questioned why Glee first came to the five-day long convention, but their return to Comic-Con was all but imminent. This year, the panel will feature actors that were absent from last year’s.

So, there’s good news and bad news. The good: Chris Colfer, Amber Riley, Jenna Ushkowitz, Kevin McHale, Mark Salling, Heather Morris, and Naya Rivera will be attending the panel and answering fan questions, alongside Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy. The bad: Lea Michele, Matthew Morrison, Dianna Agron and Cory Monteith will be MIA. Jane Lynch will be absent as well; apparently she had a scheduling conflict.

Now, before you take drastic measures: “Last year, we brought down Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Matthew Morrison, and Dianna Agron. Because we have such a large cast and we can’t bring everyone every year, this year we decided to bring down some of the cast who didn’t get to go last summer,” A Fox spokesperson tells Entertainment Weekly.

Makes sense, right? To quote Sue Sylvester: “We’re giving everyone a chance to be a star! Find your voice, stomp that yard, all that crap!”

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As you can imagine, Glee‘s portrayal of Christians has ruffled more than a few feathers. The only outright Christian character, Quinn, was pregnant by the fourth episode, and subsequently kicked out of her house by her steadfast traditionalist father. Emma includes Anne Coulter in her list of detrimental children’s role models. Sue takes a jab at Sarah Palin. Quinn’s judgmental father watches Glenn Beck. While most applaud Glee for it’s promotion of acceptance and community, many of the show’s conservative Christian fans have yet to be gratified. So Ryan Murphy has decided to introduce a Christian character for season two.

“I’m adding a Christian character,” he says to TV Guide. “We’ve taken a couple jabs at the right wing this year, so what I want to do with this character is have someone who Christian kids and parents can recognize and say, ‘Oh, look—I’m represented there, too!’ If we’re trying to form a world of inclusiveness, we’ve got to include that point of view as well.”

Click here to read more on Ryan Murphy’s new Christian character…

Been itching for details on the tour?! Thanks to the ever-faithful Entertainment Weekly, wait no longer!

The tour will feature 15 to 18 musical numbers, all connected by a plot line involving New Directions’ rivalry with the cut-throat glee clubbers, Vocal Adrenaline. Ryan Murphy tells EW, “We made a decision to do our biggest hits because that’s what fans want to see. It’s a concert tour but it also has a story in it.”

So, what about these musical numbers? Apparently, in addition to the star’s costume designer, Glee has also managed to nab Lady Gaga’s SET designer for the concert tour! “It’s a huge stage. We’ve got multimedia. It’s really big.” Says Murphy. “Fox believes in it so much that they’ve hired the best people. It’s not about going out and selling out a lot of dates and making a lot of money. In fact, we won’t make any money with this first tour because we’ve put so much money into the set design. It’s really just a great thank you to our fans.”

No, Ryan Murphy, thank YOU! :)

Source: ‘Glee’ Exclusive: Details on the elaborate new tour! – Entertainment Weekly

Watch a really cool video on Fox’s Youtube Channel about the making of Glee, here. It is loaded with commentary and behind the scenes footage, so check it out!

Not only is ‘Glee‘ one of the most buzzed about new series of the TV season, but it’s also got a plum spot on the Fox schedule, premiering Tuesday May 19th at 9pm ET right after the season finale of ‘American Idol.’ This special one-hour preview will whet fans’ appetites for the Fall when it’s expected to be a part of the regular schedule. From the mind of ‘Nip/Tuck‘ creator Ryan Murphy, ‘Glee’ tells the tale of the school misfits that bond together to form a Glee club and shows the power of song, hope and having fun. Fancast got on a press call recently with Murphy to discuss the show’s musical numbers, the expectations for the series, and even talk of a ‘Glee’ movie already?

How are you picking the songs for the show? Is there a magic formula at all?

All the episodes, we’re writing them thematically. Obviously you don’t do that for a pilot because a pilot is just sort of an origins tale, but it really just comes down to stuff that I like and stuff that I think fits the characters and moves the story along. And also, with every episode, we do between five and eight music numbers, and my goal is to really try and give the audience something for everybody. We have a hip-hop. We have an R&B. We have a top 40. We have country.

But as for the Sopranos thing, I mean everybody knows that that song was used on the show, but to me it transcends anything. It’s always been an anthem. I think it’s the number one most popular song in the history of iTunes or something like that. And it just seemed, I liked the idea of six ten-year-old kids interpreting that song, seeing what somebody that age would do with it, so that was always the jumping off point. Steve Perry has been incredible about licensing the song for us. He’s been and seen the pilot and loves it, and is very supportive. We’re hoping for him to make some sort of promotional appearances or do something with the show just because he’s been so great, and we all love him.

Is there anything that you can tease music wise that’s coming up in terms of…?

I would prefer not to do that just because there are so many great things, and I was asked not to. But I’ll just say that there’s something for everyone, but we’re doing big, classic rock, ’70s songs. The key to the music is to do stuff for the most part that people know, which is why I think so many people love American Idol because it’s musical comfort food in some way.

People who have been following your series from Popular to Nip/Tuck know that a lot of your actors seem to transition from show-to-show. You bring them back in guest roles. Can we expect with, besides Jessalyn, to see any familiar faces on Glee, as we move forward?

It’s funny that you said that because, with this show, I sort of have decided not to do that because the approach that we had, you know, pretty much did the casting of this pilot was to sort of use a lot of singers and dancers and Broadway people, so I really sort of want fresh voices and fresh faces in this one, so I don’t think I’ll be doing that sort of cross-pollination that I did.

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