FOX joins the 'Glee' club

'Glee' creator Ryan Murphy

Credit: Lisa Rose/AP Photo

Prepping for its usual spring influx of singing-obsessed viewers, FOX has ordered 13 episodes of the musical comedy series "Glee."

FOX would only say that "Glee" will premiere in 2009, though there had been rumors that the series could be ready to premiere as soon as this spring, possibly using "American Idol" as a launching pad.

"Glee" comes from Ryan Murphy, who earned cult adoration but low ratings for his last foray into high school comedy, The WB's "Popular." Murphy is currently better known for his quirky FX dramedy "Nip/Tuck."

Set in the competitive world of high school Glee Clubs (who knew?), "Glee" focuses on on the moribund McKinley High School Glee Club, formerly a national power, now fallen on hard times. Only one teacher, Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison of Broadway's "Hairspray") is willing to take on the challenge of bringing MHS' Glee Club back to prominence, but will he be able to do the trick with a gang of outcasts?

Series co-stars include Jessalyn Gilsig ("Nip/Tuck"), Jayma Mays ("Heroes") and Christopher Guest favorite Jane Lynch.

In addition to Morrison, the "Glee" cast includes an assortment of faces who may be more familiar to Broadway audiences than TV fans, including "Spring Awakening" veterans Lea Michele and Jenna Ushkowitz.  The young cast also features Chris Colfer, Kevin McHale (no, not the Timberwolves coach and former Celtics great), Cory Monteith, Dianna Agron and Mark Salling. 

Every episode of "Glee" will include musical numbers culled from hit songs of the past and present.

Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

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A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.