FOX plans unique roll-out for 'Glee'

Ryan Murphy's musical comedy will premiere after 'Idol' then wait until fall

By Daniel Fienberg Thursday, Mar 5, 2009 1:03 PM

Matthew Morrison of 'Glee'

Credit: Joseph Viles/FOX

FOX has set a rather unconventional roll-out for the already-unconventional "Glee."

"Glee," an hour-long musical-comedy series from "Nip/Tuck" creator Ryan Murphy, will have what is described as a "special preview" after "American Idol" on Tuesday, May 19 at 9 p.m. ET.

That special preview will actually be an airing of the show's pilot episode following the season's final performance episode of "Idol." Then, having whetted appetites, FOX will pull "Glee" and premiere it again next fall.

"An ambitious and unique show such as 'Glee' deserves an ambitious and unique kick-off," says Peter Liguori, chairman, Fox Broadcasting Company. "We also wanted to take advantage of the huge 'American Idol' promotional platform to launch the marketing campaign in May."

"Glee" focuses on a high school teacher (Matthew Morrison), who takes over his school's struggling glee club, assembling a musical team that includes an assortment of misfits and divas, plus the quarterback of the football team (Cory Monteith). Can the singers put aside their differences, break through the high school caste system and make it all the way to Nationals?

The series also stars Amber Reilly, Kevin McHale, Jenna Ushkowitz, Lea Michele, Dianna Agron, Jessalyn Gilsig, Jayma Mays and Jane Lynch.

Each episode is built around an assortment of musical numbers featuring past and present hits.

"'Glee' works on so many levels that we want to utilize 'American Idol' to jump-start positive buzz, which will spread over the summer and into the show’s launch in the fall," says FOX Entertainment President Kevin Reilly.

Stay up to date with the latest breaking news in the worlds of movies, TV and music by signing up for HitFix E-mail Alerts.

Don't miss out. Add HitFix to your iGoogle, My Yahoo or My MSN experience by clicking here.

Not part of the HitFix Nation yet? Take 90 seconds and sign up today.

Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

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.