Thursday, February 4th 2010

By almira kamaluddin

After just one season, the freshman-show Glee, a comedy-drama-musical about high school social outcasts finding redemption in a glee club, has blown up around the world.

As for all the hype surrounding the show, it’s all true. Glee took home two of their first distinguished awards this year. Their first was winning top TV honours at the Golden Globe Awards for best musical/comedy television series and their second was at the (SAG) Screen Actors Guild awards, for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. Glee was also nominated for their characters roles in three other categories; Lea Michele for Best Actress in a musical or comedy series, Jane Lynch was nominated for Best Supporting Actress and Matthew Morrison, for the Best Actor category.

Although these actors didn’t win individual awards, it was a big success to see “all the wonderful people who actually thought a musical would work on primetime television,” as creator Ryan Murphy said during his acceptance speech at the Golden Globes. He stressed the importance of an arts education and even gave a shout out to Barbara Streisand. In the season’s finale episode Lea Michele gives a magnificent rendition of “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” as made famous by Barbara in 1968’s Funny Girl.

So, what’s next for Glee? Leaving us on the edge of our seats last season, most of us simply can’t wait to find out. Will Mr. Schue and Emma finally become a couple? What about Rachel and Finn? Are Quinn and Puck going to raise their unborn child together? And is that the last we’ll see of headmaster of the cheerios, Sue Sylvester? As we sit in anticipation for the show’s return as the second half of season one on Apr. 13, 2010 – why such a long wait you may ask? They are simply taking a long break to make room on the FOX schedule for the new season of American Idol.

Looking for clues of what’s to come, there has been gossip of some major celebrity names making guest appearances in season two, including Jennifer Lopez, Olivia Newton John and Neil Patrick Harris. Lea told MTV, “I’m rooting for Justin Timberlake, aside from being an incredible singer and dancer, he’s also a fantastic comedic actor, and that is a great cocktail for being on Glee.”

From what I’ve gathered there will be songs from the Beatles performed on their first episode back. They will also do a medley of Madonna’s classics on the second episode back which will include as much as ten of her hits like: “Express Yourself,” “Like A Virgin,” and “What It Feels Like For A Girl.” Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) has said she’ll perform her version of the dance hit “Vogue.” The forty-nine year-old confessed that Madonna has been her idol for the last three decades. She says it’s been her childhood fantasy, and it will test her pop star skills.

Taylor Swift has revealed she’d love to make a cameo appearance in the all-singing, all-dancing high school comedy, exclaiming, “I’m really loving Glee right now. If it did happen, I’d love to see what they would do with me.” Also pop diva J-Lo recently signed up to play a cafeteria lady in the upcoming series. More artists such as Jonathan Groff (Lea Michele’s Spring Awakening co-star) will be coming on board Glee for five or six episodes playing the lead male singer of vocal adrenaline, and Rachel’s new love interest. Producer Ryan Murphy has announced that Olivia Newton John will make a guest appearance on the show performing her 1981 hit “Physical” along side the Cheerios coach Sue Sylvester.

With all these big names wanting to join the cast, why not the regular average Joe? I’ve read in several columns that the show’s producers have opened up three new full-time roles, and they’re specifically looking for talented unknowns to join the cast. Canadian native Cory Monteith is in fact a high-school drop out who loves hockey and used to be a Wal-Mart greeter and a cab driver. His audition for the show was a bit of a fluke, as he had never sang anything professional before, he sent in a cheesy 80’s tape of himself singing in the shower. Check out www.fox.com/glee/audition to post an online audition during the month of February.