FOX Entertainment President Kevin Reilly ran the FOX Executive panel all by his lonesome.
Big news to come out of the session about our shows:
There will be NO announcement regarding Jennifer Lopez‘ Idol contract today. I’m a little surprised, frankly.
Reilly spent a chunk of time conducting damage control around the Glee fiasco, and revealed that the possible Glee spinoff that was at the core of the controversy “is still in the wind” and will revisit the idea in the back half of the season.
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Highlights:
Fox prez Kevin Reilly will not confirm any Jennifer Lopez #AmericanIdol news today
First question is about “Glee” and cast morale. “I was extreme upset myself to learn about this on Twitter… I’m kidding, ” (ha ha ha…only not – ed.) Reilly says, saying it’s taken on a little bit more heat and momentum than it actually. “This show is such an undertaking and the management of the whole enterprise…” he begins to give us an impression of the overall scope. “It’s a big management undertaking, ” Reilly says. “I think that Ryan and his group of associates there do a phenomenal job of managing that, ” he says. He adds that the possible spinoff is still in the wind. He promises this will be a back-to-basics year on “Glee.” He says, “‘Glee’ is an incredibly creative enterprise, ” adding that the worst you can say is that it’s “too much of a good thing.” (via HitFix)
“Those guys get along really well, ” Kevin says, adding that “Ryan [Murphy] is who he is and that’s why I love him.” He continues to emphasize that there are no problems on “Glee.” He ignores my question about whether or not there’s a perception problem, even if there’s no actual problem. “I think it’s really going to play itself out when you see the work this season.” (via HitFix)
When that spinoff came around, I think his wheels started turning… and this got out. And I think the second it did, I think all of us were really surprised at how it took on a life of its own. This is something that was probably a two-day issue, that somehow it has taken on a bigger life.” (Via TVLine)
What impact will “American Horror Story” on “Glee”? “Even if I had the talk, he wouldn’t listen anyway, ” Reilly says of Ryan Murphy and the need to manage time. Reilly points out that up til this point, “Glee” has been written by three people and three people only and that this season will have a full staff. Reilly repeats that there won’t be any big guest-star-driven episodes — that means no Gwyneth — or big theme-driven episodes. The fall “Glee” episodes will have a clear arc, with a graduation at the end. (via HitFix)
Reilly confirmed that Rachel, Finn and Kurt will graduate at the end of the season and may be spun off into their own show next fall. ”We collectively decided to revisit [the spinoff] in the back half of the [season] when it should be visited, ” he explained. “It got out [in the media early] and then got a little bit crazy.” (via HitFix)
This season of #glee will focus on core characters with “an incredibly clean arc” and unpredictable plans for the graduates.
Will the “Glee 3-D” movie boost the show? “I think it’s neither here nor there for the series, ” Reilly says.
Reilly calls #XFactor “the mother of all shows” for their fall schedule. Really banking on its success #tcas11
Reilly says Fox has to practice “fancy footwork” to schedule around fall baseball. “Trickier now with #XFactor”
“I thought it went pretty well. I loved it, ” Reilly says of the “X Factor” panel. He raves about “the dark charm” of Simon Cowell. “You can’t resist him, ” Reilly says of Cowell. “I love the composition and electricity of this panel, ” Reilly says of his “X Factor” team. (via HitFix)
