FOX Entertainment chairman, Kevin Reilly told a small group of reporters after today’s TCA executive session, that the network is in the early stages of talks to renew the musical comedy Glee with co-creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk before the upfronts in May.
That would make way for Oxygen’s reality competition The Glee Project to return for Season 3.
“Yes, that is a real possibility; we’re going to negotiate now for the fifth season and beyond, so we’re talking about those things now,” Reilly said to reporters.
During the executive session, Reilly said he liked the consistency of Glee, but was sorry he could not program it more consistently. He said the dual story lines of McKinley High in Ohio and NYADA in New York City are working well, calling the the process “seamless.”
“This was ultimately what became of the spinoff talk: Let’s do it within the franchise,” he continued. “I do think if we can continue to follow a broad array of characters, it’s like life — you have relationships, you have friends — they go off, their lives go on and you get together and maybe you maintain a friendship, maybe you lose distance. I think we can do that within this world of people you followed.”
Reporters wondered if the action should move completely to New York City next year when characters played by Darren Criss, Kevin McHale, Jenna Ushkowitz and Heather Morris graduate. He said, “I have to talk to Ryan and see where he’s at right now; I don’t know, I wonder could it and should it naturally move there but we have to talk about it.”
I would love that, but highly doubt that will happen. It wouldn’t be Glee anymore if it moved outside of a high school competition setting. The initial idea, of spinning of Rachel and Kurt into a brand new show set in New York would have been a great idea, but it probably would have spelled the demise of the original Glee. Or maybe both. I’m guessing next season will feature dual story lines, with Blaine and some others attending school in New York City. And some of the original cast members returning occasionally as guest stars.
