Yesterday there was major confusion over whether The Glee Project, the highly acclaimed but low rated reality competition show would be returning for a 3rd season. Over its first two seasons, the Oxygen reality show has provided Glee, the FOX musical comedy, with several cast members.
First, TV Line reported that TGP would NOT be returning for a 3rd season, quickly followed by a statement from Oxygen declaring that the show isn’t dead yet–just waiting for word on renewal of the mothership, Glee. TV Line was forced to back pedal.
Could something serious is going on behind the scenes at Glee?
Perhaps. Check this out–a reporter from E News heard from a source that there could be a major shakeup going on at Glee, with producers Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan and Brad Falchuk leaving the show altogether!
Source
Personally, I think ditching the producers would be a terrible idea. Glee has it’s problems, but it’s still Ryan Murphy’s baby. I can’t imagine anyone else at the helm. Sure, he’s responsible for what’s gone wrong with the show–but the incredible moments (And those still happen) are Ryan’s doing as well. Yes, the ratings have been sliding since Season 2, but completely revamping the show is not going to help. I say better to declare next season the swan song, promote it as the Last Season of Glee Evah, and be done with it.
Adding a little more fuel to the fire–Ryan was supposed to speak with reporters on a satellite conference call this afternoon. Yesterday, I got a confirmation email from FOX. Two hours later, it was suddenly cancelled. Curiouser and curiouser.
It seems clear there is some wrangling going on in these contract negotiations between the TV Network (FOX) and the production studio (ALSO FOX, but a different division. Go figure). There could be creative differences–Ryan has talked about wanting to do something really out of the box next season. It could be financial. FOX TV could be completely freaked that the ratings have slipped so much (But compared to their other series, it’s really not doing badly. At least it’s not in the free-fall American Idol has experienced).
I hope creative differences don’t force Ryan, Brad and Ian to quit, or worse, nix a return of Glee altogether. If the show doesn’t come back, it won’t be due to the ratings.
As far as The Glee Project–despite Oxygen forcing TV Line to back pedal, I can’t imagine how it would come back at this point. By this time last year, the network was already deep into production of the show. Auditions had begun late winter–and without an official renewal notice for Season 4.
Let’s put on our tinfoil hats and speculate, shall we?
