Glee celebrates second season

Glee celebrates second season
Glee stars pose for photos at DVD party & introduce new castmates

Glee films at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, so the cast didn’t have too far to go for a big party to celebrate the launch of the second season, and release of the first season’s DVD.

A big party was set up like a high school pep rally, with cheerleaders greeting everyone as they arrived. That made the Emmy-winning Jane Lynch smile with pride. After all, she plays the Cheeiros’ coach.

Jane Lynch

The Glee coach, Matthew Morrison was there too. Plus the most talented group of young performers on TV today– Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Kevin McHale, Amber Riley, Mark Salling, Jenna Ushkowitz, Naya Rivera, Heather Morris, etc.

Lea Michele

 
Cory Monteith

The Fox TV show also took the opportunity to introduce the new cast members to the media on the red carpet, where everyone got quizzed about upcoming shows.

Guest stars will include Britney Spears, Carol Burnett, Susan Boyle, and John Stamos, who will act as a love interest for Emma (Jayma Mays), the obsessive-compulsive guidance counselor. That gives Mr. Schuster (Morrison) a challenger for her affections.

A big surprise is the new female football coach who shakes things up. Actress Dot Jones plays Coach Beiste, and gives a powerful performance in the second season premiere episode, airing Sept. 21 on Fox. In a battle for power that would make ultimate fighters tremble, Beiste clashes with Sue Sylvester (Lynch). It’s awesome.

Another newcomer is petite but equally powerful, 18-year-old Filipina singer Charice Pempengco, who Oprah once called “the most talented girl in the world.” Pempengco says she’s thrilled to join the “gleeks” playing an exchange student named Sunshine who competes with Rachel (Michele) to be the solo queen.

Charice Pempengco

Cheyenne Jackson, the 30 Rock star who has a Broadway background, is also competition this year, as the coach of the rival Vocal Adrenaline glee club.

After a screening of the season opener, there was food and games for the gleeky crowd.

Talking with Lynch, she said she loves her role more each day. “It’s the best scheming, unashamed person I’ve ever played. And I’m just adoring it.”

What is the reaction when people see her as a woman they love to hate? Lynch reported, “No one has ever been mean to me. I think it’s liberating to see someone so mean. It’s like what we wish we could do in moments of our life, but social propriety says we shouldn’t. Sue doesn’t have that propriety.”

After her tour de force Madonna number last season, Lynch is looking forward to a few more musical numbers this season. But not too many.

Glee continues to impress for its ability to top itself every week. It is amazing that each week an outstanding script, numerous songs, and fully choreographed production numbers are presented.

It’s a big production, and credit should go to executive producers Ryan Murphy, Ian Brennan, and Dante Di Loreto, plus co-producer/choreographer Zach Woodlee, music producer Adam Anders, and costume designer Lou Eyrich.

All their talents are evident on the new DVD set for the complete first season of Glee. It has more than two hours of special features which take you behind-the-scenes and shows you the making of a showstopper.