Glee Picked Up for Full Season
Fox Orders Nine More Episodes of Ryan Murphy Musical Comedy Series
That was quick. Fox has picked up new show Glee for another nine episodes, making it the first new fall series to get a full-season order. This 'back nine' pickup brings the total number of episodes up to twenty-two. Typically, broadcast networks order thirteen episodes of a new show – the pilot plus twelve – and then they'll use the ratings performance of the first few episodes to determine whether or not to pick up the back nine. Glee has had two strong episodes so far this season.
Most Inventive New Fall Show
Glee premiered in May after an episode of American Idol, getting acclaim for its daring – it's a musical comedy unlike anything else on broadcast – and garnering accolades from fans. Kevin Reilly, President of Entertainment at Fox, referenced this in the official press release announcing Glee's pickup: "The response we've received to GLEE has been remarkable." Glee Co-Creator and Executive Producer, Ryan Murphy, also thanked "the unbelievable fans."
Murphy also said, "It's fantastic to be the first show picked up and that this underdog series, like its characters, will get the chance to keep singing." It is notable that Glee is the first show to receive its full pickup, especially since it came before most of the new series have premiered. Today marks the start of the new fall TV season and the industry nervously awaits this week's show premieres on all broadcast networks.
Glee: The Fall Series Sees Big Ratings, but Little Competition
Glee's fall premiere ran on September 9th, earlier than most shows, so it's had two weeks to perform without much competition. Fox ruffled a few feathers with the premiere episode of Glee by refusing to preempt it for a speech by President Obama. Its second episode then handily beat The CW's premiere of The Beautiful Life. That lack of real competition changes this week. ABC, CBS, and NBC will all air premieres against Glee, including the critically-adored Modern Family on ABC.
It's somewhat surprising that Fox didn't wait to see how Glee performs against new and returning shows. It would be a shame for the show to stumble against the other networks after such a strong first two episodes. But premieres often get the best ratings of a fall show's season, so perhaps this early pickup indicates support for the long-term.
Glee centers on an optimistic high school teacher as he tries to reinvent the school's glee club, despite the cheerleading coach's best efforts. It is produced by Ryan Murphy Television and 20th Century Fox Television.
Glee airs Wednesdays at 9pm on Fox.
Fox Picks Up Glee for Full Season
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