Okay, so it’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve hit you with any "Glee" news. (I thought I’d give you a little break). But there’s a ton of exciting stuff happening with the show, so it’s time.
First up is the news that the cast of “Glee” will get to make up for the opportunity they missed out on when NBC rescinded their invitation to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Fox announced last week that they’ll sing the national anthem during game three of the World Series, which is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 31.
The game will take place in either L.A. or Philadelphia based on which team rises to the final spot opposite either the Yankees or the Angels.
The next piece of news brings the world of “Glee” together with the Buffyverse. That's right, director Josh Whedon has been tapped to direct an episode of the series that will air in the spring.
While the blogosphere has been clamoring for the “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Firefly” and “Dollhouse” creator to bring along cast members from his previous projects – including Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nathan Fillion and Dr. Horrible himself, Neil Patrick Harris – for guest shots, there’s been no indication that will happen.
In typical Whedon style, the director took to his website to offer a few clues about the upcoming episode.
“Hey kids and parents of kids and super-old, like ancestor-old-but-not-dead-yet-type people, just poking my oversized head in to say that the rumors are true... unless something very odd happens in the next few months, I will have the privilege of shooting an episode of GLEE … What can we expect from a 'Joss Whedon' epsiode of Glee? An episode of Glee. God willin' and the crik don't rise, a good one. A television director's job is, on some level, to be anonymous; to find the most compelling way to present a story without calling attention to himself. I had a wonderful time doing just that on The Office, and hope to again. A guest director can bring a huge amount to the party (we've had CRAZY talent on Dollhouse), but the party isn't his. I just want to work with good people on a show that I like enough to have watched every episode several times.
“Whom will I kill? When will that go away? Is death really the only thing I'm known for? I'd hope not. You know how many people in the world actually die? ALL OF THEM. You know how many I've killed? Statistically, somewhat fewer. Can't we focus on another element of my work? Having said that, probably Principal Figgins. (No! I kid! God.)”
Perhaps the biggest bits of “Glee” news involve a potential guest on the show and the blessing of a certain pop icon to use her music.
Entertainment Weekly reports series creator Ryan Murphy has indicated he's been mulling over the idea of asking “American Idol” alum Adam Lambert to make a guest appearance.
And the final "Glee" tibit just might make the heads of a bunch of Gleeks out there explode: EW also says Madonna has granted the show’s creators access to her entire catalog for an upcoming all-Madge episode planned for early next year.
So what do you think we’ll hear? Emma belting out “Open Your Heart”? Rachel over-emoting on “Like A Prayer”? Kurt tearing up “Vogue” the way he did “Single Ladies”? Quinn’s heartfelt “Papa Don’t Preach”? Or is it going to be Will, Finn, Sue and Mercedes who get to tackle The Material Girl’s songbook?
Thursday, October 22
Mika – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
Brad Wollack, Natasha Leggero, Ryan Stout – “Chelsea Lately”
Dave Matthews Band – “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” – rerun
Miranda Lambert – “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” – rerun
The Temper Trap – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Lynyrd Skynyrd – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”- rerun
Ladyhawke – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun
Friday, October 23
Andy Williams – “The Tavis Smiley Show”
Ross Mathews, Josh Wolf, Janet Varney – “Chelsea Lately” – rerun
Paul Shaffer, Backstreet Boys – “The Bonnie Hunt Show”
Judy Collins – “Late Show with David Letterman” – rerun
Robin Williams, All Time Low – “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” – rerun
Christopher Cross with Michael McDonald – “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” – rerun
Echo & the Bunnymen – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
The Avett Brothers – “Late Late Show with Craig Fergsuon” – rerun
Wild Light – “Last Call with Carson Daly” – rerun
Saturday, October 24
Andrew Bird, St. Vincent – “Austin City Limits”
U2 – “Saturday Night Live” – rerun