As BroadwayWorld has previously reported, GLEE will feature a Britney Spears tribute episode in its second season, premiering September 21, 2010 on FOX. Says GLEE star Lea Michele of the episode: it's "15 music videos inside this episode, very much like the Madonna [tribute episode]." Heather Morris, who plays 'Brittany' on the show, will be playing Britney Spears in a dream sequence. To date, however, GLEE execs were mum on whether or not Spears herself would be making a cameo in the episode. Series creator Ryan Murphy has finally spilled the beans and revealed on Ryan Seacrest's radio show today that - yes - Spears would be appearing on the show.
Said Murphy: "I think Britney, 100 percent, is going to be on the episode...[The episode] is so reverential, so kind and about her music...We're handling Britney with kids gloves."
Zaptoit.com additionally reveals of the episode that "New Directions' pleas for Britney tunes fall on deaf ears with Mr. Schuester (Matthew Morrison), so when they pay respective visits to the dentist (John Stamos), anesthesia-induced fantasies bring out the musical numbers and the all-but-official Britney cameo."
Britney Spears became a powerful member of the teen genre return in the late '90s. The runaway success of the Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys opened the door for her own musical breakthrough. Spears quickly became a a pop icon with her stunning debut release. She has since gone on to sell millions of records and confirm her status as a pop culture personality.
Television's most award-winning new series, GLEE was recently honored with 19 Emmy nominations; a Peabody Award; a Golden Globe for Best Television Series, Comedy or Musical; a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series; and a People's Choice Award for Favorite New TV Comedy. The music from GLEE is an international sensation with "Glee: The Music, Volume 1" and "Glee: The Music, Volume 2" topping charts in Australia, the U.K., New Zealand, Ireland and Canada. In the U.S., over 4.5 million songs have been downloaded, and both albums have been certified Gold for sales in excess of 500,000 units.
GLEE follows an optimistic teacher who - against all odds and a malicious cheerleading coach - inspires McKinley High's Glee Club to conquer the world one singing competition at a time. GLEE stars Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Jessalyn Gilsig, Jane Lynch, Jayma Mays, Kevin McHale, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Matthew Morrison, Amber Riley, Mark Salling and Jenna Ushkowitz.
GLEE is produced by Ryan Murphy Television in association with 20th Century Fox Television. Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan are co-creators of the series. Murphy, Falchuk and Dante di Loreto serve as executive producers, while Ian Brennan serves as co-executive producer.
