GLEE's Ryan Murphy Opens Up About 'Difficult to Shoot' But 'Stunning' Monteith Tribute Episode

Ryan Murphy opened up about GLEE's upcoming emotional tribute to Finn Hudson and Cory Monteith at a screening for American Horror Story: Coven today, according to TVGuide. The actor passed away on July 13th due to an accidental drug overdose.

"It was incredibly difficult to work on," he said. "Almost everything in that episode is from the first take of every performance because ... the actors and the crew had a really hard time shooting it. I've never seen a crew that you can't continue shooting because they've left the room sobbing. I struggled even working on it because what you're seeing is what they felt about not just Finn, but Cory. So I think it's amazing performances across the board, and everybody went into it with a lot of love."

"The episode is called 'The Quarterback,' and Cory really was that to that group of people -- and to me particularly," Murphy continued. "That group of kids particularly went through the limelight and became world famous at a very difficult age and many of them really struggled with it."

"I'm very proud of it," Murphy added about the episode. "I think the performances are quite stunning."

Read the original report here.

BWW reported earlier today the set list for the upcoming tribute, which includes "Seasons of Love", the heartwarming Act 2 opening number from Broadway's RENT. The emotionally charged episode will focus on Monteith's character Finn Hudson, and will air Thursday, October 10th.

Sources reveal the set list for the episode will be as follows:

*Seasons Of Love (Rent)
*I'll Stand By You (The Pretenders)
*Fire and Rain (James Taylor)
*If I Die Young (The Band Perry)
*No Surrender (Bruce Springsteen)
*Make You Feel My Love (Bob Dylan, covered by Adele)

Set entirely in Lima, Ohio, home of fictional McKinley High, where Hudson enjoyed four years as star quarterback, the episode opens with the news of the athlete's death before going on "to focus on all the characters remembering and mourning him, and celebrating his life."

Lea Michele, who portrays Rachel Berry, the on again-off again girlfriend of Finn, will not be seen until the final scene. While her appearance is brief, her performance is "incredibly powerful." A musical number performed by Michele's character will also be featured.

Watch the promo for the episode below.

Pictured: Cory Monteith, Ryan Murphy and Matthew Morrison at the Glee Spring Premiere Party in April 2010. Photo by FOX Broadcasting.