Glee, Starring Matthew Morrison and Lea Michele, Headed for Prime Time

A new hour-long comedy series called Glee, created by Nip/Tuck’s Ryan Murphy and starring Matthew Morrison South Pacific, The Light in the Piazza, Hairspray and Lea Michele Spring Awakening, has been picked up for 13 episodes on the Fox network, according to Variety. The show is expected to premiere next spring to take advantage of the audience for American Idol.

Glee centers on a Spanish teacher Morrison who’s tapped to coach his high school’s lackluster glee club, with Michele as the group's star singer. “It’s a comedy, it’s a soap opera, it’s a musical," Fox Entertainment president Kevin Reilly told Variety. “It’s not a soft show. It’s got the trademark Ryan Murphy story turns and offbeat characters. It takes some tonal chances, and should generate a tremendous amount of buzz and interest.” Glee will reportedly include popular tunes performed onstage by the school choir.

In addition to Morrison and Michele, the cast of Glee includes Jenna Ushkowitz, a Swing in the Broadway company of Spring Awakening.

Twentieth Century Fox TV is behind the show; Murphy directed and co-wrote the pilot with Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan,and will executive produce the series with Falchuk.