New season: It is time to get your Gleek on

by Rita Sherrow

What: A musical comedy TV series called "Glee."

The setting: The fictional McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio.

Season two premise: Optimistic teacher saves New Directions - a diverse band of multi-talented Lima losers and cool kids who make up the school's Glee Club - from extinction despite the machinations of malicious Cheerios cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester and leads the group to realize their true star potential.

The stars: Matthew Morrison, Jane Lynch, Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, Amber Riley, Cory Monteith, Mark Salling, Dianna Agron, Jenna Ushkowitz, Kevin McHale, Heather Morris, Naya Rivera, Jayma Mays and Jessalyn Gilsig.

Where we left it last May: New Directions had won Sectionals but lost Regionals to their arch rivals Vocal Adrenaline. Quinn's mom, who is divorcing the dad who threw out their pregnant daughter, showed up at Regionals. Former head cheerleader Quinn had her Baby Beth and gave her up for adoption (to Rachel's birth mother and VA coach played by Idina Menzel). Sue - gasp! - convinced Principal Figgins to give the Glee Club another year of funding. (Plus the show earned 19 Emmy nominations with Jane Lynch winning Best Supporting Actress in a comedy, co-creator/executive producer Ryan Murphy winning for Best Direction and the 2010 Golden Globe for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy.)

This season: Newcomers challenge current show choir members for spots in New Directions. The school faces more budget cuts, Rachel and Finn disagree on new recruits, and Cheerios cheerleaders Santana (Naya Rivera) and Quinn (Dianna Agron) compete to be campus Queen. Kurt gets a boyfriend. Rachel has to learn to cope with getting what she wanted - going steady with Finn. Finn admits to Quinn that he still has feelings for her, and Rachel hears it. Sue goes head to head with the high school's new football coach named Coach Beiste (pronounced Beastie, seriously). The show will feature 3-5 production numbers per episode this season.

Guest stars: John Stamos as a hip dentist, Mr. Schuester's rival for Emma, the germaphobic guidance counselor.

Britney Spears as herself in the Sept. 28 episode about "not only about her music but about her public image" including a big dance scene with Cheerios member Brittany (Heather Morris).

Broadway's Cheyenne Jackson as coach of rival show choir Vocal Adrenaline.

Possibly Javier Bardem as a "demented Spanish rock star substitute teacher" in the second half of the season, according to "Glee" co-creator Ryan Murphy.

Broken Arrow native Kristin Chenoweth returning as April in two spring episodes.

Jonathan Groff (who played Rachel's love interest last season) is back for two episodes.

Comedy icon Carol Burnett as Sue's Nazi-hunting mother.

International pop artist Charice as an exchange student Sunshine Corazon and rival of one of the Glee Club's stars.

Newcomer Chord Overstreet ("iCarly") as Finn's protégé turned competitor on the football field and in the Glee club.

The Future:"Glee" is getting the prime post-Super Bowl time slot and, after the Super Bowl, the series will switch to 8 p.m. Wednesdays following the "American Idol" results show. Lea Michele, Cory Monteith and Amber Riley will also appear as campers in the season premiere of "The Simpsons" at 7 p.m. Sept. 26 on Fox.

Maybe next time: Sir Paul McCartney sent Murphy two CDs with a note saying "Hi Ryan, hope you'll consider some of these songs for Glee, Paul" the show's co-creator told TV critics. He's thinking about it.

New season: It is time to get your Gleek on
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Glee Season Two is the much-awaited show of this season. I can't wait to sit down and watch Glee Season Two premiere. A lot of Gleeks will surely watch it.