Ryan Murphy

Has Ryan Murphy gone soft on us? The writer-director, best known for quirky, dark dramas like the teen satire Popular and the plastic-surgery freakfest Nip/Tuck, wanted to do something different, something with heart. The result is Glee, a genre-busting, one-hour comedy about a Spanish teacher (Matthew Morrison) and his quest to rebuild a suburban high school glee club. The show stars a mix of Broadway vets (Spring Awakening's Lea Michele; Kristin Chenoweth and Victor Garber will recur), some familiar TV faces (Jayma Mays, Stephen Tobolosky), and Jane Lynch, who steals scenes as a ball-busting cheerleading coach. Fox is previewing the pilot episode in a plum, post-American Idol slot Tuesday (9 pm/ET) before it debuts in the fall. Murphy told TVGuide.com what inspired the edgy songfest, what "rules" give the show structure, and, finally, what we can expect from Nip/Tuck's final season.

Nip/Tuck may be nearing its final season, but the fat lady — or rather, group of teenage boys — has not yet sung for creator Ryan Murphy.

Fox has picked up 13 hour-long episodes of Murphy's latest creation, Glee, which may start airing this spring. The musical comedy centers on a Spanish teacher, to be played by Matthew Morrison (aka As the World Turns' Adam Munson), who's tasked with directing his school's ailing glee club.

The show is reportedly under consideration for an American Idol lead-in... read more 7 Comments