Glee's New Class Promoted to Series Regulars

Gleehas promoted Melissa Benoist, Jacob Artist and Becca Tobin to series regulars along with Glee Projectalums Blake Jenner and Alex Newell, The Hollywood Reporterreports.

Newell, a runner-up on the first season of The Glee Project, first appeared on Glee in Season 3. Glee Project Season 2 winner Jenner, as well as Benoist, Artist and Tobin, all debuted last season as new members of the New Directions.

The decision comes shortly after it was announced that Heather Morris, Mark Salling, Amber Riley and Harry Shum, Jr. will no longer appear as series regulars. News broke last spring that Morris was pregnant with her first child, which would have made it challenging to continue her portrayal of bimbo cheerleader Brittany full-time. Much like Dianna Agron and Jayma Mays last season, the foursome will most likely return for guest appearances.

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Despite new on Saturday that she is joining the new CBS comedy The Millers as Will Arnett's sister,  Mays is expected to make several appearances on Glee next season. Her character, Emma, wed Mr. Schue (Matthew Morrison) in the Season 4 finale. Mays replaces It's Always Sunny in Philadelphiastar Mary Elizabeth Ellis on The Millers, which co-stars Beau Bridges and Margo Martindale.

Glee returns for its fifth season on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 9/8c on Fox and has already been renewed for Season 6.