Video: Join the Club With FOX’s ‘Glee’ From ‘Nip/Tuck’ Creator Ryan Murphy

CHICAGO – “Nip/Tuck” creator Ryan Murphy brings his twisted worldview to the American high school with a new Fox series that looks bound to create a love-it-or-hate-it argument - a weekly musical comedy series called “Glee” - and we have an exciting new clip for you below.

The blend of “High School Musical” and Murphy’s former cult hit “Popular” stars Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Jessalyn Gilsig, Jayma Mays, Kevin McHale, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Matthew Morrison, Amber Riley, Mark Salling, and Jenna Ushkowitz. Jane Lynch guest stars in the premiere, directed by Ryan Murphy. The sneak preview of the new series airs on May 19th, 2009.

The official synopsis courtesy of Fox:

glee (gle) n.

1. great merriment [syn: hilarity]; 2. malicious satisfaction [syn: gloat]

From Ryan Murphy, the creator of “Nip/Tuck” and “Popular,” comes GLEE, a one-hour musical comedy that follows an optimistic high school teacher as he tries to transform the school’s Glee Club and inspire a group of ragtag performers to make it to the biggest competition of them all: Nationals.

McKinley High School’s Glee Club used to be at the top of the show choir world, but years later, a series of scandals have turned it into a haven for misfits and social outcasts. WILL SCHUESTER (Matthew Morrison, Broadway’s “Hairspray”), a young optimistic teacher, has offered to take on the Herculean task of restoring McKinley’s Glee Club to its former glory with the help of fellow teacher EMMA PILLSBURY (Jayma Mays, “Ugly Betty”). It’s a tall order when the brightest stars of the pitch-imperfect club include KURT (Chris Colfer), a nerdy soprano with a flair for the dramatic; MERCEDES (Amber Riley), a dynamic diva-in-training who refuses to sing back-up; ARTY (Kevin McHale, “Zoey 101”), a geeky guitarist who spends more time avoiding bullies than chasing girls; and TINA (Jenna Ushkowitz, “Spring Awakening”), an awkward girl who needs to suppress her stutter before she can take center stage.

Will’s only hope lies with two true talents: RACHEL BERRY (Lea Michele, “Spring Awakening”), a perfectionist firecracker who is convinced that show choir is her ticket to stardom; and FINN HUDSON (Cory Monteith, “Kyle XY”), the popular high school quarterback with movie star looks and a Motown voice who must protect his reputation with his holier-than-thou girlfriend, QUINN (Dianna Agron), and his arrogant teammate, PUCK (Mark Salling).

Driven by his secret past, Will is determined to do whatever it takes to make Glee great again, even though everyone around him thinks he’s nuts. He’s out to prove them all wrong – from his tough-as-nails wife TERRI SCHUESTER (Jessalyn Gilsig, “Nip/Tuck”) to McKinley’s cheerleading coach SUE SYLVESTER (guest star Jane Lynch, “Best In Show,” “Role Models”) to an über-hip world that thinks jazz hands and sequined tuxedos litter the road to infamy rather than pave the way to Hollywood dreams.

Featuring a soundtrack of hit songs from past and present, GLEE is produced by Ryan Murphy Television in association with 20th Century Fox Television. Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Dante Di Loreto serve as executive producers, while Ian Brennan and John Kousakis serve as co-executive producers. Murphy directed the pilot.

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By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com