“Glee” Scores Second Season, Looking For New Cast Members

Little could have gone better for “Glee”‘s fall premiere season. With consistently solid adults 18-49 ratings that grew as the season went on, more Golden Globe nominations than any other show on television, two hot-selling soundtracks and an excess of favorable media buzz, “Glee” broke out as a bona fide hit en route to securing an early pickup for a full first season.

News regarding a show’s future, however, can always get better, and that is what happened Monday. FOX confirmed that the series has been prematurely renewed for season two.

“We’ve loved GLEE ever since it was a pilot script, so it’s been an incredible thrill to watch the show take root and see audiences embrace these characters in such a huge way this season,” said FOX Entertainment President Kevin Reilly. “The show is a true and rare gem in television. We couldn’t be more proud of what Ryan Murphy and the GLEE team have created so far, and can’t wait to see what they come up with for Season Two.”

FOX also confirmed an extensive open casting search that will yield new talent for the show.

Said “Glee” creator Ryan Murphy, “Anybody and everybody now has a chance to be on a show about talented underdogs. No matter who you are – a Broadway talent or a struggling singing waiter with a dream in the Midwest – you now have an opportunity to make that dream come true by posting your talent video and showing us what you can do. ALL the roles will be chosen from the video audition process, which is exciting and unprecedented. We want to be the first interactive musical comedy on television, and the search is ON.”

The casting call will begin on Fox.com/glee soon and allow amateurs and professionals aged 16-26 to submit auditions for regular roles on the show. FOX will air a casting-related special in advance of the season two premiere.

“Glee” returns to finish its first season on April 13; season two begins in the fall.