Chord Overstreet’s Sam might be gone from “Glee,” but Mercedes (Amber Riley) is still getting a love interest.
TVLine confirmed that LaMarcus Tinker, who played the likable Dallas Tinker on “Friday Night Lights,” has booked the role on FOX’s musical comedy.
Tinker will play Marcus, a member of McKinley’s football team. The character had previously been known as Bubba.
— Though he acknowledged the announcement is not yet official, “American Idol” executive producer Nigel Lythgoe confirmed on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show that Jennifer Lopez will return as a judge. Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson had already been confirmed for season eleven.