FOX
As we roll towards the end of May — and there are a lot more series that premiered during the final week — we again only have one new series that debuted this week. And it technically wasn’t even a series debut, more of a preview for the show’s Fall premiere, but it is still the show’s first episode and it was broadcast this week.
1959
- No new series premiered this week in 1959.
1969
- No new series premiered this week in 1969.
1979
- No new series premiered this week in 1979.
1989
- No new series premiered this week in 1989.
1999
- No new series premiered this week in 1999.
2009
- May 19 — High school musical series Glee gets a special pre-season premiere on Fox (the first season premiered on September 9). If you’re not familiar with the show, it takes place at the fictional William McKinley High where its glee club New Directions competes on the show choir circuit. Of course it’s not all about the music. The series also focused on the students, their personal lives and social issues like sexuality, race, relationship and teamwork. The core cast featured Matthew Morrison as the club’s director Will Schuester, Jane Lynch as cheerleading coach (and Schuester’s nemesis) Sue Sylvester, Jayma Mays as guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury, and Jessalyn Gilsig as Will’s wife Terri. The students were played by Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Kevin McHale, Harry Shum, Jr., Naya Rivera, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Amber Riley, Mark Salling, Heather Morris and Jenna Ushkowitz. As the series progressed through its run, the cast changed as the students graduated and moved on. Most notable addition to the student cast were Darren Criss, Chord Overstreet, Melissa Benoist and Blake Jenner. Mike O’Malley played the father to Colfer’s character (seemingly the only parent ever seen regularly), and Dot-Marie Jones joined the cast as Coach Beiste. Glee was an instant success and its first season earned 19 Emmy and four Golden Globes nominations, winning the Globe for Best Television Series: Musical or Comedy. Lynch and guest star Neil Patrick Harris were honored with Emmys, and creator Ryan Murphy won for his direction of the pilot episode. The show won Golden Globes again in 2011 for Best Series, Lynch and Colfer won for supporting actress and actor, and Gwyneth Paltrow won for her guest appearance. The series also spawned concert tours during the show’s summer hiatus as well as a 3D concert movie in 2011. Sadly, before production began on the show’s fifth season, Monteith died from an alcohol and heroin overdose, and the third episode of the season featured the death of his character in the tribute episode ‘The Quarterback’. After that episode aired, Murphy said the series’ sixth season would be its last. After 121 episodes and more than 730 musical performances, the show ended on March 20, 2015.
Did you watch this show? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!
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