The Glee Project Season 2 Premiere

When The Glee Project debuted last summer on Oxygen, nobody knew whether it would take off, or sputter out like so many flights of reality fancy. As it turns out, the show had wings.  

Not only is The Glee Project back for season 2 (premiering Tuesday, June 5, at 10 p.m. ET), it will stretch for 11 episodes (one more than last season's 10) and feature 14 contestants (two more than last season's 12). Watch the teaser here: 
 

And while last season's mentors were secondary Glee characters like Blaine (Darren Criss), Coach Beiste (Dot Marie Jones), and Mike (Harry Shum Jr.), this season, the contestants will get to meet the show's heavy hitters.

Lea Michele, who plays Rachel, will guest mentor during the first episode, on individuality. Cory Monteith, who plays Finn, will appear in the June 19th episode about bullying and vulnerability. And Naya Rivera, who plays Santana, will stop by to guide the hopefuls through the episode about sexuality on June 26th.  

And, even though two winners were crowned last season -- Damian McGinty and Samuel Larsen -- Ryan Murphy seems to be serious about looking for only one winner this year. 

So who is in the running? As usual, those selected show that Murphy and company value not just talent but the sort of quirkiness that lends itself to this show's underdog vibe.

"I'm always the one who has a story," says a wheelchair-bound actress and singer named Ali. But here, she says, "every single person has overcome something." Like, say the "spunky Turkish Muslim" Aylin. Or Tyler, who is biracial, Jewish and transgender. Whew! 

So…quirky, check. But can they dance? During his first meeting with the group, choreographer Zach Woodlee was frankly underwhelmed by their boogying skills. The best he could say for the contestants were that they were "trying." Check out that rehearsal here.   

On the other hand, if Murphy is really serious about only choosing one winner this time, then maybe it's better to start of with some klutzy ones, to make it easier to whittle the group down! For a full list and description of the 14 contestants, click here.

Be sure to tune in to find out who will soon be walking the halls of McKinley High School!

 

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/glee-project-season-2-premiere/1-a-462114

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