The students of McKinley High will be coming back this fall with some new faces and very poignant songs. "Glee" is coming back for season five after the tragic death of star Cory Monteith, who played football player and glee club member Finn. The cast, and particularly Monteith's girlfriend, Lea Michele, who plays Rachel Berry on the show, were devastated at the news of Monteith's untimely death. The cast is persevering in the face of tragedy by continuing on with season five.
The season will include some new faces at McKinley High and in New York City, where some of the students moved after high school. According to Hollywood Life, there will be a new girl joining the New Directions. The new recruit is described as an African-American girl who will definitely have a singing role. The second character that will be added to the show is a girl named Jenny, who is described as a "cute and quirky" girl in her twenties. It is reported that she will make her debut in the second episode of the fifth season. She will be based in New York City, and will also be assuming a singing role.
Monteith's death will also be worked into the new season. There will be a tribute to Finn, (and in effect, Monteith,) who will somehow be killed off of the show. The tribute episode will also include anti-drug public service announcements because Monteith's death on July 13 was due to an overdose of heroin and alcohol.
"The third episode will write Finn out of the show," Fox Entertainment Chairman Kevin Reilly told E! News. "That episode will deal directly with the incidents involved with Cory's passing and the drug abuse in particular."
The cast is currently back on set filming the upcoming season. Although the cast is heartbroken, they are supporting each other in their time of grief. A source on the set told Hollywood Life that the set is "very somber, but everyone is happy to be with one another."
Monteith's girlfriend Lea Michele was the most devastated by the heart-rending news, but is showing remarkable strength by delving back into work on the "Glee" set. Michele was spotted leaving the "Glee" recording studio a couple days ago after recording a new song for the first episode of next season. Michele even tweeted about her first day back.
"Thank you @alxanders & @AdamAnders for a great recording session today.. You guys are the bestâ¤," Michele tweeted after ending the recording session.
"Couldn't have picked a more beautiful & perfect song to start the year with..," she added in a later tweet.
"You were absolutely magnificent today. I am in awe of your strength and your sweet spirit. Love you. #leastrong," Alex Anders, vocal producer and recording engineer for the show, tweeted back.
"You are the strongest person I know. That was truly amazing. Love you xoxo #leastrong," Adam Anders, executive musical producer for the show, added.
The title of the song was not revealed, but it is assumed to be a Beatles song, because the "Glee" season will kick off with a Beatles tribute episode.
"Glee" is scheduled to return on September 19 on Fox.