After this week's emotional farewell episode to Finn Hudson/Corey Monteith, the cast of "Glee" will trudge on with a host of new performances, and even some new characters.
TVLine reports that the Fox series is casting a female dean of a prestigious college for episode six. The producers are also casting a hip, New York City photographer for the sixth episode, as well as an erstwhile supermodel. Viewers may also get to see a flashback into Sam's (Chord Overstreet) past, because a boy "with blonde/light brown hair and large lips" is being cast to play an adorable 8-year-old Sam.
Before the show moves on to lighter fare, viewers will shed some tears during this week's episode, titled "The Quarterback."
The episode was especially difficult for the actors to film because it is really a tribute to Cory Monteith, the actor who portrayed McKinley High quarterback Finn Hudson. Monteith passed away this July at the age of 31 due to a heroin and alcohol overdose.
Executive producer Ryan Murphy said that shooting the farewell to Monteith and his character, Finn, was "incredibly difficult."
"What you will see in the episode is what really happened," Murphy told reporters last Thursday. "Almost everything in that episode is from the first take of every performance... because the actors and the crew had a really hard time shooting it. Everyone went into it with a lot of love."
The promo aired immediately after last week's second half of the two-part Beatles tribute. The second episode of the season, called "Tina in the Sky With Diamonds," included Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz) winning the prom queen crown, only to have a slushie thrown on her head afterwards in a "Carrie" inspired prank by an evil Cheerio. Despite the prank, the fellow Glee girls helped her get cleaned up, and sang a cheerful rendition of "Hey Jude." Sam (Chord Overstreet) also tried to win the affections of the new school nurse, Penny (Phoebe Strole). Meanwhile, in NYC, Rachel (Lea Michele) found out that she got the part of Fanny Brice in the Broadway revival of "Funny Girl," and Santana (Naya Rivera) became romantically involved with Dani, a fellow waitress at the diner, played by Demi Lovato.
Characters from McKinley High, both past and present, will return to mourn the death of Finn. Dot Marie-Jones, who plays Coach Beiste, will be returning for the episode. Marie-Jones said earlier this year that she wasn't sure how often she will appear in the upcoming season, but she will return to say goodbye to the beloved cast member. Romy Rosemont, who plays Carole Hudson-Hummel, Finn's mother, will also return for the tribute.
"Glee" airs on Thursdays on Fox at 9 p.m.