When "Glee" returns, get ready to applause--or roar, depending upon your pop diva allegiance.
When "Glee" comes back on Thursday, Nov. 7, the New Directions will answer the question: are you a Katy or a Gaga? In the episode, aptly titled "A Katy or a Gaga," the gang will go head-to-head in a pop star sing-off, representing either the Mother Monster or the blue-wigged "California Gurl." The characters will sing Gaga songs, such as "Applause" and "Marry the Night," as well as Perry hits, such as her new single, "Roar," and other older tunes.
TVLine has released photos from the upcoming episode, and they feature the characters as they embody their pop star favorites in very literal ways. They show Blaine (Darren Criss) in full-on Lady Gaga drag, and Sam (Chord Overstreet) in his famous abs in a Gaga-inspired winged get-up, a la the "Applause" video. Artie (Kevin McHale) is swinging from a vine, channeling Perry's "Roar" music video, and some characters are even sporting loin cloths-- and little else.
The episode is "about the kids trying to figure out who they are as artists," executive producer Ryan Murphy told TVLine. "I love both those artists, we've used them for many years on the show and they were very gracious to give us [their songs]."
Murphy said that the episode will lighten the mood after the emotional tribute episode to Finn/Cory Monteith. "I wanted to do something that was maybe a little more inspirational, because that was so hard on the cast," Murphy explains. "So we did something that [features] a lot of costumes, a lot of great set pieces."
When "Glee" returns, Rachel (Lea Michele) will try to keep working toward her career as a Broadway star after the show's devastating death. "I always thought Rachel was going to be a big star - that was sort of planted, even in the pilot," Murphy said. "So the story's about that. Does [Funny Girl] get good reviews? Does it get bad reviews? We're trying to add some complications in there."
Murphy also announced that the rumors are true: "Glee" will end after its sixth season. Murphy broke the news at a Paley Center event honoring the FX Network on Wednesday. He said that the death of Monteith will force the writers to write a different ending than what was originally planned.
"The final year of the show, which will be next year, was designed around Rachel and Cory/Finn's story," Murphy said. "I always knew that, I always knew how it would end. I knew what the last shot was - he was in it. I knew what the last line was - she said it to him. So when a tragedy like that happened you sort of have to pause and figure out what you want to do, so we're figuring that out now." He said that the new finale of the show will honor Monteith's passing.
Watch the slideshow above to see photos from the upcoming episode.
