'Glee' takes over FOX

By April MacIntyre Dec 17, 2008, 4:10 GMT

Glee creator Ryan Murphy - Hollywood Film Festival\'s 10th Annual Hollywood Awards - The Beverly Hilton Hotel - Beverly Hills, California. USA © Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos

Ryan Murphy fans can look forward to a new effort from the man who gave us "Nip/Tuck" on FX.

FOX has ordered 13 episodes of "Glee", described as an inspiring musical comedy series from Murphy that follows an optimistic high school teacher as he tries to transform the school’s Glee Club and inspire a group of ragtag performers to make it to the biggest competition of them all: Nationals.

The one-hour show will debut in 2009 and features a soundtrack of hit songs from past to present.

From FOX:

McKinley High School's Glee Club used to be at the top of the show choir world, but years later, a series of scandals have turned it into a haven for misfits and social outcasts.

Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison, Broadway’s “Hairspray”) has offered to take on the Herculean task of restoring the Glee Club to its former glory. Even with the help of fellow teacher Emma Pillsbury (Jayma Mays, “Ugly Betty”), it won’t be easy since the “brightest stars” of the pitch-imperfect club include KURT (Chris Colfer), a nerdy soprano with a flair for the dramatic; Mercedes (Amber Riley), a dynamic diva-in-training who refuses to sing back up; Arty (Kevin McHale, “True Blood”), a geeky guitarist who attracts more bullies than girls; and Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz, “Spring Awakening”), an awkward girl who needs to suppress her stutter before her center stage solo.

Will’s only hope lies with two true talents: Rachel (Lea Michele, “Spring Awakening”), a perfectionist firecracker who is convinced show choir is her ticket to stardom; and Finn (Cory Monteith, “Kyle XY”), the popular high school quarterback with movie star looks and a Motown voice who must protect his cool reputation with his holier-than-thou girlfriend, Quinn (Dianna Agron), and his arrogant teammate, Puck (Mark Salling).

Will is determined to do whatever it takes to make Glee great again, even though everyone around him thinks he's nuts.

Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk serve as executive producers, and Ian Brennan serves as the co-executive producer. Murphy directed the pilot.