Glee to Clean House in Season 4: Who is Out?
Ryan Murphy has already said various Glee cast members will graduate high school after season three, but there was still the question of whether or not they would remain on the show. That question has now been answered by creator Ryan Murphy:
Lea Michele, Cory Monteith and Chris Colfer will definitely not be returning "at all" next season, he told The Hollywood Reporter.
“You can keep them on the show for six years and people will criticize you for not being realistic,” Murphy said. “Or you can be really true to life and say when they started the show they were very clearly sophomores and they should graduate at the end of their senior year."
Citing the "integrity" of the series, Murphy added:
“We’ve never done anything by the book. We made that decision and I involved Chris and Lea and they thought that was a good idea. They both trust the writing and trust me and felt that it would be great to have an open and closed experience for them to go out while they were on top.”
So, will Rachel and Finn end up together? Will she head to NYC with Kurt? There's plenty of time to debate what will happen and what should happen, but for now, let's just react: What do you think of this risk?
Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.
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June 24th, 2012 1:56 AM
When I found out that lea,cory,and chris was not returing to the show I was like okay they are boring anyway and not even my favorites.
September 30th, 2011 1:05 PM
wat sort of rubbish is that u know wat let,s face it those guy,s are the pillars of the show ,thier would only lead to chaos men.i think murphy should go back and think about it again
September 13th, 2011 9:06 PM
Most of Rachel and Kurt's performances bore me... I won't stop watching cause they are gone. I love them... but new life in the show is gonna be fun.
Admit it... we loved Paula & Simon but still tuned into Idol to see Jlo and Steven Tyler. People leaving won't ruin the show if they are replaced well.
July 17th, 2011 8:54 PM
Glee season 4 will go down hill. the only reason i really watch glee is because of chris colfer. i asked every gleek in school who there favorite character was they said kurt. They could at least see them in college a little or on christmas break. I won't watch season 4. and i know that alot of people are mad. these are the best characters and when you get rid of them the viewers the comments and fans will go down.
Rank: New User
July 16th, 2011 3:36 PM
Face it, and like it or not, this is The Rachel Berry Show. She is the only character that most viewers watch the show for and the only one who drives the storylines anyone cares about. Not to mention the fact that she dominates virtually every scene she's in and carries most of the musical numbers - particularly the competitions.
The first time I heard her chime in to that fantastic Finn/Rachel performance of Don't Stop Believing I literally got goosebumps and I have that same response almost every time she sings - that's what hooked me - along with many others I've talked with. You can wish that the show were about high school, but it's Rachel and Finn. That single song is a microcosm of the entire show... and it summarizes the entire story.
All of the other characters, except Finn, are expendable. And that's because the dynamic between these two characters is nothing short of magical. This show is no more about anyone other than Rachel than The Mary Ty
July 15th, 2011 5:37 PM
They are firing the three most recognizable and talented actors on the show and that has nothing to do with “graduating”.
The creator of the show claims it’s about “integrity”. Yeah right, a sophomore captain of the football team and a sophomore (possibly FRESHMAN?) captain of the cheerleading squad? Give me a break.
I think it’s entirely about bad PR and money. If they wait for contract negotiations, cause all three of these actor’s contracts just happen to expire at the end of the upcoming season, the actors would ask for a much bigger chunk of the profits, Fox would look bad saying “no” to giving them (and who knows, everyone else in the cast besides the big three) and eventually the fan backlash would hurt the show and the bottom line no matter who won that fight. By saying those characters are “graduating” to maintain the integrity of the show, they gracefully exit what might have become some of the highest paid actors in television and avoid the PR
July 15th, 2011 1:31 PM
I am so confused by this, aren't all the characters in the same grade? I thought Sam was the only one that is a year younger than the rest?
Rank: Recurring Character
July 14th, 2011 9:16 PM
It does seem that the determination of ages was rather arbitrary. In the first season the starting varsity QB was a sophomore (and the team only won one game -- meaning the 10th grader wasn't a prodigy); and the captain of the cheerleaders was a freshman (since they're not graduating Quinn)? It may be that Lea Michele and Colfer wanted to leave (or that Lea Michele wanted a raise - and, no, I've seen nothing that said she did, just don't think Murphy would go along with anyone shining as much as him).
Anyhow, that's what I think by all I've seen. To Ryan Murphy, this is his show and he's the star. I do love the show so give him credit not only for putting it together but for really bringing out so much talent in the cast (and like writing Rachel and Kurt for Michele and Colfer). So, other than having to admit I'll be far more interested in what Lea Michele is doing 2 years from now than what Ryan Murphy is doing (even though it will be on Glee), I won't give up on the show, but
July 14th, 2011 2:35 PM
I've a feeling Kurt and Rachel may have some sort of spin off (even if it's only a one off). The fact that Murphy has discussed their leaving with them and not Cory (harsh!) makes me suspect he has plans to honor the sneaky preview of them leaving for NY together.
Thanks @Whateva for trying to explain how grades work in the States (I'm still clueless as to what any of what you said means but still). Anyway what I was getting at is the kids are majority the same age (with the exception of Sam, who we have no clue about). Puck could have to repeat a grade, along with Brittany but I doubt Mark Salling would want to stay, he's got a real band so he'll probably leave as soon as they offer him an exit (and to be honest after the writers have emasculated him so much lately I won't be too devastated, hugging Mr Schue like a 2 year old...REALLY?!).
July 14th, 2011 10:20 AM
AND WHY JUST THOSE 3, THEY ARE ALL THE SAME AGE AND THEY ARE THE BEST OUT THE LOT AND YOU CHOOSE THEM TO LEAVE!!!!!!!!!!! SHOCKIN DECISION PEEPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!