Oxygen Confirms Second Season Of THE GLEE PROJECT

Oxygen has picked up a second season of the critically acclaimed competition series THE GLEE PROJECT for a summer 2012 debut. The spinoff competition series, which awards one winner a seven episode arc on GLEE, will return with Ryan Murphy and Dante Di Loreto continuing as executive producers along with series executive producers Michael Davies and Shauna Minoprio of Embassy Row. THE GLEE PROJECT will air on Oxygen this summer with 14 contenders -- two more than season one -- additional themes and all new music. Second season casting recently wrapped up, with thousands of hopefuls auditioning online and in a multi-city casting tour. Murphy will once again join casting director Robert Ulrich, choreographer and GLEE co-producer Zach Woodlee and vocal coach Nikki Anders in the final deliberations of each installment of the series.

THE GLEE PROJECT, whose first season galvanized “Gleeks” around the country, averaged more than one million total viewers (1.191 MM) linearly over the course of its summer run, according to Nielsen. Two lucky winners (Damian McGinty and Samuel Larsen) each won seven episode arcs at the end of the competition and two of the final four contenders (Lindsay Pearce and Alex Newell) were awarded two-episode guest starring roles in the current season of GLEE on FOX. McGinty is currently appearing in GLEE and Pearce recently wrapped up her guest starring stint; Larsen and Newell will feature on the series later this season.

"THE GLEE PROJECT is a special show that has tapped into a desire in our culture to watch people go for and achieve their dreams," said Jason Klarman, President, Oxygen Media.

The series recently landed on several “Best Of” lists for 2011 and garnered attention for its social/multiplatform success, including winning a Media Vanguard Award for “Best SocialTV Mobile Engagement Innovation” and the THE GLEE PROJECT OxygenLive finale won Outstanding Achievement in Marketing from the Interactive Media Council.

Murphy was recently honored with an Emmy® Award and two Golden Globes® for his work on GLEE. He also is co-creator and executive producer of AMERICAN HORROR STORY, which recently garnered Golden Globe® nominations in the Best Drama and Best Supporting Actress categories. Di Loreto serves as president of production for Ryan Murphy Television. He has produced original series for cable and broadcast television, and a variety of films, including the Emmy® award winning Temple Grandin and My Louisiana Sky.

Davies, best known for bringing the Emmy® Award-winning series WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE to American television, is president of Embassy Row. Recent credits include WATCH WHAT HAPPENS LIVE, THE SUBSTITUTE and THE TALKING DEAD. Emmy® nominated executive producer Minoprio joined Embassy Row in October 2010 as executive producer and runs the company’s Los Angeles office and operation. She has produced some of the most successful and innovative reality shows on television including TOP CHEF, and UNDERCOVER BOSS.

On air Source: Nielsen Media Research; LS and L7.