At Fox’s Television Critics Association Press Tour on Thursday, the network’s entertainment chairman, Kevin Reilly, discussed future plans for Glee, the show that was shaken up by star Cory Monteith’s death last month. He said that a tribute episode is planned early in the fifth season and that he doesn’t see the show living past season six.
According to Deadline, Reilly said that the third episode of season five, airing on Oct. 10, will be the tribute show for Monteith. “That is the episode where Cory’s character will be written off and will deal directly with drug addiction and with the circumstances surrounding Cory’s death,” Reilly said, stressing that it doesn’t mean that Finn will die of a drug overdose. He said that co-creator Ryan Murphy and the cast are filming PSAs that will air during the show. Also, profits from the music in the episode will go to the Monteith family.
“It is a celebration and really sad of this really vibrant kid,” Reilly said.
The episode will also be the last one before the show goes on a hiatus for the MLB postseason.
Entertainment Weekly reports that Reilly also said that he doesn’t see Glee going past season six.
“I would not anticipate it goes beyond two more seasons,” Reilly told reporters. “Never say never, but there’s two very clear [story] arcs to get to that end and conclude. If we discover a new crop of kids and there’s some breakout we like … [but] right now, we’re thinking two seasons.”
Glee’s season five production schedule was pushed back and the season will now kick off on Sept. 26.
Monteith was found dead on July 13 from a drug overdose.
image: Fox