Emmy Award winners Ryan Murphy and Dante De Loreto sign on to executive produce Oxygen's "The Glee Project"
"The Glee Project" Winner Scores Unprecedented Seven-Episode Guest Starring Role on Season Three of "Glee"
PASADENA, CA — January 13, 2011 — Award-winning executive producers Ryan Murphy and Dante Di Loreto of the mega-hit television series "Glee" have signed on to executive produce Oxygen's new reality competition series, "The Glee Project." "The Glee Project" will award one lucky winner a coveted seven-episode guest starring role on the third season of FOX's "Glee." Oxygen's 10-episode series will premiere in June and breaks new ground as the first time an unscripted reality series on one network awards a winner a role on another network. Michael Davies and Shauna Minoprio of Embassy Row will also executive produce. Robert Ulrich will serve as casting director for the project. Additionally, Oxygen will air a GLEEKEND marathon of "Glee" fan favorites from seasons one and two on Saturday, February 5. The announcements were made today by Jason Klarman, President, Oxygen Media.
"Ryan Murphy has created a true pop culture phenomenon with 'Glee,'" said Klarman. "We couldn't be more thrilled to be in business with him on 'The Glee Project' and bringing his talent and sensibility to the unscripted genre."
"The combination of talent in this production team is really a dream come true," said Amy Introcaso-Davis, Senior Vice President, Original Programming and Development, Oxygen Media. "With this group of inspirational producers we've set out to uncover the best young and fresh talent in the country and give someone this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"The Glee Project" recently concluded a nationwide casting search, whichfeatured "Glee" newcomers Chord Overstreet and Darren Criss and drew over 40,000 applicants through open casting calls in both Chicago and Dallas and online submissions via MySpace.
In the true spirit of "Glee," every underdog who's been waiting to showcase their talent now has a fighting chance as "The Glee Project" will find and train a group of talented performers who will compete to win this highly coveted role. Throughout the series, hopefuls will be narrowed down through intensive rounds of workshops, "Glee"-themed assignments and call-backs as a team of "Glee" insiders assess who has what it takes to be the next new face, and voice, of "Glee."
Oxygen's exclusive off-channel airings of "Glee" commence with the first GLEEKEND of the year. The marathon begins Saturday, February 5 with a full day of "Glee" premiering at 11am ET/PT until 11pm ET/PT. Episodes include fan favorites from seasons one and two, including "The Power of Madonna," "The Rocky Horror Glee Show" and "Britney/Brittany."
During the marathon, viewers can log-on to www.OxygenLive.com for a chat with cast and crew from the series. Additionally, fans can go towww.Oxygen.com for exclusive content such as fan blogs, photo galleries and video from the auditions. Oxygen Media will engage with "Glee" fans on all social media platforms.
Murphy was recently honored with an Emmy® Award and several nominations for his work on "Glee." Prior to his work on the smash hit, Murphy was the creator and executive producer for the critically acclaimed drama "Nip/Tuck." Di Loreto serves as president of production for Ryan Murphy Television. He has produced several original series for cable and broadcast television and a variety of films including "My Louisiana Sky," the Emmy® Award-winning "TempleGrandin" and "Die, Mommie, Die!"
Davies, best known for bringing the Emmy® Award-winning series "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" to U.S. television, is president of Embassy Row. Recent credits include "Watch What Happens Live" and "The Newlywed Game." 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."
About Ryan Murphy Television
Ryan Murphy Television is the creative force behind some of today's most groundbreaking television. Responsible for the Primetime Emmy® and Golden Globe® winning series "Nip/Tuck" and "Glee," which has become a cultural phenomenon, RMTV strives to bring fresh perspectives to television audiences the world over.
About Embassy Row
Embassy Row is a New York City-based global format and digital production company dedicated to developing original concepts and adapting international formats for television networks, online and wireless distribution in theU.S. and around the world. We specialize in the genres of games, comedy, reality, factual, sports and food and are pioneers in the fields of brand-supported and digital content. We are a creative company, led by hands-on producers always on the lookout for the next breakthrough idea. Since 2008, Embassy Row has been a part of the Sony Pictures Television company.
About Oxygen Media
Oxygen Media is a multiplatform lifestyle brand that delivers relevant and engaging content to young women who like to "live out loud." Oxygen is rewriting the rulebook for women's media by changing how the world sees entertainment from a young woman's point of view. A social media trendsetter, Oxygen is a leading force in engaging modern young women, wherever they are, with popular, award-winning features online includingwww.OxygenLive.com, the real time social viewing party that is also available as an app for the iPhone and iPad, as well as innovative tools shopOholic, makeOvermatic and tweetOverse. Oxygen is available in 76 million homes and online at www.oxygen.com, or on mobile devices at wap.oxygen.com . Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/OxygenPR. Oxygen Media is a service of NBC Universal.
