With two chart-topping albums, the upcoming live tour and its critical success, Glee has had quite a momentous year.  After a long break, the show's first season resumes in April, and the cast and crew gathered at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills for the 2010 PaleyFest panel to discuss the program.  WARNING: SPOILERS throughout!

• The night began with an advance screening of the director's cut of the soon-to-be-aired 14th episode.  Without giving too much away, this episode featured Broadway stars Idina Menzel and Johnathan Groff (Lea Michelle's Spring Awakening co-star) respectively portraying the coach and star performer of rival glee club Vocal Adrenaline.  Performances include: Finn's rendition of The Doors' “Hello, I Love You”; Rachel's version of The All-American Rejects' “Gives You Hell”; a duet between Rachel and guest star Groff (who portrays Rachel's potential new love interest) of Lionel Richie's “Hello”; Vocal Adrenaline tackling “Highway to Hell”; and the New Beginning's version of The Beatles' “Hello Goodbye.”
• Episode 15 will be a Madonna tribute featuring a whopping ten songs — in one number, Jane Lynch recreates “Vogue” while Mercedes and Kurt give her a makeover.  Just like the original video, the performance will have the full Madonna wardrobe and will be shot in black and white.
• Another episode will be directed by Buffy creator Joss Whedon and will guest star Neil Patrick Harris as Will's high-school rival and McKinley High school-board member.  Matthew Morrison said he and NPH will have two duets — one of Aerosmith and another of Billy Joel.
• A Lady Gaga performance will be featured in an episode involving the “power of theatricality.”
• Kristen Chenowith will return this season!
• Kurt will soon have a new boyfriend and will perform “Rose's Turn.”
• Puck and Rachel may be revisiting their relationship while it was jokingly mentioned that Puck plans to have an affair with all the ladies—including Sue!
• There will be some romantic involvement with Finn's Mom and Kurt's Dad—which gives Kurt a way to get closer to Finn.
• Julia Roberts, who just finished filming a movie directed by Ryan Murphy, is a big fan of the show.  But it is unknown if she will make a guest appearance in the future.
• The panel agreed on the most difficult performance so far -- the wheelchair number for “Proud Mary.”  It was a struggle to both choreograph and perform. Amber Riley even took a nasty  spill off of her wheelchair during the filming.
• When discussing things that didn't make it past the cutting room floor, the writers mentioned that they were usually Sue Sylvester's quips.  Quotes like “Shut your mouth before I rape it” and “I will kick you square in the vagina” were among those omitted.
• Ryan Murphy mentioned that quite a few American Idol contestants from years prior have made requests but were ultimately rejected.
• In reference to song clearances, every contributor gets “favored nations” pay, meaning everybody gets paid the same fee.  And among the artists who refused permission to use their songs were Coldplay and Bryan Adams.  Murphy mentioned that as odd because the original versions of the songs used on the show usually rechart following the show's airing.
• Ryan Murphy also had a lot to say about the program's future seasons.  An episode showcasing all original songs will be part of the second season.  And though Rachel's dads will not appear this season, they might certainly be in seasons subsequent.

 
Be sure to catch Glee when it returns to Fox on Tuesday, April 13 with all-new episodes.

Francis Fernandez is an avid film and television fan who wanted to be apart of VH1's World Series of Pop Culture, but had to settle for being a contestant at the Universal Studios theme park version of Fear Factor. He didn't win. His favorite shows include Lost, Arrested Development, and Dance 360--the now canceled timewaster in which "dancers" competed head-to-head around a circle for 360 bucks and an Xbox.