The summer hit show The Glee Project is back for a second season. Instead of twelve contestants, there will be fourteen competing for seven spot episodes on Glee. Glee’s casting director Robert J. Ulrich, vocal arranger Nikki Anders, choreographer Zach Woodlee and video director Erik White and co-creator and writer Ryan Murphy are all back to help guide the contestants through the challenges each week.
The contestants, Abraham, Ali, Aylin, Blake, Charlie, Dani, Lily Mae, Mario, Maxfield, Michael, Nellie, Shanna, Taryn, Tyler, receive their first homework song; “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga. They are told to choose who gets to sing what part and also come up with choreography together. The contestants learned that not only will they be performing in front of Robert J. Ulrich but also Ryan Murphy and their first guest mentor, Lea Michele who plays Rachel Berry on Glee. Shanna is the first contestant to win the homework song challenge, which means she will have one-on-one time with Lea Michele and a stand out moment in the group number “Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake.
During choreography some of the contestants have a difficult time learning the steps, while others grasped it after a few tries. In the vocal booth with Nikki Anders, Shanna nailed her solo high notes and contestants like Taryn were told to be less shy. When it comes time to shoot the music video, yet again, Anders believes Taryn is not trying her hardest to perform. Tyler struggles to relax in order to get the choreography correct.
The last chance performances are determined Ulrich and Woodlee after assessing the contestants’ progress during the learning of the choreography, recording studio and the video shoot. Whoever is chosen must sing in front of Ryan Murphy who will determine who will be on the Call Back list and who will be on the Not Called Back list. Tyler, Aylin and Maxfield. Aylin’s last chance song is a ballad version “Without You” by David Guetta, Maxfield’s song is “Always on My Mind” by Willie Nelson and Tyler’s song is “ABC” by The Jackson 5.
When the Call Back list is posted, Maxfield finds himself on the Not Called Back list, leaving thirteen contestants to fight for the seven spot episodes on Glee.