Chord Overstreet May Not Be Leaving Glee After All – New Details

Last week the media world went into overdrive when it was announced that Chord Overstreet would not be returning to “Glee” next season.

Reports said that Chord’s contract was expiring and the network had decided to cut him loose.

There were even official sounding news releases from studio execs and producers that all but sealed Overstreet’s fate on the show.

Related: Chord Overstreet leaving Glee – was he fired?

But now the network is backtracking - saying Chord will always be welcome on “Glee”, and that even though his contract will expire they expect, and WANT, the actor to continue with the series.

Some say that fan backlash caused the producers to rethink their actions from last week.

The official word from TVLine is,

“Chord’s option to be a series regular was just not picked up at this time. If Chord wants to appear on Glee, the choice is his. The Glee writers like his Sam character, and have plans to write for him. He and his reps have been told that he is welcome back to Glee, and everyone hopes he will show up on August 10 when filming begins.

It took Chord two years to become a regular - If he has a great season, which we expect he will, then he will become a regular like Harry, possibly as early as January.”

Last week when Overstreet’s contract issue came to light, it was announced that Darren Criss, who plays Blaine, and Harry Shum, who plays the character Mike, will return next season in a fulltime role.

So it seems there is a definite feeling that the writers and producers very much want Overstreet to return for next season’s premier that kicks off September 20.

Gleeks around the country took to Facebook and Twitter to show their support for the character, and perhaps that outcry was heard by executives.

It looks like the new theme for Glee will be to keep McKinley High teachers Will Schuester, played by Matthew Morrison, and Sue Sylvester, played by Jane Lynch, but rotate through new student cast members as they graduate and leave the show.

A variety of cast members will then take part in the summer Glee Tour each year.

Producers have also hired six new writers for next season in an effort to keep the dialog and stories fresh. They also want to develop new main stories and wrap up existing story-lines as cast members exit the show.

That could be a hard sell for dedicated fans as most like the series because of the particular cast of characters. If writers start bringing in new students each year it may be difficult for viewers to grow comfortable with all the change.

Time will tell.

Follow InfoStar on Twitter – no contracts required

‘Two and a Half Men’ has 50/50 Chance of Returning Says CBS - Decision Soon.

CBS Network brass is still contemplating what to do with “Two and a Half Men”.

With television sweeps starting next month (May), and up-fronts looming, CBS has to make a decision on what to do with season 9 of the once golden sitcom – and fast.

Ever since Charlie Sheen was fired from the show there has been speculation it might return for another season – with or without Uncle Charlie Harper.

Since his firing, Sheen has been on the road with his “Violent Torpedo of Truth” tour and has been telling his audiences that he desperately wants back on the show.

Not so fast says the show’s production staff.

One insider says that there is a 50/50 chance the show will return for another season. And if it does return – there will be changes.

Here is what we know for sure:

- Charlie Sheen is not welcome back on the show.
- Executive producer Chuck Lorre has a plot workaround to either replace Sheen or write him out of the series.
- No official offers have been made to any new actors.
- A decision has to be made before May 18, 2011.
- CBS really does want to try and salvage the show

Chuck Lorre has been telling the media that he has several ideas on how to continue the show – one that increases Jon Cryer’s role, and another puts Ryan Stile’s “Herb Melnick” character in a lead role.

We have also heard a couple unofficial “plot” ideas, sans Charlie Sheen, that all include using the existing actors, sets, writers, and facilities. Seems like a smart idea to us.

Our favorite has Rose downsizing and buying Charlie’s house after he gets thrown in jail in Bangkok. She then allows recently thrown to the curb Herb Melnick to move in with her, Allen, and Jake. Even Berta likes the idea and agrees to stay on.

One insider told reporters,

“The idea would be Rose buys the house and lets Alan, Herb, and Jake live there. We call it ‘Two and a Half Men – and Rose’. There have been lots of variations but it always comes back to the same fundamental movement of actors and their roles. It would be easy – and funny.”

It does sound like a nice clean, and believable, transition that could actually propel the sitcom into a whole new direction – both retaining the old fans and creating new ones.

We say bring us “Two and a Half Men & Rose”