TV Pick of the week: The Glee Project

The cast of The Glee Project hunts out fresh talent. Photo / Supplied

Casting director Robert Urlich says he truly understood the extent to which Glee had become a cultural phenomenon when poring over about 40,000 applications he received from Gleeks looking to star on The Glee Project.

The reality show is similar to other televised singing contests such as American Idol in that it scours the United States for undiscovered talent.

Because they are vying for a role on Glee rather than a record deal, they needed to be more than just singers, dancers and performers.

"You have to have something that is hard to put into words, that makes people want to root for you, that makes you very accessible," Urlich says.

Contestants must be aged over 18, but still able to conceivably play a high-school student. This opened the doors to diversity, and the contestants delivered, some excelling at Broadway musical numbers, others leaning towards rock, pop, hip-hop and jazz.

"We have all sorts of vocal styles, but also kids that represent aspects of high school and that world.

"What's wonderful about Glee is that it is about the misfit, it is about the underdog, finding your differences and celebrating them."

Urlich has an eye for picking the ultimate show choir performer.

There was no part for Chris Colfer, who now plays Kurt, when he turned up to audition a few years ago.

"He was so special ... on the spot he created the character of Kurt. Now it's inconceivable that the character did not exist, but he didn't."

Urlich hopes The Glee Project will introduce a new intake of characters that will keep the show fresh and the actors realistically high-school-aged.

Unlike the hit British teen drama Skins, which renews its entire cast every few seasons, Urlich does not think Glee fans could cope with him replacing the whole cast in one hit.

Stepping off the set of Glee and on to The Glee Project helped Urlich understand how much Murphy's TV show had not only resonated with young people but taught them important lessons about bullying, homosexuality, pregnancy, alcohol abuse and, above all, acceptance.

"So much of Glee's success is that everyone has been in high school, and high school really hasn't changed. It's still that time when everyone wants to be liked, people are dealing with their insecurities, and jealousy, and everyone knows these characters and sees a part of themselves or someone they know in these characters.

The Glee Project is like a glimpse into real life high school, it's like real life Glee club," he says.

LOWDOWN

When: 8.30pm, Monday
Where: Four
What: Battle of the jazz hands

- TimeOut