The Cast of Glee

Not only is Glee one of the most successful TV shows of the 2000s, it has spawned one of the most successful series of recordings, resulting in over five million worldwide album sales and 13 million singles sales. At one point in 2009, 25 Glee singles featured in the US Hot 100 singles chart - something that hadn't been achieved since The Beatles 45 years earlier. Glee was originally the creation of scriptwriter Ian Brennan, who based it on his own experiences as a member of the Prospect High School choir in Mount Prospect, Illinois. Set in Lima, Ohio, it was an immediate hit, getting comparisons with other hit shows based around teenage talent academies like High School Musical and Fame. With Ryan Murphy overseeing the show's musical content, the cast perform covers of show tunes and old hits like Queen's Somebody To Love, Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline, Rihanna's Take A Bow and The Supremes' You Keep Me Hanging On. The first season of Glee resulted in three best-selling soundtrack albums and several EPs followed as Glee became the hit teen TV show of its time.