‘Glee’ renewed by Fox for season 5 … and season 6!

When it comes to renewing “Glee,” Fox decided to do more than just bring the show back for a single season; they also made sure that they would not be losing Ryan Murphy’s musical comedy until the end of season 6 in 2015. In a statement today, Fox entertainment head Kevin Reilly made it very clear that there would be two more seasons of the show, which thus far has become a pop-culture phenomenon and exploded the careers of Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Naya Rivera, and more:

“Glee debuted as the first and only successful musical comedy series on television, and more than four years later, it continues to defy genres, break new ground and have a significant impact on popular culture … Week in and week out, Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Ian Brennan, Dante DiLoreto and the entire Glee team deliver a series that not only delights and surprises fans, but also inspires them to talk about, share, debate and engage with the show – and I’m absolutely thrilled to have them on board for another two seasons.”

It was actually not confirmed for some time if the show was even going to be back in the fall, though it was long assumed. “Glee” has seen a decline in live viewers, though with DVR data included the episodes for season 4 average around a 3.6 rating in the 18-49 demographic, which is still an impressive figure in the modern age of options.

But will all of the show’s stars stay put? While most of the original cast (including Michele and others) is under contract until the end of season 6, it is possible that they could continue to shake things up. After all, we cannot imagine that there is really enough of a budget or enough of a need to stay focused on McKinley High forever, especially after so many favorites graduate.

Are you shocked by the two-season renewal? If you want to check out some early scoop on a few characters returning to McKinley High for a little more “Glee,” be sure to check out the story over here.

Photo: Fox