{alltv} Susan Boyle, McCartney music get spots on "Glee"

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Singer Susan Boyle and the music of Paul McCartney are to be featured in the new season of TV musical comedy "Glee" -- joining a growing list of performers eager to be associated with the hit show.

"Glee" creator Ryan Murphy told reporters on Monday that Boyle -- who found unexpected fame on the show "Britain's Got Talent" last year -- would feature in a Christmas-themed episode. She is expected to play a high school lunch lady. Boyle is reportedly recording a Christmas album.

Murphy also said that former Beatle McCartney had written suggesting his music be included on the show, which features a bunch of misfits in a high school choir.

"I received some fantastic mixed tapes from Paul McCartney a couple of weeks ago. I thought I was being punked!," Murphy said.

"It came out of blue in a package, handwritten, and it had two CDs and it said 'Hi Ryan, I hope you will consider some of these songs for 'Glee' ... I had heard that he is a fan of the show. I was gob-smacked ... so of course we are going to do something with him," Murphy said, without elaborating.

"Glee" has been nominated for 19 Emmys in its first season on television. The Fox show has been sold widely overseas and has spawned more than three hit albums of cover versions of pop, Broadway jazz and rap songs.

One of the episodes in the new season will be filled with the music of Britney Spears, following the success last season of Madonna and Lady Gaga-themed episodes.

Murphy said the cast and crew were studying Spears' music videos, her public appearances and album covers to familiarize themselves with her iconic looks.

There will be just one other episode next season dedicated to a single artist -- a tribute in February to what Murphy called "a musical artist that we are in negotiation for." He did not elaborate but the artist is widely thought to be the late Michael Jackson.

Murphy said that season 2 would see more focus on characters, particularly those of minor players such as ditzy cheerleader Brittany, Asian student Tina and the father of gay teen Kurt.

'We are scaling back a little bit (on music) and concentrating on the stories and doing just five or six songs per episode," he said.

The new season of "Glee" starts on the Fox network on September 21.