"GLEE" ALL STARS JANE LYNCH, AMBER RILEY AND CHRIS COLFER JOIN OXYGEN'S "THE GLEE PROJECT" AS GUEST MENTORS

Darren Criss To Return As Guest Mentor

NEW YORK - June 12, 2012 - "Glee" may be on summer break, but Oxygen's "The Glee Project" is in session, bringing stars Jane Lynch, Amber Riley, Chris Colfer and Darren Criss of "Glee" back to the classroom as guest mentors. Jane Lynch will bring a piece of her "Glee" persona, Sue Sylvester, to the screen with the theme of "Fearlessness," on July 17 while Amber Riley (Mercedes Jones) discusses determination and ferocity with contenders during the "Tenacity" episode on July 31. The stars continue to align as Darren Criss (Blaine Anderson) returns to "The Glee Project" for the third time, this time as an expert on "Romanticality" on August 7, followed by Chris Colfer (Kurt Hummel) who will let his Gleek flag fly during "GLEE-ality" week on August 21. "The Glee Project" airs every Tuesday at 10 PM ET/PT with season one winner Samuel Larsen as guest mentor this Tuesday, June 12 for "Dance-ability" week.

Jane Lynch visits "The Glee Project" on Tuesday, July 17 and challenges the remaining contenders to face their fears and inner doubts with the theme of "Fearlessness." In her role as Sue Sylvester on "Glee," the talented Lynch has transitioned from the mean-spirited "Cheerios" coach to a motivational role model for both glee club members and cheerleaders alike. Now she channels that character to encourage "The Glee Project" hopefuls to overcome both their personal and aspirational fears.

On Tuesday, July 31 the incomparable Amber Riley is welcomed to "The Glee Project" classroom for "Tenacity" week. Demonstrating the fierce personality of her "Glee" counterpart, Mercedes Jones, Riley proves how persistence and drive trumps all, and how without it, individuality is lost.

Darren Criss returns to "The Glee Project" on Tuesday, August 7 as the guest mentor for "Romanticality" week. Fresh off another season of "Glee" as series regular Blaine Anderson, Criss dishes about the on-screen romances and emphasizes the importance of selling yourself in every romantic situation that "Glee" establishes.

As the end of summer break draws near, one of "Glee's" leading men, Chris Colfer, will also head to the "Glee Project" classroom on Tuesday, August 21 for "GLEE-ality" week. Colfer has played Kurt Hummel on the series throughout its run and will coach the remaining contenders as they channel their inner "Gleeks" and begin to determine where they would fit in at McKinley High.

Fans can "Like" The Glee Project on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/thegleeproject, follow @TheGleeProject on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/thegleeproject) and join the conversation using #TheGleeProject, and follow The Glee Project on Tumblr at http://thegleeproject.tumblr.com.

"The Glee Project" is produced by Ryan Murphy Television and Embassy Row with Ryan Murphy, Dante Di Loreto, Michael Davies and Shauna Minoprio serving as executive producers.

About Ryan Murphy Television

Ryan Murphy Television is the creative force behind some of today's most groundbreaking television. Responsible for the Primetime Emmy(R) and Golden Globe(R) winning series "Nip/Tuck," "American Horror Story" and "Glee" which has become a cultural phenomenon, RMTV strives to bring fresh perspectives to television audiences the world over.

About Embassy Row

Embassy Row is a New York City-based global format and digital production company dedicated to developing original concepts and adapting international formats for television networks, online and wireless distribution in the U.S. and around the world. We specialize in the genres of games, comedy, reality, factual, sports and food and are pioneers in the fields of brand-supported and digital content. We are a creative company, led by hands-on producers always on the lookout for the next breakthrough idea. Since 2008, Embassy Row has been a part of the Sony Pictures Television company.

About Oxygen Media

Oxygen Media is a multiplatform lifestyle brand that delivers relevant and engaging content to young women who like to "live out loud." Oxygen is rewriting the rulebook for women's media by changing how the world sees entertainment from a young woman's point of view. Through a vast array of unconventional and original content, including "The Glee Project," "Best Ink," "Bad Girls Club" and "Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood," the growing cable network is the premier destination to find unique and groundbreaking unscripted programming. "The Glee Project" is a winner of a 2012 Gracie Award which honors programming created for women, by women, and about women for "Outstanding Reality Show." A social media trendsetter, Oxygen is a leading force in engaging modern young women, wherever they are, with popular, award-winning features online including www.OxygenLive.com, the real time social viewing party that is also available as an app for the iPhone and iPad. Oxygen is available in 80 million homes, and can be found online and on mobile devices at www.oxygen.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/OxygenPR. Oxygen Media is a service of NBCUniversal.