'Glee' Season 5 Episode Order Reduced

Season 5 of Glee is winding down, but that doesn't mean FOX can't still make adjustments.

The network has reduced the episode order for Glee Season 5, cutting it from 22 episodes to 20.

"Glee is still a great property to have on our air," said Fox’s COO Jee Early. "There have been some scheduling challenges … but what we see is still an incredibly popular show with a lot of time-shifting.”

So what caused the reduced order? Is it due to the production delay following Cory Monteith's death? Or could it simply be a byproduct of Glee's plummeting ratings? This season, the show only averages 4.2 million viewers for a 1.6 rating in the key demo. If I had to guess, I'd imagine it's a little of column A and a little of column B. The production delay could cause the show to continue airing well into the summer, which the network wouldn't exactly want, since ratings would presumably even lower than they are now. In addition, ad rates would be far lower, having come after the lucrative May sweeps period.

With that said, we still might see those cut episodes some day. FOX is considering filming the episodes and airing them in late summer anyway as a way to promote the final season. With the renewed focus on the original Glee cast in New York, the show could see a late resurgence, particularly since the show is nearing the end of its six-year run. Who knows? It could see a How I Met Your Mother-style ratings bonanza...although, hopefully, without the HIMYM-style finale backlash.

Via: Hypable

Credit: Mike Yarish/FOX