SECOND CONTENDER ELIMINATED ON OXYGEN’S “THE GLEE PROJECT” – ELLIS WYLIE OF GRAYSLAKE, IL IS NOT INVITED TO “THE CALL BACK”

Dot-Marie Jones (“Glee’s” Coach Bieste) to Guest Mentor in Third Episode of “The Glee Project” on Sunday, June 26^th at 9:00PM ET/PM

NEW YORK – June 20, 2011 – During last night’s episode of Oxygen’s “The Glee Project,” the final 11 contenders performed an energetic rendition of Twisted Sister’s mega-hit anthem “We’re Not Gonna Take It.” Under the guidance of “Glee” guest mentor Idina Menzel (“Glee’s” Shelby), the group was coached on the theme of ‘Theatricality’ and fearlessness in your performance. At the conclusion, “Glee” hopeful Ellis Wylie (19) of Grayslake, IL was eliminated. Ellis was asked to perform Bobby Darin’s jazz classic “Mack the Knife” for “Glee” creator Ryan Murphy as a last chance – but the show must go on…

The remaining 10 contenders will face their next ‘Glee’-inspired challenge on Sunday, June 26^th at 9pm ET/PT when Dot-Marie Jones (“Glee’s” Coach Bieste) mentors them with a fitting theme of ‘Vulnerability.’ This week’s inspiration topic leads to one contender revealing a very personal story as they prepare to sing Tears for Fears’ haunting “Mad World.”

Dot-Marie Jones has shot to “Glee” fame as the inimitable Coach Bieste, who, despite an imposing manner proves to be a sympathetic mentor to her high school charges. Jones is an actor and former championship-winning shot put and arm wrestling athlete whose many television credits include appearances on “Roseanne,” “Married with Children” and “Desperate Housewives.”

From Ryan Murphy, the creator and Emmy® award-winning executive producer of “Glee,” and executive producer of “Glee” Dante Di Loreto, “The Glee Project” is a 10-episode competition series seeking to find the next star of “Glee” and will award one winner with the ultimate prize of a seven-episode role in season three of the hit FOX show. The series began with 12 extraordinarily talented individuals that were picked from thousands of entries, and an exhaustive nationwide and online talent search. The series uncovers a unique group of artists from both professional and amateur backgrounds, proving every underdog has a fighting chance at stardom. Each week one contender is sent home through intensive rounds of singing, dancing and acting based on assignments. During the final ‘Last Chance Round,’ the bottom three must perform for Ryan Murphy, casting director Robert Ulrich, and choreographer Zach Woodlee as they carefully assess which of them has what it takes to be one of the next new faces of the award-winning show.

For fans who want more of the “The Glee Project”, Microsoft’s search engine Bing is partnering with Oxygen to host the Bing Fan Favorite Contest, allowing fans to vote for their own favorite contenders. Shazam is also partnering with Oxygen to allow viewers to use the Shazam app to unlock exclusive content from each episode of the show. This week, Shazam users will be treated to extended footage from Dot-Marie Jones’ one-on-one session with the homework assignment winner.

“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.

Prior to appearing on “The Glee Project,” Ellis (19) had been performing in amateur shows for four years. Blessed, or possibly cursed, with a baby face, Ellis used her vocal talents and musical theater to express herself and her age. Ellis originally auditioned for “The Glee Project” at the Chicago open casting call.

A print conference call with Ellis will take place today at 1pm PT/4pm ET. For call information, please contact [email protected].

To reach Dot-Marie Jones for interviewing opportunities, please contact [email protected].

Fans of “The Glee Project” can follow the show on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/thegleeproject, Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/thegleeproject and Tumblr at http://thegleeproject.tumblr.com for access to all of the latest news and information. Additionally, fans can vote for their favorite contender in the Bing Fan Favorite contest beginning at 9pm ET on Sunday, June 12 and continuing throughout the run of the show. Log-on to www.OxygenLive.com for special live chats with cast as well as a special chat with the eliminated contender directly following the episode. Viewers can log on to http://thegleeproject.oxygen.com for a more in depth look at each contender and to meet the judges, complete with photo galleries and video.

For the first time ever, Shazam’s 125 million users will be able to engage with an Oxygen show and chat simultaneously with cast members and fellow fans. Viewers will be able to tag The Glee Project using the Shazam feature within the OxygenLive app to unlock an exclusive extended scene each week. Excusive content will also be available directly from the Shazam app itself.

About Ryan Murphy Television

Ryan Murphy Television is the creative force behind some of today’s most groundbreaking television. Responsible for the Primetime Emmy® and Golden Globe® winning series “Nip/Tuck” 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. Embassy Row is 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,” “Hair Battle Spectacular” and “Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood,” the growing cable network is the premiere destination to find unique and groundbreaking unscripted programming. 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, as well as innovative tools shopOholic, makeOvermatic and tweetOverse. Oxygen is available in 77 million homes and online at www.oxygen.com, or on mobile devices at wap.oxygen.com. Follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/OxygenPR. Oxygen Media is a service of NBC Universal.