Unless he's trying to bring the scripted world a dose of "Jersey Shore" cast back-and-forth, Ryan Murphy dropped a real bombshell last night:
Three of the biggest stars of "Glee" will leave the show after season three.
The actors in question are Lea Michele, Cory Monteith and Chris Colfer -- whom, by our estimate, have probably gotten around 75 percent combined of "Glee" screen time thus far in the show.
It's certainly hard to imagine the series without them -- especially Michele and Colfer.
Though Michele's spotlight has waned in order to accommodate other characters, she is the undeniable anchor of the show -- and arguably its greatest vocal talent.
Colfer, meanwhile, saw a huge spike in screen time over the last season -- and became something of a character ambassador for the show's message of tolerance.
Colfer also won the Golden Globe for best supporting actor in a television series in 2010.
Spinoff speculation is already raging -- and it is true that Murphy made a point of setting up Michele and Colfer's characters to move to New York after high school.
One thing no one's pointed out yet: a Manhattan-set show starring Michele and Colfer would, in a different way than "Glee" does now, compete directly with NBC's "Smash," an upcoming musical drama about the mounting of a Broadway production.
Hold onto your butts, Finchel fans. You only have one season left to watch your favorite "Glee" romance play out.
On the heels of saying that the current roster of McKinley students would graduate at the end of Season 3, THR reports co-creator Ryan Murphy has confirmed three cast members definitely on their way out.
Lea Michele (Rachel), Chris Colfer (Kurt) and Cory Monteith (Finn) are among those officially exiting, and, according to Murphy, they're "not going to be back at all for Season 4."
"You can keep them on the show for six years and people will criticize you for not being realistic," he tells THR, "or you can be really true to life and say when they started the show they were very clearly sophomores and they should graduate at the end of their senior year."
As for who else is going with them -- and who of the current class might be staying -- apparently all will be revealed Sept. 20 at the start of (some) of the characters' final season.
Already mourning the loss of the original three? Hoping anyone in particular will be spared the collegiate guillotine and return for Season 4 with Mr. Schue (Matthew Morrison) and Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch)? Sound off in the comments
"Glee" stars Lea Michele, Chris Colfer and Cory Monteith will not be back for the show's fourth season.
Show creator Ryan Murphy said in an interview that the three regulars will be among the characters who graduate at the end of the third season, which premieres this fall.
Murphy told The Hollywood Reporter: "You can keep them on the show for six years and people will criticize you for not being realistic, or you can be really true to life and say when they started the show they were very clearly sophomores and they should graduate at the end of their senior year."
"We've never done anything by the book," he added. "We made that decision and I involved Chris and Lea and they thought that was a good idea. They both trust the writing and trust me and felt that it would be great to have an open and closed experience for them to go out while they were on top."
Planning beyond high school will be one of the season's themes, Murphy noted, and "more characters are leaving than are staying" when it comes time for graduation.
Which characters are graduating and which characters are staying will be revealed during the Sept. 20 premiere, the creator told THR.
"We always knew we'd graduate in real time. It's all part of the plan and it's all good! It's going to make Season 3 amazing!!!" Michele wrote on her Twitter account on Wednesday. "To Gleeks everywhere, you're in my heart now and forever. Love u all!!! This is just the beginning!!"
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