First contender eliminated on Oxygen's 'The Glee Project'

Bryce Ross-Johnson is not invited to "The Call Back"

Broadway star Idina Menzel to guest mentor in second episode

During last night's series debut of Oxygen's "The Glee Project," the 12 contenders performed an energetic rendition of Katy Perry's mega-hit "Firework." Under the tutelage of "Glee" guest mentor Darren Criss ("Glee's" Blaine), the group was coached on the theme of individuality and how to stand out while being true to your personality. At the conclusion of the premiere episode, "Glee" hopeful Bryce Ross-Johnson (22) of Westlake Village, Calif., was the first contender to be eliminated. He was tasked with performing Bruno Mars' "Just the Way You Are" for "Glee" creator Ryan Murphy as a last chance -- but the show must go on! The remaining 11 contenders will face their next "Glee"-inspired challenge on Sunday, June 19, at 9 p.m. ET/PT, only on Oxygen.

Next week on "The Glee Project," the contenders are in for a real treat as Broadway star Idina Menzel ("Glee's" Shelby) will mentor the contenders with a fitting theme of "theatricality." Additionally, as they prepare to sing Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It," tensions rise between two of the contenders.

Prior to appearing on "The Glee Project," Bryce Ross-Johnson had been performing ever since he picked up an acoustic guitar and taught himself to play at age 13. During his junior year of high school, he discovered the theater department and for the first time in his life felt comfortable in his own skin. At 15, while vacationing in the Bahamas, Bryce dove headfirst into a coral reef, splitting open his head and breaking his neck. For the next seven months he lived in a neck brace unsure of whether he would walk again. As a student at Berklee College of Music in Boston, he is a voice major with a scholarship, and sings jazz, rap, pop, punk, reggae and gospel. Bryce is also an accomplished songwriter and was one of 34,000 to submit an audition video for "The Glee Project" via MySpace.

From Murphy, the creator and Emmy-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 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 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.  

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. 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 logon 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).