Coach Tanaka is taking his broken heart and moving on from Lima, Ohio. Yes, 'Glee' has parted ways with Patrick Gallagher and the lovelorn football coach he portrayed.

Yesterday, TV Guide reported the addition of Dot Jones in the recurring role of a female football coach, leaving audiences to assume she'd be working with our favorite lovesick coach, but now comes word from the same source that Gallagher has been dropped from the series.

A bit weird to announce his replacement before his departure, right?

According to TV Guide, Coach Tanaka has not been written into the new season's first episodes, leading us to believe his character served his purpose by falling in love with Emma and having her stolen by his best friend, Will. What does this mean for the new season of 'Glee'?

'Glee' already has a bloated cast and is adding many new faces in season 2. Look for Charice to play an exchange student rival to Rachel and Chord Overstreet to go from protege to competition for Finn.

Is it smart to introduce so many new faces, especially given the mixed reception the second half of the first season received from critics?

Season 2 will be a critical one for 'Glee.' It became a pop culture phenomenon during its first season, selling millions of records and garnering huge ratings for a first-year show. The series has been nominated for 19 Emmy awards in various categories, but this upcoming season will be a test. Will it be able to keep up the momentum it so wisely built over the year it had since the first airing the season premiere after 'American Idol' in May 2009?

Rather than try to outdo itself with bigger musical numbers and even more famous guest stars, 'Glee' needs to return to the basics of blending drama and comedy effortlessly while highlighting great character moments.



Tell us, Gleeks: Are you looking forward to so many new faces on 'Glee'?