The Back-up Plan (Glee): Difference between revisions

"**The Back-up Plan**"
"The Back-up Plan"
Glee episode
Episode no.	Season 5; Episode 18
Directed by	Ian Brennan
Written by	Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
Featured music	"Wake Me Up"; "Doo Wop (That Thing)"; "Story of My Life"; "Piece of My Heart"; "The Rose";
Production code	5ARC18
Original air date	April 29, 2014
Guest appearances
	Shirley MacLaine as June Dolloway; Amber Riley as Mercedes Jones; Michael Lerner as Sidney Greene; Gary Dourdan as DeShawn; Eric Roberts as the fundraiser coordinator; Jim Rash as Lee Paulblatt; Richard Kind as Mr. Rifkin; Nathan Keyes as Andrew Cosgrove; Philip Pavel as a Fox executive; Geri Jewell as a Fox executive; Nicholas Kadi as Alain Marceau; Ilia Volok as the L.A. taxi driver;
Episode chronology
← Previous; "Opening Night"	Next →; "Old Dog, New Tricks"
	Glee season 5
	List of episodes

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Latest revision as of 10:14, 4 January 2025

"The Back-up Plan" is the eighteenth episode of the fifth season of the American musical television series Glee, and the 106th episode overall. Written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and directed by co-creator Ian Brennan, it aired on Fox in the United States on April 29, 2014, and features the introduction of Shirley MacLaine as rich socialite June Dolloway.

Plot

Newly minted Broadway star Rachel Berry (Lea Michele) signs with an agency called the ICA, and meets with her new agent Mr. Rifkin (Richard Kind), who urges her to branch out as much as she can from her leading role as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl. She travels to LA under the guise of being sick to audition for a television pilot, Song of Solomon, against the advice of her roommate Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer). In California, she auditions with The Rose, and is informed it is not a musical. The audition goes uncomfortably awry, partially due to the unfamiliar galactic jargon. Sidney, the producer of Funny Girl, calls to tell her to be at the theater at 7:30 as her understudy has injured herself. Rachel is horrified to discover the state of the traffic jam her taxi is stuck in. Kurt tells her to tell Sidney the truth, but agrees to help when she points out that her career will be ruined. Santana Lopez (Naya Rivera) suggests an alternative to Kurt's ideas as a distraction, and convinces a furious Sidney to let her temporarily step in as Fanny. Rachel later heartily thanks her with a meal. In a mandatory meeting with a still furious Sidney, he reveals to Rachel that if she missed a show again, she will be fired and he will sue her, rendering her unable to work on Broadway.

Blaine Anderson (Darren Criss) and Kurt prepare for the arrival of wealthy socialite June Dollaway (Shirley MacLaine), for whose opening Kurt has been selected to sing. They perform Story of My Life, impressing June, though she neglects Kurt, seeing only Blaine and inviting him to the Soho Center for Outsiders. Blaine reluctantly attends the party, Kurt maintaining that he's fine. At the Center, June and Blaine duet after the former finds out her stock price is lower than normal to enthusiastic applause. She tells Blaine at a meal of a show she's planning to center around him, and refuses his request that Kurt be in it, going as far as to advise him to break off his engagement and venture out into the world instead of settling down. In the apartment, Blaine apologizes for his absences and shares the show's plans to Kurt, lying that he'd been waiting for the latter's part to be fleshed out.

Mercedes Jones (Amber Riley) meets with Santana, worried about her music deal. She invites Santana to the studio to find some direction in her life. At the studio, they find themselves unable to get warmed up properly and Santana suggests to go out of studio, and they duet in the basement, successfully impressing the producer.^[1]^[2] Mercedes tries to convince DeShawn to let her duet with Santana, but he points out that an unheard-of partner might damage how well the album sells, and Santana agrees, saying that although she appreciates it, it should be all about Mercedes. She walks out, upset. Later at the Spotlight Diner, Mercedes convinces Santana to sign a contract when Kurt arrives with Rachel's news.

The episode ends with Rachel being contacted by Lee Paulblatt (Jim Rash), the FOX representative, who gives her good news and bad news: she has not been cast in Song of Solomon, but a writer is being sent to New York for a new show.

Production

Guest star Shirley MacLaine debuts this episode in a multi-episode arc as June Dolloway, a rich, "powerful socialite" and major NYADA donor who takes an interest in Blaine and wants to make him "a superstar".^[3]^[4] Scenes with MacLaine and Criss were shot on location at the Bradbury Building in downtown Los Angeles.^[3] This was MacLaine's first time singing a Janis Joplin song.^[5]

Jim Rash appears as Fox Television executive Lee Paulblatt, who is amazed by Rachel's talent when he sees her in Funny Girl and wants to cast her.^[6]^[7]

The episode was written by supervising producer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and directed by co-creator Ian Brennan, and was in production on April 9, 2014, when Academy Award-winners MacLaine and Rash were shooting scenes for him.^[8]^[9] It was produced in parallel with the following episode "Old Dogs New Tricks", which began shooting on April 4, 2014.^[10]

Recurring characters appearing in this episode include aspiring singer Mercedes Jones (Riley),^[1] Funny Girl producer Sidney Greene (Michael Lerner)^[2] and NYADA teacher Alain Marceau (Nicholas Kadi).

Five songs from the episode are being released on a digital five-track EP with the title Glee: The Music, The Back-Up Plan. These are: Avicii's "Wake Me Up" sung by Michele;^[11] Lauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)" performed by Riley and Rivera;^[12] One Direction's "Story of My Life" performed by Criss and Chris Colfer; Big Brother and the Holding Company's "Piece of My Heart" (Janis Joplin sang lead), performed by MacLaine and Criss;^[3] and Bette Midler's version of "The Rose" from the movie of the same name, sung by Michele.^[7]^[13]

References

^ ^a ^b "Listings – Glee on Fox". The Futon Critic. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
^ ^a ^b "Episodic photos". Fox Broadcasting Company. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Guest Star: Shirley MacLaine – GLEE". Glee. YouTube. April 28, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
^ Ausiello, Michael (April 8, 2014). "Glee Exclusive: Shirley MacLaine Books Arc as Blaine's [Spoiler]! Plus — First Photo!". TVLine. PMC. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
^ Snetiker, Marc (April 28, 2014). "Shirley MacLaine on her 'Glee' guest spot and singing Janis Joplin". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
^ Swift, Andy (April 28, 2014). "TVLine Items: Jim Rash Targets Glee's Rising Star, Chelsea Handler Eyes Netflix Deal and More". TVLine. PMC. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
^ ^a ^b "Guest Star: Jim Rash – GLEE". Glee. YouTube. April 28, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
^ Hitchcock, Michael (April 9, 2014). "Twitter / @hitchmichael: Ian Brennan directing two Academy Award winners today for an upcoming Glee episode. :)". Retrieved April 28, 2014.
^ Hitchcock, Michael (April 27, 2014). "Twitter / @hitchmichael: Yesss!!! Tomorrow the hilarious (& Oscar winning) @RashisTVUgly visits GLEE along with the legendary (& Oscar winning) Shirley MacLaine". Retrieved April 28, 2014.
^ Colfer, Chris (April 23, 2014). "Twitter / @chriscolfer: First day!!!". Retrieved April 27, 2014.
^ Lewis, Casey (April 28, 2014). "Exclusive Premiere! Lea Michele Covered Avicii for Glee, and It's As Awesome As You'd Expect". idolator.com. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
^ Daw, Robbie (April 28, 2014). "Glee's Amber Riley & Naya Rivera Cover Lauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)": Idolator Premiere". idolator.com. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
^ "Glee: The Music, The Back-Up Plan". Amazon. Retrieved April 27, 2014.

External links

"The Back-up Plan" at IMDb

[Fox0415-1] "Listings – Glee on Fox". The Futon Critic. Retrieved April 22, 2014.

[FoxFlashEp-2] "Episodic photos". Fox Broadcasting Company. Retrieved April 28, 2014.

[GleeMacLaine-3] "Guest Star: Shirley MacLaine – GLEE". Glee. YouTube. April 28, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.

[TVL0408-4] Ausiello, Michael (April 8, 2014). "Glee Exclusive: Shirley MacLaine Books Arc as Blaine's [Spoiler]! Plus — First Photo!". TVLine. PMC. Retrieved April 27, 2014.

[EW428-5] Snetiker, Marc (April 28, 2014). "Shirley MacLaine on her 'Glee' guest spot and singing Janis Joplin". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 1, 2014.

[TVL0428-6] Swift, Andy (April 28, 2014). "TVLine Items: Jim Rash Targets Glee's Rising Star, Chelsea Handler Eyes Netflix Deal and More". TVLine. PMC. Retrieved April 28, 2014.

[GleeRash-7] "Guest Star: Jim Rash – GLEE". Glee. YouTube. April 28, 2014. Retrieved April 28, 2014.

[MH1-8] Hitchcock, Michael (April 9, 2014). "Twitter / @hitchmichael: Ian Brennan directing two Academy Award winners today for an upcoming Glee episode. :)". Retrieved April 28, 2014.

[MH2-9] Hitchcock, Michael (April 27, 2014). "Twitter / @hitchmichael: Yesss!!! Tomorrow the hilarious (& Oscar winning) @RashisTVUgly visits GLEE along with the legendary (& Oscar winning) Shirley MacLaine". Retrieved April 28, 2014.

[10] Colfer, Chris (April 23, 2014). "Twitter / @chriscolfer: First day!!!". Retrieved April 27, 2014.

[11] Lewis, Casey (April 28, 2014). "Exclusive Premiere! Lea Michele Covered Avicii for Glee, and It's As Awesome As You'd Expect". idolator.com. Retrieved April 28, 2014.

[12] Daw, Robbie (April 28, 2014). "Glee's Amber Riley & Naya Rivera Cover Lauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)": Idolator Premiere". idolator.com. Retrieved April 28, 2014.

[Amazon-13] "Glee: The Music, The Back-Up Plan". Amazon. Retrieved April 27, 2014.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
-{{about|the episode of Glee|the 2010 romantic comedy film|The Back-up Plan}}
+{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
 {{Infobox television episode
-| Title        = The Back-Up Plan
+| series       = [[Glee (TV series)|Glee]]
-| Series       = [[Glee (TV series)|Glee]]
+| image        =
-| Image        =
+| caption      =
-| Caption      =
+| season       = 5
-| Season       = 5
+| episode      = 18
+| director     = [[Ian Brennan (writer)|Ian Brennan]]
-| Episode      = 18
-| Director     = [[Ian Brennan (writer)|Ian Brennan]]
+| writer       = [[Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa]]
-| Writer       = [[Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa]]
+| music        = {{Plainlist|
-| Music        = {{Plainlist|
 * "[[Wake Me Up (Avicii song)|Wake Me Up]]"
 * "[[Doo Wop (That Thing)]]"
@@ Line 16: / Line 17: @@
 * "[[The Rose (song)|The Rose]]"
 }}
-| Production   =
+| production   = 5ARC18
-| Airdate      = {{start date|2014|4|29}}
+| airdate      = {{start date|2014|4|29}}
-| Guests       =
+| guests       =
 *[[Shirley MacLaine]] as June Dolloway
 *[[Amber Riley]] as [[Mercedes Jones]]
@@ Line 31: / Line 32: @@
 *[[Nicholas Kadi]] as Alain Marceau
 *[[Ilia Volok]] as the L.A. taxi driver
-| Prev         = [[Opening Night (Glee)|Opening Night]]
+| prev         = [[Opening Night (Glee)|Opening Night]]
-| Next         = [[Old Dog New Tricks]]
+| next         = [[Old Dog, New Tricks]]
+| season_article = Glee season 5
-| Episode list = {{Plainlist|
+| episode_list = List of Glee episodes
-* [[Glee (season 5)|''Glee'' (season 5)]]
-* [[List of Glee episodes|List of ''Glee'' episodes]]
-}}
 }}
-"'''The Back-Up Plan'''" is the eighteenth episode of the [[Glee (season 5)|fifth season]] of the American musical television series ''[[Glee (TV series)|Glee]]'', and the 106th episode overall. Written by [[Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa]] and directed by co-creator [[Ian Brennan (writer)|Ian Brennan]], it aired on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] in the United States on April 29, 2014, and features the introduction of [[Shirley MacLaine]] as rich socialite June Dolloway.
+"'''The Back-up Plan'''" is the eighteenth episode of the [[Glee season 5|fifth season]] of the American musical television series ''[[Glee (TV series)|Glee]]'', and the 106th episode overall. Written by [[Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa]] and directed by co-creator [[Ian Brennan (writer)|Ian Brennan]], it aired on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] in the United States on April 29, 2014, and features the introduction of [[Shirley MacLaine]] as rich socialite June Dolloway.
+==Plot==
+Newly minted Broadway star [[Rachel Berry]] ([[Lea Michele]]) signs with an agency called the ICA, and meets with her new agent Mr. Rifkin ([[Richard Kind]]), who urges her to branch out as much as she can from her leading role as Fanny Brice in ''[[Funny Girl (musical)|Funny Girl]].'' She travels to [[Los Angeles|LA]] under the guise of being sick to audition for a television pilot, ''Song'' ''of'' ''Solomon'', against the advice of her roommate [[Kurt Hummel]] ([[Chris Colfer]]). In California, she auditions with [[The Rose (song)|The Rose]], and is informed it is not a musical. The audition goes uncomfortably awry, partially due to the unfamiliar galactic jargon. Sidney, the producer of ''Funny Girl'', calls to tell her to be at the theater at 7:30 as her understudy has injured herself. Rachel is horrified to discover the state of the traffic jam her taxi is stuck in. Kurt tells her to tell Sidney the truth, but agrees to help when she points out that her career will be ruined. [[Santana Lopez]] ([[Naya Rivera]]) suggests an alternative to Kurt's ideas as a distraction, and convinces a furious Sidney to let her temporarily step in as Fanny. Rachel later heartily thanks her with a meal. In a mandatory meeting with a still furious Sidney, he reveals to Rachel that if she missed a show again, she will be fired and he will sue her, rendering her unable to work on Broadway.
+[[Blaine Anderson]] ([[Darren Criss]]) and Kurt prepare for the arrival of wealthy socialite June Dollaway ([[Shirley MacLaine]]), for whose opening Kurt has been selected to sing. They perform Story of My Life, impressing June, though she neglects Kurt, seeing only Blaine and inviting him to the Soho Center for Outsiders. Blaine reluctantly attends the party, Kurt maintaining that he's fine. At the Center, June and Blaine duet after the former finds out her stock price is lower than normal to enthusiastic applause. She tells Blaine at a meal of a show she's planning to center around him, and refuses his request that Kurt be in it, going as far as to advise him to break off his engagement and venture out into the world instead of settling down. In the apartment, Blaine apologizes for his absences and shares the show's plans to Kurt, lying that he'd been waiting for the latter's part to be fleshed out.
+[[Mercedes Jones]] ([[Amber Riley]]) meets with Santana, worried about her music deal. She invites Santana to the studio to find some direction in her life. At the studio, they find themselves unable to get warmed up properly and Santana suggests to go out of studio, and they duet in the basement, successfully impressing the producer.<ref name="Fox0415" /><ref name="FoxFlashEp" /> Mercedes tries to convince DeShawn to let her duet with Santana, but he points out that an unheard-of partner might damage how well the album sells, and Santana agrees, saying that although she appreciates it, it should be all about Mercedes. She walks out, upset. Later at the Spotlight Diner, Mercedes convinces Santana to sign a contract when Kurt arrives with Rachel's news.
+The episode ends with Rachel being contacted by Lee Paulblatt ([[Jim Rash]]), the FOX representative, who gives her good news and bad news: she has not been cast in ''Song of Solomon'', but a writer is being sent to New York for a new show.
-==Synopsis==
-Newly minted Broadway star [[Rachel Berry]] ([[Lea Michele]]) auditions for a television pilot, a move that might deprive her of her leading role as Fanny Brice in ''[[Funny Girl (musical)|Funny Girl]]''. [[Blaine Anderson]] ([[Darren Criss]]) impresses wealthy socialite June Dollaway ([[Shirley MacLaine]]), and [[Mercedes Jones]] ([[Amber Riley]]) attempts to add [[Santana Lopez]] ([[Naya Rivera]]) to her music deal.<ref name="Fox0415"/><ref name="FoxFlashEp"/>
 ==Production==
-Guest star Shirley MacLaine debuts this episode in a multi-episode arc as June Dolloway, a rich, "powerful socialite" and major NYADA donor who takes an interest in Blaine and wants to make him "a superstar".<ref name="GleeMacLaine">{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9GMeZaN6ic |title=Guest Star: Shirley MacLaine – GLEE |work=
+Guest star Shirley MacLaine debuts this episode in a multi-episode arc as June Dolloway, a rich, "powerful socialite" and major NYADA donor who takes an interest in Blaine and wants to make him "a superstar".<ref name="GleeMacLaine">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9GMeZaN6ic |title=Guest Star: Shirley MacLaine – GLEE |work=Glee |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date=April 28, 2014|access-date=April 28, 2014}}</ref><ref name="TVL0408">{{cite web|url=http://tvline.com/2014/04/08/shirley-maclaine-glee-season-5-blaine-cast/ |title=''Glee'' Exclusive: Shirley MacLaine Books Arc as Blaine's [Spoiler]! Plus — First&nbsp;Photo! |first=Michael |last=Ausiello |work=[[TVLine]]|publisher=[[PMC (company)|PMC]] |date=April 8, 2014|access-date=April 27, 2014}}</ref> Scenes with MacLaine and Criss were shot on location at the [[Bradbury Building]] in downtown Los Angeles.<ref name="GleeMacLaine"/> This was MacLaine's first time singing a [[Janis Joplin]] song.<ref name="EW428">{{cite magazine|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/04/28/shirley-maclaine-glee-guest-spot/ |title=Shirley MacLaine on her 'Glee' guest spot and singing Janis Joplin |first=Marc|last=Snetiker|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=April 28, 2014|access-date=May 1, 2014}}</ref>
-Glee |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date=April 28, 2014|accessdate=April 28, 2014}}</ref><ref name="TVL0408">{{cite web|url=http://tvline.com/2014/04/08/shirley-maclaine-glee-season-5-blaine-cast/ |title=''Glee'' Exclusive: Shirley MacLaine Books Arc as Blaine's [Spoiler]! Plus — First&nbsp;Photo! |first=Michael |last=Ausiello |work=[[TVLine]]|publisher=[[PMC (company)|PMC]] |date=April 8, 2014|accessdate=April 27, 2014}}</ref> Scenes with MacLaine and Criss were shot on location at the [[Bradbury Building]] in downtown Los Angeles.<ref name="GleeMacLaine"/> This was MacLaine's first time singing a [[Janis Joplin]] song.<ref name="EW428">{{cite web|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/04/28/shirley-maclaine-glee-guest-spot/ |title=Shirley MacLaine on her 'Glee' guest spot and singing Janis Joplin |first=Marc|last=Snetiker|work=Entertainment Weekly|date=April 28, 2014|accessdate=May 1, 2014}}</ref>
-[[Jim Rash]] appears as Fox Television executive Lee Paulblatt, who is amazed by Rachel's talent when he sees her in ''Funny Girl'' and wants to cast her.<ref name="TVL0428">{{cite web|url=http://tvline.com/2014/04/28/jim-rash-glee-guest-star-rachel-funny-girl/ |title=TVLine Items: Jim Rash Targets Glee's Rising Star, Chelsea Handler Eyes Netflix Deal and&nbsp;More |first=Andy |last=Swift |work=[[TVLine]]|publisher=[[PMC (company)|PMC]] |date=April 28, 2014|accessdate=April 28, 2014}}</ref><ref name="GleeRash">{{cite web|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjdfeSYQYz0 |title=Guest Star: Jim Rash – GLEE |work=Glee |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date=April 28, 2014|accessdate=April 28, 2014}}</ref>
+[[Jim Rash]] appears as Fox Television executive Lee Paulblatt, who is amazed by Rachel's talent when he sees her in ''Funny Girl'' and wants to cast her.<ref name="TVL0428">{{cite web|url=http://tvline.com/2014/04/28/jim-rash-glee-guest-star-rachel-funny-girl/ |title=TVLine Items: Jim Rash Targets Glee's Rising Star, Chelsea Handler Eyes Netflix Deal and&nbsp;More |first=Andy |last=Swift |work=[[TVLine]]|publisher=[[PMC (company)|PMC]] |date=April 28, 2014|access-date=April 28, 2014}}</ref><ref name="GleeRash">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjdfeSYQYz0 |title=Guest Star: Jim Rash – GLEE |work=Glee |publisher=[[YouTube]] |date=April 28, 2014|access-date=April 28, 2014}}</ref>
-The episode was written by supervising producer [[Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa]] and directed by co-creator [[Ian Brennan (writer)|Ian Brennan]], and was in production on April 9, 2014, when Academy Award-winners MacLaine and Rash were shooting scenes for him.<ref name="MH1">{{cite web|last=Hitchcock|first=Michael|title=Twitter / @hitchmichael: Ian Brennan directing two Academy Award winners today for an upcoming Glee episode.  :) |url=https://twitter.com/hitchmichael/status/453750357223424001 |date=April 9, 2014 |accessdate=April 28, 2014}}</ref><ref name="MH2">{{cite web|last=Hitchcock|first=Michael|title=Twitter / @hitchmichael: Yesss!!! Tomorrow the hilarious (& Oscar winning) @RashisTVUgly visits GLEE along with the legendary (& Oscar winning) Shirley MacLaine. |url=https://twitter.com/hitchmichael/status/460813667458486272 |date=April 27, 2014 |accessdate=April 28, 2014}}</ref> It was produced in parallel with the following episode "Old Dogs New Tricks", which began shooting on April 4, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Colfer |first=Chris |title=Twitter / @chriscolfer: First day!!! |url=https://twitter.com/chriscolfer/status/452173361930862592 |date=April 23, 2014|accessdate=April 27, 2014}}</ref>
+The episode was written by supervising producer [[Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa]] and directed by co-creator [[Ian Brennan (writer)|Ian Brennan]], and was in production on April 9, 2014, when Academy Award-winners MacLaine and Rash were shooting scenes for him.<ref name="MH1">{{cite web|last=Hitchcock|first=Michael|title=Twitter / @hitchmichael: Ian Brennan directing two Academy Award winners today for an upcoming Glee episode. :) |url=https://twitter.com/hitchmichael/status/453750357223424001 |date=April 9, 2014 |access-date=April 28, 2014}}</ref><ref name="MH2">{{cite web|last=Hitchcock|first=Michael|title=Twitter / @hitchmichael: Yesss!!! Tomorrow the hilarious (& Oscar winning) @RashisTVUgly visits GLEE along with the legendary (& Oscar winning) Shirley MacLaine. |url=https://twitter.com/hitchmichael/status/460813667458486272 |date=April 27, 2014 |access-date=April 28, 2014}}</ref> It was produced in parallel with the following episode "Old Dogs New Tricks", which began shooting on April 4, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Colfer |first=Chris |title=Twitter / @chriscolfer: First day!!! |url=https://twitter.com/chriscolfer/status/452173361930862592 |date=April 23, 2014|access-date=April 27, 2014}}</ref>
-Recurring characters appearing in this episode include aspiring singer Mercedes Jones (Riley),<ref name="Fox0415">{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20140415fox03/ |title=Listings – Glee on Fox |work=The Futon Critic|accessdate=April 22, 2014}}</ref> ''Funny Girl'' producer Sidney Greene ([[Michael Lerner (actor)|Michael Lerner]])<ref name="FoxFlashEp">{{Cite web|url=http://www.foxflash.com/div.php/main/page?aID=1z2z2z268z11z6 |title=Episodic photos |publisher=[[Fox Broadcasting Company]] |accessdate=April 28, 2014}}</ref> and NYADA teacher Alain Marceau ([[Nicholas Kadi]]).
+Recurring characters appearing in this episode include aspiring singer Mercedes Jones (Riley),<ref name="Fox0415">{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20140415fox03/ |title=Listings – Glee on Fox |work=The Futon Critic|access-date=April 22, 2014}}</ref> ''Funny Girl'' producer Sidney Greene ([[Michael Lerner (actor)|Michael Lerner]])<ref name="FoxFlashEp">{{Cite web|url=http://www.foxflash.com/div.php/main/page?aID=1z2z2z268z11z6 |title=Episodic photos |publisher=[[Fox Broadcasting Company]] |access-date=April 28, 2014}}</ref> and NYADA teacher Alain Marceau ([[Nicholas Kadi]]).
-Five songs from the episode are being released on a digital five-track EP with the title ''Glee: The Music, The Back-Up Plan''. These are: [[Avicii]]'s "[[Wake Me Up (Avicii song)|Wake Me Up]]" sung by Michele;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teenvogue.com/entertainment/tv/2014-04/lea-michele-glee-wake-me-up-avicii |title=Exclusive Premiere! Lea Michele Covered Avicii for ''Glee'', and It's As Awesome As You'd Expect |first=Casey |last=Lewis |work=idolator.com |date=April 28, 2014|accessdate=April 28, 2014}}</ref> [[Lauryn Hill]]'s "[[Doo Wop (That Thing)]]" performed by Riley and Rivera;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idolator.com/7515953/glee-amber-riley-naya-rivera-lauryn-hill-doo-wop-that-thing |title=''Glee''{{'s}} Amber Riley & Naya Rivera Cover Lauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)": Idolator Premiere |first=Robbie |last=Daw |work=idolator.com |date=April 28, 2014|accessdate=April 28, 2014}}</ref> [[One Direction]]'s "[[Story of My Life (One Direction song)|Story of My Life]]"" performed by Criss and [[Chris Colfer]]; [[Big Brother and the Holding Company]]'s "[[Piece of My Heart]]" (Janis Joplin sang lead), performed by MacLaine and Criss;<ref name="GleeMacLaine"/> and [[Bette Midler]]'s version of "[[The Rose (song)|The Rose]]" from the movie of the same name, sung by Michele.<ref name="GleeRash"/><ref name="Amazon">{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JVP56OK/ref=dm_ws_ap_tlw_alb1 |title=Glee: The Music, The Back-Up Plan |publisher=Amazon|accessdate=April 27, 2014}}</ref>
+Five songs from the episode are being released on a digital five-track EP with the title ''Glee: The Music, The Back-Up Plan''. These are: [[Avicii]]'s "[[Wake Me Up (Avicii song)|Wake Me Up]]" sung by Michele;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teenvogue.com/entertainment/tv/2014-04/lea-michele-glee-wake-me-up-avicii |title=Exclusive Premiere! Lea Michele Covered Avicii for ''Glee'', and It's As Awesome As You'd Expect |first=Casey |last=Lewis |work=idolator.com |date=April 28, 2014|access-date=April 28, 2014}}</ref> [[Lauryn Hill]]'s "[[Doo Wop (That Thing)]]" performed by Riley and Rivera;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idolator.com/7515953/glee-amber-riley-naya-rivera-lauryn-hill-doo-wop-that-thing |title=''Glee''{{'s}} Amber Riley & Naya Rivera Cover Lauryn Hill's "Doo Wop (That Thing)": Idolator Premiere |first=Robbie |last=Daw |work=idolator.com |date=April 28, 2014|access-date=April 28, 2014}}</ref> [[One Direction]]'s "[[Story of My Life (One Direction song)|Story of My Life]]" performed by Criss and [[Chris Colfer]]; [[Big Brother and the Holding Company]]'s "[[Piece of My Heart]]" (Janis Joplin sang lead), performed by MacLaine and Criss;<ref name="GleeMacLaine"/> and [[Bette Midler]]'s version of "[[The Rose (song)|The Rose]]" from the movie of the same name, sung by Michele.<ref name="GleeRash"/><ref name="Amazon">{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JVP56OK/ref=dm_ws_ap_tlw_alb1 |title=Glee: The Music, The Back-Up Plan |publisher=Amazon|access-date=April 27, 2014}}</ref>
 ==References==
@@ Line 60: / Line 64: @@
 ==External links==
-{{Portal|Glee|Television}}
+{{Portal|Television}}
+* {{IMDb episode|3628512}}
-<!-- * [http://www.fox.com/glee/recaps/season-5/episode-18/ "Back-up Plan"] at [[Fox.com]]  -->
-* {{IMDb episode|3628512|Back-up Plan}}
-* {{Tv.com episode|glee/the-back-up-plan-3025586 |Back-up Plan}}
-{{Glee}}
 {{Glee episodes}}
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Back-Up Plan}}
-[[Category:2014 television episodes]]
-[[Category:Glee (TV series) episodes]]
+[[Category:2014 American television episodes]]
+[[Category:Glee season 5 episodes]]
+[[Category:Television episodes written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa]]

v t e Glee episodes
Season 1	"Pilot" "Showmance" "Acafellas" "Preggers" "The Rhodes Not Taken" "Vitamin D" "Throwdown" "Mash-Up" "Wheels" "Ballad" "Hairography" "Mattress" "Sectionals" "Hell-O" "The Power of Madonna" "Home" "Bad Reputation" "Laryngitis" "Dream On" "Theatricality" "Funk" "Journey to Regionals"
Season 2	"Audition" "Britney/Brittany" "Grilled Cheesus" "Duets" "The Rocky Horror Glee Show" "Never Been Kissed" "The Substitute" "Furt" "Special Education" "A Very Glee Christmas" "The Sue Sylvester Shuffle" "Silly Love Songs" "Comeback" "Blame It on the Alcohol" "Sexy" "Original Song" "A Night of Neglect" "Born This Way" "Rumours" "Prom Queen" "Funeral" "New York"
Season 3	"The Purple Piano Project" "I Am Unicorn" "Asian F" "Pot o' Gold" "The First Time" "Mash Off" "I Kissed a Girl" "Hold On to Sixteen" "Extraordinary Merry Christmas" "Yes/No" "Michael" "The Spanish Teacher" "Heart" "On My Way" "Big Brother" "Saturday Night Glee-ver" "Dance with Somebody" "Choke" "Prom-asaurus" "Props" "Nationals" "Goodbye"
Season 4	"The New Rachel" "Britney 2.0" "Makeover" "The Break Up" "The Role You Were Born to Play" "Glease" "Dynamic Duets" "Thanksgiving" "Swan Song" "Glee, Actually" "Sadie Hawkins" "Naked" "Diva" "I Do" "Girls (and Boys) On Film" "Feud" "Guilty Pleasures" "Shooting Star" "Sweet Dreams" "Lights Out" "Wonder-ful" "All or Nothing"
Season 5	"Love, Love, Love" "Tina in the Sky with Diamonds" "The Quarterback" "A Katy or a Gaga" "The End of Twerk" "Movin' Out" "Puppet Master" "Previously Unaired Christmas" "Frenemies" "Trio" "City of Angels" "100" "New Directions" "New New York" "Bash" "Tested" "Opening Night" "The Back-up Plan" "Old Dog, New Tricks" "The Untitled Rachel Berry Project"
Season 6	"Loser like Me" "Homecoming" "Jagged Little Tapestry" "The Hurt Locker, Part One" "The Hurt Locker, Part Two" "What the World Needs Now" "Transitioning" "A Wedding" "Child Star" "The Rise and Fall of Sue Sylvester" "We Built This Glee Club" "2009" "Dreams Come True"