Primetime musical series are red-hot courtesy of Fox’s Glee, and ABC, whose sibling Disney Channel started the genre’s resurgence with High School Musical and Hannah Montana, is developing a couple of music-themed series for next fall. Leading the pack is a drama with musical elements from writer Bob Kushell (Samantha Who?) starring Tony winner Idina Menzel.

Hot off her recurring role on Glee last season, Idina Menzel is headlining her own musical hourlong project, a mother-daughter relationship drama in the vein of Gilmore Girls. It will star the Broadway actress as the single mother of a teenager who, to make ends meet, waits tables and performs at weddings and bar mitzvahs, odd jobs that Menzel herself worked early on while pursuing a Broadway career. Kushell, who had been looking to do a musical series for the past 10 years, is writing the script for ABC Studios and will executive produce with David Knoller (Big Love). Menzel and her manager Heather Reynolds will serve as producers. Menzel, who originated the roles of Maureen in Rent and Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway, earned Tony nominations for both and won for Wicked. She will make her New York Philharmonic debut on Feb. 5 and may also return to Glee, where she plays the mother of star Lea Michele, later this season. The ABC project was packaged by ICM; Menzel is managed by One Entertainment. This is one of 3 sales for Kushell this development season. He also has in the works a multi-camera comedy at NBC and an animated comedy at Fox.

– Deadline.com

Whispers of this new endeavor first appeared in Idina’s November 4, 2010 interview with the LA Times. Exciting!

Idina is/was featured in the November issue of Gotham Magazine. The magazine is really difficult to find, even in its focus of New York City, but we were able to track down a scan of her full-page interview. Click the gorgeous photo below to read it in the gallery!

The Dove Sing4All Brush With Greatness contest Idina is co-sponsoring has reached its halfway point, so a new video has been released. Watch it below! Oh, and details on entering the contest – winning group gets to Skype with Idina – are available at the streaming link.

“Dove Brush With Greatness Sing 4 All” – November 2010
Description: Idina partnered with Dove to promote their “My Favorite Things” singing contest.
Time: 0:59 | Size: 4.0 MB
© Dove
Format: .flv
[ DOWNLOAD ] | [ STREAM ]

Happy Black Friday to everyone in the US! Wondering what Black Friday is, or why it’s called that? It’s the biggest shopping day of the year in the US with ridiculous sales that begin at even more ridiculous times of the early morning following Thanksgiving. It’s named “Black Friday” since it’s Friday and the stores’ revenues are “in the black,” which means the day is profitable (as opposed to losing money or being “in the red). There’s your education for the day!

If you are out Black Friday shopping, you may want to stop at Kohl’s for an exclusive Wicked-licensed Elphaba Christmas ornament. It even plays “Defying Gravity,” and yes, it’s Idina’s voice! It’s currently sold out online, but some stores may still carry it, and they might restock online in the coming days leading up to Christmas. If you find one, snap it up!

Note: You may also have luck finding it at Meijer retailers, or online via Long Island Treasures. If you’re in Canada, check Carlton Cards! Thanks for the tips, Linda and Lauren!