The fourth season of Glee premieres Thursday, September 13 at 9pm on FOX, and now we know what it's called. According to TVLine, the show's season 4 premiere is titled "The New Rachel."

Clearly there are two very different possible meanings for this title. The literal interpretation is that it's all about Rachel, living in New York City and going to NYADA while trying to redefine her life as a single gal in the big city, sans her boyfriend Finn and BFF Kurt.

But it could also refer to what's going on back at New Directions. Now that they've lost their golden girl who Mr. Schuester built nearly all of their routines around, who will step up as the leader of the group, the new Rachel?

Tina is the obvious choice since the show spent an entire episode last season having Rachel tell Tina that next year was all about her. But I'm sure the Glee writers will find a way to ignore Tina even when she's one of the only decent female singers left.

And that's the problem. New Directions needs 12 members to compete, but after last season's mass graduation exodus, they're left crippled. Since we recently learned Damian McGinty is not returning, at best there are seven kids coming back. There's Tina, Brittany, Sugar, Artie, Blaine, Sam and Joe. Not only does New Directions need a new Rachel, they need five of them.

Will Tina step up as the new Rachel? Will a new girl steal the crown (perhaps the winner of The Glee Project season 2 will be female)? Will Lindsay Pearce's Harmony, Alex Newell's Unique or Grant Gustin's Sebastian transfer schools to join New Directions?

We'll have to wait until Glee season 4 premieres to get those answers.


(Image courtesy of FOX)