Glee Season 4 Premiere: Finchel, Kate Hudson, Sarah Jessica Parker and 5 Reasons to Watch

Thursday night Glee will embark upon the journey that is season 4. The series started as a cultural touchstone; the right program made just at the right time. American television needed a shake-up and Glee offered it, ushering in a new era of musicals and a whole crop of shows made in its image (think Smash). 

But Glee seems to have hit its high note way back in season 1, and ever since Ryan Murphy and his band of lovable misfits have been pulling out the stops looking for a way to get back their status as must-see TV. 

Thursday night's season premiere will set the tone for what's to come for the rest of the season, and quite honestly, there is a lot. Shake those Glee haters off, because maybe (just maybe) the best days of Glee are back. Here are the top 5 reasons to look forward to season 4. 

1. Guest stars 

Thursday nights episode has an A-list guest star and she'll be coming back for more. Kate Hudson is starring as Rachel's teacher in New York City. From the promo she looks fierce and can sing and dance like nobody's business. If Hudson weren't enough, later this season we have Sarah Jessica Parker to look forward to. Parker will be playing the character Isabelle Klempt and apparently her path will cross with Kurt's ...

2. The tunes

Didn't you miss having the top of your iTunes list be a Glee number? I will make a prediction: Every Thursday night at 10 pm for the rest of the Glee season the number one iTunes song will be from that night's episode. On episode 1 "The New Rachel" we definitely know we are in for a "Call Me Maybe" rendition. We'll just have to tune in to see what else they have in store. 

3. Finchel

These two have made a name for themselves in the TV couple pantheon. The Rachel-Finn love story has been going on for three years now! Dating, hating, a proposal, a break up. What's next?  

4. New York 

We're not just in Ohio anymore. Season 4 sees some of it's fan favorites (ahem, Kurt and Rachel) living the life in New York City. It'll be fun to see how Murphy and the gang integrate the new city into Glee life. 

5. New, New Directions 

New cast members! Rachel, Mercedes, Kurt, Finn, Quinn ... they've all gone and graduated. But the New Directions won't be lonely too long, according to the promos we have a few new characters in store: Brody, Jake Puckerman, Marley, Kitty ... new names, new faces. Will they be a part of New Directions?