<P> The series features the New Directions glee club at the fictional William McKinley High School in the town of Lima, Ohio . Season three follows the club competing on the show choir circuit, while its members and faculty deal with sex, sexual identity, gender identity, stress, domestic violence, teenage suicide, pregnancy, disabilities, texting while driving, and other social issues . The central characters are glee club director Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison), cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch), guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury (Jayma Mays), and glee club members Artie Abrams (Kevin McHale), Blaine Anderson (Darren Criss), Rachel Berry (Lea Michele), Mike Chang (Harry Shum, Jr .), Tina Cohen - Chang (Jenna Ushkowitz), Quinn Fabray (Dianna Agron), Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith), Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer), Mercedes Jones (Amber Riley), Santana Lopez (Naya Rivera), Brittany Pierce (Heather Morris) and Noah "Puck" Puckerman (Mark Salling). At the end of the season, eight members of the glee club graduate: Rachel, Mike, Quinn, Finn, Kurt, Mercedes, Santana and Puck . </P> <P> The season was nominated for three Emmy Awards, one Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical and one Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> No . overall </Th> <Th> No. in season </Th> <Th> Title </Th> <Th> Directed by </Th> <Th> Written by </Th> <Th> Original air date </Th> <Th> Prod . code </Th> <Th> US viewers (millions) </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 45 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> "The Purple Piano Project" </Td> <Td> Eric Stoltz </Td> <Td> Brad Falchuk </Td> <Td> September 20, 2011 (2011 - 09 - 20) </Td> <Td> 3ARC01 </Td> <Td> 9.21 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> The glee club is down to ten members and needs to recruit, so director Will Schuester assigns them a project to get new singers . Cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester runs for congress on a platform of cutting the arts in schools, and directs new cheerleading co-captains Santana and Becky (Lauren Potter) to sabotage the pianos being used in the glee club project . Blaine transfers to McKinley High to be with Kurt and joins New Directions . Rachel and Kurt's post-graduate plans for New York suffer a setback . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 46 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> "I Am Unicorn" </Td> <Td> Brad Falchuk </Td> <Td> Ryan Murphy </Td> <Td> September 27, 2011 (2011 - 09 - 27) </Td> <Td> 3ARC02 </Td> <Td> 8.60 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> Will sets up a boot camp for some of the members of the glee club to improve their dancing . Auditions begin for the school musical, West Side Story with Kurt and Blaine pitted against each other for the part of Tony . Kurt worries he's "too gay" to play any big roles on Broadway, but his father encourages him to be himself . Sue features Quinn in an anti-arts commercial for her congressional campaign . Shelby Corcoran (Idina Menzel) is hired to set up a rival glee club at McKinley High, and reaches out to her adopted daughter's birth parents Quinn and Puck . Kurt begins his campaign for senior class president . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 47 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> "Asian F" </Td> <Td> Alfonso Gomez - Rejon </Td> <Td> Ian Brennan </Td> <Td> October 4, 2011 (2011 - 10 - 04) </Td> <Td> 3ARC03 </Td> <Td> 8.42 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> After Mike gets an "A −" on a chemistry test, his father wants him to drop glee club . He instead auditions for West Side Story . Mercedes also auditions, but refuses to share the role of Maria with Rachel when the two are to be double - cast; she also quits New Directions, and joins Shelby's rival glee club . Brittany's campaign for senior class president kicks into high gear, and Rachel becomes a third candidate, infuriating the other candidate, Kurt . Emma Pillsbury's parents visit, and cause a flare - up of her OCD . The musical's cast list is posted . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 48 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> "Pot o' Gold" </Td> <Td> Adam Shankman </Td> <Td> Ali Adler </Td> <Td> November 1, 2011 (2011 - 11 - 01) </Td> <Td> 3ARC04 </Td> <Td> 7.47 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> Irish exchange student Rory Flanagan (Damian McGinty) arrives at McKinley High . He is living at Brittany's house, and she thinks he's a leprechaun . Mercedes starts recruiting for Shelby's new glee club, and succeeds in attracting Santana and Brittany, who are now officially dating . Sue gains a new competitor in her run for congress when Kurt's dad, Burt Hummel (Mike O'Malley), decides to run against her as a write - in candidate . Rory joins New Directions . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 49 </Th> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> "The First Time" </Td> <Td> Bradley Buecker </Td> <Td> Roberto Aguirre - Sacasa </Td> <Td> November 8, 2011 (2011 - 11 - 08) </Td> <Td> 3ARC05 </Td> <Td> 6.91 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> The school musical West Side Story is rehearsed and then performed, with Artie as lead director . Mike argues with his father about wanting to be a professional dancer, and Coach Beiste (Dot - Marie Jones) gains an admirer in the form of football recruiter Cooter Menkins (Eric Bruskotter). Kurt and Blaine debate whether to have sex, as do Rachel and Finn, the latter of whom is worried about being recruited for college football . New Dalton Academy Warbler Sebastian Smythe (Grant Gustin) makes a play for Blaine, and invites him and Kurt to a gay bar, where Dave Karofsky (Max Adler) gives Kurt some advice . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 50 </Th> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> "Mash Off" </Td> <Td> Eric Stoltz </Td> <Td> Michael Hitchcock </Td> <Td> November 15, 2011 (2011 - 11 - 15) </Td> <Td> 3ARC06 </Td> <Td> 7.08 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> Sue pursues a smear campaign against Burt in their congressional race . Glee club directors Will and Shelby encourage some friendly competition between their clubs, but Santana does not go along with the friendly part and hounds Finn, with disastrous results . Puck falls in love with Shelby, to her dismay . The candidates for senior class president debate, and Rachel withdraws from the race, throwing her support behind Kurt . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 51 </Th> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> "I Kissed a Girl" </Td> <Td> Tate Donovan </Td> <Td> Matthew Hodgson </Td> <Td> November 29, 2011 (2011 - 11 - 29) </Td> <Td> 3ARC07 </Td> <Td> 7.90 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> The election for McKinley High Senior Class President is marred by ballot - box stuffing, and Brittany is declared the winner . Coach Beiste challenges Sue over Cooter, and Sue's own election day results in an embarrassing defeat to Burt . Life gets more complicated for Quinn and Puck, Santana comes out to her family and the school with the help of the New Directions and Trouble Tones, and a shocking event upsets New Directions' plans for the forthcoming show choir Sectionals competition . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 52 </Th> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> "Hold On to Sixteen" </Td> <Td> Bradley Buecker </Td> <Td> Ross Maxwell </Td> <Td> December 6, 2011 (2011 - 12 - 06) </Td> <Td> 3ARC08 </Td> <Td> 7.11 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> Sam Evans (Chord Overstreet) returns to McKinley High and New Directions at Finn's urging just in time to compete in Sectionals--hosted by McKinley--against stiff competition, which includes McKinley's Troubletones and the Unitards, fronted by Harmony (Lindsay Pearce). Quinn makes a pivotal decision, and Sebastian plans a second try for Blaine . Finn admits he is jealous of Blaine and they reconcile . Tina helps Mike and his father come to an agreement about Mike's college plans . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 53 </Th> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> "Extraordinary Merry Christmas" </Td> <Td> Matthew Morrison </Td> <Td> Marti Noxon </Td> <Td> December 13, 2011 (2011 - 12 - 13) </Td> <Td> 3ARC09 </Td> <Td> 7.13 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> New Directions celebrates the holidays, and the group is faced with a dilemma when they agree to perform at two different events that turn out to be scheduled at the exact same time . Rory suffers from homesickness, and bonds with Sam, who is also away from his family . Artie is set to direct a Christmas special for a local network and is inspired to do a tribute to Christmas specials of old . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 54 </Th> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> "Yes / No" </Td> <Td> Eric Stoltz </Td> <Td> Brad Falchuk </Td> <Td> January 17, 2012 (2012 - 01 - 17) </Td> <Td> 3ARC10 </Td> <Td> 7.50 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> Will asks the glee club to help him propose to Emma in a very spectacular way, and he ultimately does . Sam joins McKinley's synchronized swim team, coached by Roz Washington (NeNe Leakes), desperate for a letterman jacket to impress Mercedes, who he wants to win back from Shane . Becky decides she wants Artie as her boyfriend and gets him to date her . Finn makes an announcement about his plans for life after high school and gets some devastating news, which draws him even closer to Rachel . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 55 </Th> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> "Michael" </Td> <Td> Alfonso Gomez - Rejon </Td> <Td> Ryan Murphy </Td> <Td> January 31, 2012 (2012 - 01 - 31) </Td> <Td> 3ARC11 </Td> <Td> 9.07 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> Will announces a "Michael Week" after the former Troubletones reveal they are disappointed they didn't get to perform in the Jackson family medley at Sectionals . The rivalry between New Directions and the Dalton Academy Warblers deepens ahead of Regionals as both groups plan to perform Michael Jackson's music in competition . Quinn is the first senior to get news on her college plans, and Kurt and Rachel get news on their NYADA applications . Mercedes and Sam kiss, and Sebastian injures Blaine in an attempt to strike back at Kurt . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 56 </Th> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> "The Spanish Teacher" </Td> <Td> Paris Barclay </Td> <Td> Ian Brennan </Td> <Td> February 7, 2012 (2012 - 02 - 07) </Td> <Td> 3ARC12 </Td> <Td> 7.81 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> Will and Sue are competing for a tenured position at McKinley High, but complaints are received about both of them as teachers . Will goes to night school for a refresher course in Spanish, but his teacher there, David Martinez (Ricky Martin), becomes a potential rival for his position at McKinley when Will assigns a Spanish - themed week to New Directions and invites David to perform . Rachel tells Kurt and Mercedes that Finn has proposed to her, and Mercedes has issues in her own love life . Sue announces that she wants to become a mother, and she needs a sperm donor . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 57 </Th> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> "Heart" </Td> <Td> Brad Falchuk </Td> <Td> Ali Adler </Td> <Td> February 14, 2012 (2012 - 02 - 14) </Td> <Td> 3ARC13 </Td> <Td> 6.99 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> Love is in the air and Will has the members of New Directions perform the best love songs they can find on Glee's second Valentine's Day episode . Sugar (Vanessa Lengies) holds a Valentine's dance for McKinley students, which Santana and Brittany attend as a couple; Artie and Rory compete to become Sugar's date . Rachel's fathers, Hiram and Leroy Berry (Jeff Goldblum and Brian Stokes Mitchell), throw a dinner party in honor of Rachel and Finn's engagement in their debut appearance . Kurt starts receiving Valentine's gifts from a secret admirer . A new transfer student to McKinley named Joe Hart (Samuel Larsen) is introduced . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 58 </Th> <Td> 14 </Td> <Td> "On My Way" </Td> <Td> Bradley Buecker </Td> <Td> Roberto Aguirre - Sacasa </Td> <Td> February 21, 2012 (2012 - 02 - 21) </Td> <Td> 3ARC14 </Td> <Td> 7.46 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> Defending Regionals winners New Directions compete against the Dalton Academy Warblers, whom they defeated the previous year--the victors will attend the Nationals show choir competition . Dave Karofsky tries to commit suicide after his classmates find out he is gay and post hate threats on his social media accounts, so Kurt tries to give advice to help him . Rachel decides to move up her plans to marry Finn . Sue says she is pregnant . Quinn ends up in a car crash while sending a text to Rachel . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 59 </Th> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> "Big Brother" </Td> <Td> Eric Stoltz </Td> <Td> Michael Hitchcock </Td> <Td> April 10, 2012 (2012 - 04 - 10) </Td> <Td> 3ARC15 </Td> <Td> 6.76 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> Blaine's older brother Cooper Anderson (Matt Bomer), a Hollywood commercials actor, comes to Lima for a visit, and while in town gives an acting masterclass to New Directions . Quinn returns to school in a wheelchair, but hopes to regain the use of her legs . When the members of the glee club do a "senior ditch day" at Six Flags, she and Artie go instead to a skate park for some wheelchair excitement . Quinn recruits Joe Hart to join New Directions . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 60 </Th> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> "Saturday Night Glee - ver" </Td> <Td> Bradley Buecker </Td> <Td> Matthew Hodgson </Td> <Td> April 17, 2012 (2012 - 04 - 17) </Td> <Td> 3ARC16 </Td> <Td> 6.23 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> The glee club does disco in a tribute to Saturday Night Fever . In order to help Finn, Santana and Mercedes figure out what to do after they graduate, Will assigns them to perform songs from the movie that would show how they feel about their lives . Finn decides to become an actor . Santana wants to become famous, but reconsiders when Brittany uploads a sextape of the two of them on the web . After her performance, Mercedes says she wants to become a recording artist; Sam posts a videoclip of that performance, which gets excellent reviews . Wade Adams (Alex Newell), a member of rival glee club Vocal Adrenaline, asks Kurt and Mercedes for advice about whether to perform as his transgender alter ego "Unique". </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 61 </Th> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> "Dance with Somebody" </Td> <Td> Paris Barclay </Td> <Td> Ross Maxwell </Td> <Td> April 24, 2012 (2012 - 04 - 24) </Td> <Td> 3ARC17 </Td> <Td> 6.90 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> The glee club pays tribute to the late Whitney Houston . After realizing the kids are still feeling sorrow about her death, Will decides to feature Whitney's musical legacy in the club . Kurt meets a guy in a music store, and they start texting each other, but when Blaine discovers this he's deeply upset . After Rachel and Santana sing their first duet together, Rachel asks Santana to be her friend for their final high school days . Joe continues helping Quinn with her physical therapy, and they both wonder if they have feelings for each other . Anticipation for Will and Emma's wedding keeps building . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 62 </Th> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> "Choke" </Td> <Td> Michael Uppendahl </Td> <Td> Marti Noxon </Td> <Td> May 1, 2012 (2012 - 05 - 01) </Td> <Td> 3ARC18 </Td> <Td> 6.01 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> Kurt and Rachel get ready for their audition for NYADA, and are thrown off - stride when they discover they will be performing for the school's dean, Carmen Tibideaux (Whoopi Goldberg). Puck's father (Thomas Calabro) shows up in Lima, which results in Puck making a decision about his future with the help of the New Directions Boys . Coach Beiste reveals a secret, and gets help from her fellow coaches Sue and Roz Washington (NeNe Leakes). </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 63 </Th> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> "Prom - asaurus" </Td> <Td> Eric Stoltz </Td> <Td> Ryan Murphy </Td> <Td> May 8, 2012 (2012 - 05 - 08) </Td> <Td> 3ARC19 </Td> <Td> 6.67 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> As class president, Brittany organizes the senior prom, and decides this year's theme will be dinosaurs . However, some people are reluctant to go . After the announcement of the prom king and queen finalist candidates, some of the misfits plan an anti-prom party . Ultimately, most everyone sees their own dream come true during the prom as Rachel and Finn are nominated Prom Queen and King . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 64 </Th> <Td> 20 </Td> <Td> "Props" </Td> <Td> Ian Brennan </Td> <Td> Ian Brennan </Td> <Td> May 15, 2012 (2012 - 05 - 15) </Td> <Td> 3ARC20 </Td> <Td> 6.09 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> Tina is upset that Rachel continues to get all the glee club solos, but after she hits her head falling into a fountain and hallucinates experiencing life as Rachel and the rest of the club with switched personas, she helps Rachel try for another NYADA audition . Rehearsals continue for the glee club's Nationals performance . Puck and Coach Beiste help each other through some tough times . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 65 </Th> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> "Nationals" </Td> <Td> Eric Stoltz </Td> <Td> Ali Adler </Td> <Td> May 15, 2012 (2012 - 05 - 15) </Td> <Td> 3ARC21 </Td> <Td> 6.03 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> The New Directions compete for the 2012 Nationals championship in Chicago, Illinois, performing for celebrity judges Lindsay Lohan, Perez Hilton and local politician Martin Fong (Rex Lee), with Vocal Adrenaline their chief competition . The New Directions win Nationals and Principal Figgins asks them to perform in the school's Teacher of the Year ceremony . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 66 </Th> <Td> 22 </Td> <Td> "Goodbye" </Td> <Td> Brad Falchuk </Td> <Td> Brad Falchuk </Td> <Td> May 22, 2012 (2012 - 05 - 22) </Td> <Td> 3ARC22 </Td> <Td> 7.46 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> The McKinley High class of 2012 graduates . Members of the glee club get their last assignment: the underclassmen and the seniors will say each others' farewell through the music . It's time for the seniors to follow their own dreams . Finn breaks up with Rachel so she could follow her dreams . The New Directions says goodbye to Rachel as she heads to New York City to study in NYADA . </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> No . overall </Th> <Th> No. in season </Th> <Th> Title </Th> <Th> Directed by </Th> <Th> Written by </Th> <Th> Original air date </Th> <Th> Prod . code </Th> <Th> US viewers (millions) </Th> </Tr>

Who leaves glee at the end of season 3