The episode features the return of Mercedes (Amber Riley) and Mike (Harry Shum, Jr.), and the introduction of The Glee Project second-season winner Blake Jenner as McKinley student Ryder Lynn.
Artie Abrams (Kevin McHale) recruits Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith), who is working at his stepfather's tire shop and feeling like a failure, to co-direct McKinley High's production of Grease with him.
Blaine Anderson (Darren Criss) auditions for them, but after singing "Hopelessly Devoted to You", he breaks down and says he can't play Danny, the male lead, since the musical is about love and his relationship with Kurt has been shattered.
The directors decide to call back Ryder and Jake for Danny, and Marley and Kitty for Sandy: Mercedes and Mike lead all four of them in singing and dancing "Born to Hand Jive" to test the chemistry between the potential pairings.
Sue becomes livid when she discovers that Unique was cast as Rizzo despite her objections, and more so after Will asks Finn to take over New Directions for him while he is in Washington, D.C., for three months, working on a blue ribbon government panel to improve arts education nationwide.
Finn agrees to take over glee club and the cast list for the musical is announced, with Ryder as Danny, Marley as Sandy, Jake as Putzie and Kitty as Patty Simcox, much to her anger.
[8] Other recurring characters in this episode include guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury (Jayma Mays), glee club members Sugar Motta (Vanessa Lengies), Joe Hart (Samuel Larsen), Wade "Unique" Adams (Newell), Marley Rose (Benoist) and Jake Puckerman (Artist), Principal Figgins (Theba), and cheerleader Kitty Wilde (Tobin).