‘Glee’ to sing final number next season, co-creator Ryan Murphy says

It looks like “Glee” will take its final bow next season.

The Fox drama/musical will end its run after six seasons, Ryan Murphy, the series’ co-creator, said at a Paley Center for Media event honoring FX Networks on Wednesday night, according to TV Line.

Murphy, who also runs FX’s “American Horror Story,” said “Glee” star Cory Monteith’s drug-overdose death earlier this year forced him to rethink how to close out the show.

PHOTOS: Cory Monteith | 1982-2013

“The final year of the show, which will be next year, was designed around Rachel and Cory/Finn’s story,” Murphy said, as quoted by TV Line.

“I always knew that, I always knew how it would end. I knew what the last shot was -- he was in it,” Murphy said. “I knew what the last line was -- she said it to him. So when a tragedy like that happens, you sort of have to pause and figure out what you want to do, so we’re figuring that out now.”

A spokesperson for Fox declined to comment on the report. However, Murphy’s reported remarks essentially confirm those made by Fox Entertainment Chairman Kevin Reilly at the Television Critics Assn. media tour this summer.

ON LOCATION: Where the cameras roll

Ratings for the show this year have been low compared with last season’s. The season premiere drew about 5 million viewers and earned a rating of 2.0 in the key 18-49 age demographic, down more than 30% compared with the Season 4 opener.

However, a recent episode of “Glee” that paid tribute to Monteith brought in its best numbers so far this season, with its key demographic rating up 75% compared with the previous week.

The episode featured numerous emotional performances dedicated to the actor, including Lea Michele‘s rendition of “Make You Feel My Love.”

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Twitter: @rfaughnder

ryan.faughnder@latimes.com