'Glee:' 'Born This Way' Episode Has Sparks Flying

April 26, 2011— -- When "Glee" and Lady Gaga, two of conservatives' favorite targets, team up for the "Born This Way" episode tonight, you can bet there will be sparks flying -- on and off the screen.

On screen, the musical comedy-drama about a fictional high school will revisit its gay-bullying storyline, when the openly gay student Kurt Hummel, played by Golden Globe winner Chris Colfer, returns to the school, only to be bullied again by his classmate, David Karofsky.

But this confrontation has a happier ending. Karofsky, a closeted homosexual played by Max Adler, is expected to declare his sexuality to the world by singing Lady Gaga's "Born This Way."

And -- spoiler alert -- last week an extra on the set revealed via Twitter that Kurt would be named prom queen and Karofsky, prom king. Executive producer Brad Falchuk angrily tweeted, "Hope you're qualified to do something besides work in entertainment."

Off screen, tonight's show is already drawing other angry responses from conservatives.

"This is (creator) Ryan Murphy's latest depraved initiative to promote his gay agenda," conservative media critic Dan Gainor told ABCNews.com.

He called fictional William McKinley high school the "gayest high school in the history of mankind."

"This is clearly Ryan Murphy's vision of what growing up should be, not most of America's," said Gainor, vice-president for business and culture at the Media Research Center. "It's a high school most parents would not want to send their kids too."

Last month, "SNL" alum Victoria Jackson, now an outspoken political conservative, sounded off about a kiss between Kurt and another gay character, Blaine.

"Did you see "Glee" this week? Sickening!" Jackson wrote in her new column for WorldNetDaily.com. And, besides shoving the gay thing down our throats, they made a mockery of Christians -- again! I wonder what their agenda is? Hey, producers of 'Glee' – what's your agenda? One-way tolerance?"

Lady Gaga, to whom producers pay homage in tonight's episode, has also taken her share of hits recently. Last week Catholic League President Bill Donohue slammed her for scheduling the video release for her new single, "Judas," over Easter.

"It's all intentional," Catholic League President Bill Donohue told ABCNews.com. "It's done to take a few shots at Catholics. ... She has to make a quasi-political statement by releasing the video on Easter and tweaking Catholic sensibilities."

'Glee,' Lady Gaga on Coming Out

That wasn't the only controversy surrounding Gaga -- last Wednesday, the star apologized for calling the comparisons between her hit "Born This Way" and Madonna's "Express Yourself" "retarded." The same night, she fell on stage in Atlanta.

Gainor also had strong words for Gaga, whom he called a "sleazy Madonna ripoff."

"Everything she does, everything Ryan Murphy does, is intentionally provocative," he said, "almost like controversy helps them promote their agenda."

Tonight's much-anticipated episode has been extended to 90 minutes.

Adler, who plays Karofsky, was guarded about whether his character will come out tonight.

"I think everybody eventually wants to see Karofsky accept who he is," Adler told TV Guide last week. "Just being himself and not having to hide who he is and mask who he is every day. Everyone wants to see that weight lifted. However, I do think it should take its proper time and its due course. Karofsky is such a great character to play as an arc because you can show the internal struggle that a closeted teen is going through on a daily basis."

With tonight's theme of self-acceptance, other prominent characters will be learning to love the things they hate about themselves. Rachel Berry, played by Lea Michele, considers a nose job, while plus-size student Lauren Zizes (Ashley Fink), who's comfortable with her size, decides to run for prom queen.