It’s been three long months for Glee fans who missed seeing Mr. Schuester’s curly locks, hearing their beloved Mercedes hit notes they didn’t know were possible and witnessing the adorableness that is Kurt and Blaine.

Gleeks weren’t completely abandoned by the show’s hiatus as rumors and controversy surrounded it all summer.

For those who missed it – Harry Shum, Jr. (Mike Chang) and Darren Criss (Blaine Anderson) were promoted to the regular cast.

But it was the scandal involving newbie Chord Overstreet, played Sam Evans, who kept fans wondering.

Even though he had plenty of story lines during season two, Overstreet was left as a guest star.

After much speculation, Overstreet decided to leave the show that made him famous to pursue a solo music career.

Fans were disappointed again when producer, Ryan Murphy, revealed some fan favorites would be graduating at the end of season three.

Murphy also said that any plans of a possible spin-off with the graduating cast were put on hold.

Now with some of the summer questions answered, the Emmy nominated show returned Tuesday with its premiere episode, “The Purple Piano Project.”

The episode began with Glee’s answer to “Gossip Girl,” Jabor Ben Israel, who within the first five minutes layed out which McKinley kids would be graduating.

Mike, Finn, Kurt, Rachel, Santana and Brittany are seniors and planning for college, some more than others.

It is also revealed that Artie along with Tina are juniors.

Merecedes does update Gleeks on her relationship status. She’s got a new man and it is not Sam Evans!

Her relationship with Sam is “so last June” since he moved out of state for his dad’s job. Merecedes introduced fans to her new massive linebacker beau, Marcus.

Santana and Brittany are back in their Cheerios uniforms. Lauren Zizes has quit the glee club and broken up with Puck. In the beginning of the episode, Quinn is MIA.

Emma and Will are finally back together, even making each other lunches.

Will is obviously taking things seriously this time around with Emma. He even hints at a possible marriage.

Another glee wedding, anyone?

Speaking of Mr. Schue, he has major plans this year on keeping the New Direction on track after a failed attempt at Nationals.

To start, the group developed a plan to get new members by placing three purple pianos randomly around McKinley.

This leads the gang to the first number of the night, an 80’s classic “We Got the Beat” by the Go-Go’s that ended in a food fight.

The season premiere also established a new Will versus Sue Sylvester war, unfortunately.

But the writers are shaking things up a bit this year with having Will’s arch nemesis running for Congress.

Sue’s platform is getting rid of all arts programs not only in Ohio but across the nation.

With pink hair, nose ring and a fresh Ryan Seacrest tattoo, Miss Quinn Farbary has “found herself.”

She quit the New Directions and the cheer squad, breaks up the unholy trinity and has found a new group of friends called the shanks.

Her new attitude adds so much to her character who last season appeared dry.

Vanessa Legies joined Glee this season as bad girl Sugar Motta, who thinks she can save the glee club.

Turns out she really can’t sing, leaving Mr. Schue for the first time to reject someone from glee club.

New BFF’s Kurt and Rachel set their sights on college in the Big Apple.

To get a head start on the competition, Kurt and Rachel attend a pre-college meeting for New York Academy of Arts with students they assumed would be rejects.

Instead they walk into a crazy room full of Kurts and Rachels, questioning their talents.

In the room is “The Glee Project” favorite, Lindsay Pearce, who gives one of the best performances of the night with  a mash-up for “Anything Goes/Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better.”

Finally, Blaine Anderson has officially been de-Warblerized.

Blaine couldn’t stay away from McKinley or Kurt for that matter.

In true Glee fashion, he introduced himself by doing an outstanding solo performance of “It’s Not Unusual” by Tom Jones, which ended with a fire, as a cigarette sent one of the purple pianos up in flames in the courtyard.

The most shocking moment of the episode was when Mr. Schue banned Santana from the Glee club after finding out she’s the one that set the piano on fire under Sue’s command.

The episode ended with the glee club “You Can’t Stop the Beat” from “Hairspray” all decked out in purple.

Next episode entitled, “I am Unicorn” will feature auditions for the school musical of “West Side Story.”

Gleeks won’t be disappointed.