her by series creator Ryan Murphy, a personal friend who suggested that she showcase her vocal and dancing talent ahead of the December 2010 release of the film Country Strong, in which Paltrow plays a country singer. Upon announcing her casting in September 2010, BBC News reported that she would appear in two episodes of the series. E! Online's Kristin dos Santos stated that Holly would serve as a love interest for Will, with Murphy later confirming that Holly's appearance would create a love quadrangle between herself, Will, guidance counselor Emma Pillsbury (Jayma Mays) and her boyfriend Carl Howell (John Stamos). However, Fancast later reported that Paltrow's guest-arc had been reduced to a single episode, and neither Mays nor Stamos appear in "The Substitute". Post-broadcast, Murphy stated that both he and Paltrow hoped that she would appear on Glee again in the future, depending on the right storyline. In December 2010, Paltrow confirmed that she would return to the series for another episode at a later date, and in January 2011, Murphy confirmed her reappearance, this time as a sex education teacher planned for episodes 15 and 16. Paltrow won the 2011 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her appearance in "The Substitute". "The Substitute" includes a fantasy sequence in which Will hallucinates the club members as kindergarten-aged children. Child actors were hired to portray the characters' younger selves, including Jake Vaughn and Lauren Boles as a young Finn and Rachel. The episode also features the return of Gilsig, following an absence spanning several episodes. The actress felt that Will's illness allowed viewers to see the couple with their defences down for the first time, and that the addition of Holly highlighted a double standard in their relationship. She explained that while Terri is not "the most palatable person", she is at least faithful to Will, while he has "a wandering eye" and treats Terri badly in "The Substitute". Recurring characters in this episode include glee club members Mike Chang (Harry Shum, Jr.) and Sam Evans (Chord Overstreet), Principal Figgins, school bully Dave Karofsky, cheerleader Becky Jackson (Lauren Potter), wrestler Lauren Zizes (Ashley Fink) and Kurt's friend Blaine Anderson. The episode features cover versions of six songs. Paltrow performs on four, which she recorded in a single afternoon. Her numbers include "Conjunction Junction" from Schoolhouse Rock!, and a clean version of Cee Lo Green's