Sunday November 1, 10:50 AM

"Glee" cast to get Hollywood diversity award

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The cast of the quirky Fox TV show "Glee" will be presented with a Hollywood diversity award in November for their portrayal of a group of teen oddballs with a passion for song and dance.

The Diversity Awards committee said on Saturday that the "Glee" cast had won the favorite new diverse ensemble cast award for 2009.

The musical comedy series features an array of students in an uncool high school glee club, including a boy in a wheelchair, a geeky girl, a gay student, an Asian and an overweight African-American girl.

"The bunch are determined to overcome the odds and make it to the big time both in high school and the world beyond," the Diversity Awards executive committee said in a statement.

"Twilight"'s Korean-American actor Justin Chon, Nigerian-English-American newcomer Hope Olaide Wilson and Taraji P. Henson -- both stars of the Tyler Perry movie "I Can Do Bad All By Myself" -- are also among those to be honored at the November 22 awards gala.

The Diversity Awards are presented annually by the Multicultural Motion Picture Association to promote story lines, characters and actors of all backgrounds in the Hollywood film and TV industry.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant)