American Idol May Finish Season 18 from the Judges Living Rooms!
While American Idol sent the Top 20 contestants home after halting production due to coronavirus concerns, reports say ABC may still produce the show. With so many talk, news and music specials beaming from the talents’ living rooms, it appears that American Idol producers are toying with the concept.I sorta called it!
According to TMZ. producers sent an email to the crew, alerting them that studio production for the season was probably over. “As we continue to monitor advice from federal and local agencies, it seems unlikely we are going to be able to make it back into the studio for this season of American Idol.” the email continues, “We will continue to monitor and provide updates should any changes occur.” Sources tell TMZ that the crew will not be paid.
However, TMZ production sources tell the gossip site that ABC still plans to produce the show, but “the judges will be at their respective homes and viewers will ultimately decide who wins and who ends up packing.” So, does that mean the contestants will perform from their homes as well? Having votes based on previous performances would be terrible. Although, there are FULL performances from singers that have never been aired. At this point in the season, the clips have been pretty heavily edited.
Could “Living Room” Idol Work?
I just watched the iHeart Living Room concert that aired on FOX opposite American Idol last night. The show tied with Idol in the ratings. Big stars performed hit songs from their homes and offices. It was surprisingly entertaining, but would it work for music competitions? Without the camaraderie, the immediacy, the crowds and the band, how would the competition hold up?
With no end in site to the quarantine, production companies may fear losing the opportunity to complete their seasons. And from ABC’s point of view, there is primetime real estate that would otherwise remain empty.
The email to the production crew ended, “In the meantime, please stay safe and healthy. We are looking forward to the day we can all work together again.”
UPDATE:
Ryan Seacrest has been recording voice overs at home for the already taped episodes. However, he tells TMZ that he had a chat with executive producer Trish Kahane recently:
With safety being a priority, that is No. 1…we do want to deliver all of this season. We want to put on these performance episodes, we want to put on the episodes that allow America to vote for their favorites to get to an American Idol winner this season. How will we do that? We haven’t fully decided. We’re looking at all the different options. I think we see the obvious ways people are using technology now on the air and on social media. So I think we’re trying to push the limits of technology and explore any type of technology that may be available to us to deliver the performance, to deliver the judges comments, and to deliver America being able to vote, so that we make it through the whole season.
Ryan is “very hopeful we’re going to be able to do that.”
