‘American Idol’ Executive Producer Trish Kinane Details the Reboot’s New Twist – “Being at a different broadcast network has given Idol a freshness,” says executive producer Trish Kinane, who also worked on the first iteration. “ABC was a natural fit for the audience: They like warmth, humor and stories.” Fans can also expect a tweak to the live shows that the producers are keeping close to the vest. “There are no scripts, no one telling us what to do,” Perry says. “We thought maybe there would be some slight steerage [by the producers]. Not at all. We pick who is going to make the Top 50. We pick who is going to make the Top 10. America will pick the top person, which is good, because we’re too close to it.” – Read more at TVInsider
Waitress’ Sara Bareilles on Katharine McPhee Joining the Show: ‘What a Dreamboat!’ – “Oh my God, what a dreamboat she is!” Bareilles exclaimed to Broadway.com about McPhee’s upcoming debut in the show. “We’re so lucky and excited to welcome her to the diner.” “I got to spend just a little bit of time with her, and she’s going to sound like an absolute dream on these songs,” Bareilles said of McPhee. “She just brings all of her wonderful experience—stepping away from TV, going into theater for the first time. She has so much beautiful excitement and joy coming into the process. It’s the best-case scenario.” – Read more at Broadway.com
Carrie Underwood’s Police Officer Childhood Friend Dies After Crash – An eastern Oklahoma assistant police chief who was ejected from his pickup in a crash earlier this month has died from his injuries. The Checotah Police Department says 35-year-old Justin Durrett died Monday at a Tulsa hospital after suffering multiple neck injuries in the Feb. 11 wreck in Haskell County. Country music star and Checotah native Carrie Underwood had donated $10,000 to a GoFundMe campaign set up for Durrett shortly after the crash. – Read more at Billboard
Trent Harmon Longs For Better Days With Powerful ‘You Got ‘Em All’ – Especially given the weight of the song. The gut-ripping “You Got ’Em All” came straight out of a horrendously difficult year. Harmon’s former label, Dot, folded, and Core Media Group, the company that owns 19 Entertainment and American Idol, filed a Chapter 11 restructuring plan that left Harmon in limbo. Just as the fog over his business began to lift, girlfriend Kathleen Couch announced in a phone call on June 4 — as Harmon was about to go onstage in Portland, Ore. — that she was heading to Thailand for a work opportunity. “The only thing that I hear is, ‘I’m moving to Thailand to teach forever,’ ” recalls Harmon. “I think I just let her go. I said, ‘Well, great. Have a great time.’ ” Before the year was up, Harmon’s label issues were resolved, and he re-signed to Big Machine Label Group. President/CEO Scott Borchetta pegged “You Got ’Em All” as the single that would reintroduce Harmon. – Read more at Billboard
Jennifer Hudson flaunts cleavage in black velvet pencil dress and receives Nat King Cole Award – Jennifer Hudson flaunted her substantial cleavage in a clingy LBD while receiving the Nat King Cole Award at An Unforgettable Evening in Beverly Hills on Tuesday night. The 36-year-old Oscar winner’s off-the-shoulder black-velvet pencil dress and strappy stilettos were selected by stylist duo Eric Archibald & Rachael Grubbs. – Read more at DailyMail.co.uk
‘American Idol’ notes: Casey Abrams interview – He said he recorded his jazz-rock album in an abandoned church in Brooklyn which generated a very special reverb. He released a single “Let’s Make Out” on Valentine’s Day. “It’s the core of what we want to do,” he said. “We don’t want any bull****. We want to make out!” In a less sexual sense, Abrams is a hugger. “I consider myself an expert hugger,” he said. “Anybody who wants to huge me, no matter what religion or restrictions, I’ll hug them.” – Read more AJC.com
NBCUniversal to Cut Number of Commercials Across All Networks by 20 Percent – NBCUniversal plans to chop the number of commercials you see this fall across all of its networks by 20 percent. The Comcast-owned company and home to channels like NBC broadcast, USA Network and Syfy says its ad time during primetime originals will be reduced by 10 percent in time for the 2018-19 traditional TV season. Here’s the catch: The company will also launch a new 60-second contextually-programmed “Prime Pod” during the first or last break of a show dedicated to up to two advertisers for stronger impact with viewers. – Read more at The Wrap
