In a conference call with reporters ahead of Monday’s Upfronts presentation to advertisers in New York City, NBC chief Paul Telegdy insisted that signing former American Idol stars Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Clarkson as coaches for season 13 and 14 respectively was just a coincidence. Via Deadline:
“We had been talking to those two [stars] for a long time about joining The Voice,” he said on a phone call with reporters, adding he was confident both artists would confirm that.
Reports that Kelly Clarkson was in talks with ABC to join their American Idol reboot was reported by both Variety and TMZ. TMZ claims Kelly’s negotiations with ABC hit a snag when they balked at Kelly’s asking price.
Nevertheless, Telegdy insists that the hiring the American Idol alums had nothing to do with ABC’s reboot.
“We didn’t make the connection between them appearing on the show and ABC returning Idol,” Telegdy said when asked if it was a reax. “We’re excited for them to join The Voice,” he said, noting both stars already have connections to NBC’s program, Hudson having coached the UK version of Voice and Clarkson guesting on NBC’s iteration in seasons past.
It’s true that both singers have worked with The Voice previously, so their joining the show isn’t a stretch. However, the way the two hires were announced? Back to back and well ahead of next week’s advertiser’s upfronts? Don’t tell me NBC wasn’t trying to pour a little cold water on the American Idol reboot announcement ABC made on Monday.
NBC does admit they had talks with American Idol producers about bringing the show back, but ultimately passed.
When reality TV producers go to market “we’re happy to say they come to us first, because we have such a dominant reality competition schedule,” NBC Entertainment chief Bob Greenblatt boasted, in re getting first crack at the Idol reboot.
NBC“We did have conversations about Idol and recognized the franchise is a great name and title,” he said. But, ultimately, NBC passed, he said, because “We decided we have The Voice, we have a couple of music competition shows we’re also down the road developing” and which could be on the schedule as early as next summer. “We did not see the need for Idol” on the schedule, Greenblatt said.
Telegdy chimed in to say: “The audience hasn’t told us there is a compelling reason to bring it back, either.”
