American Idol MC/Host Ryan Secrest, and judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan
Lyndsey Parker, Yahoo Music | Kieran, dim the lights… the lights in the American Idol contestants’ houses and apartments, that is. After much speculation, and Idol producers reportedly exploring “multiple options within state guidelines” to continue the current season without an audience, it has now been confirmed that the Idol show will go on — from home.
Last Sunday was supposed to mark the start of American Idol Season 18’s regular live competitive episodes, but with production recently suspended due to coronavirus concerns and the just-announced top 20 now quarantining with their families, the remainder of the season has been in flux. Instead, last weekend ABC had to air a two-hour, behind-the-scenes clip show, American Idol: This Is Me. But that same Sunday evening, host Ryan Seacrest did promise viewers, “Soon, you will vote on your top 20,” and judge Katy Perry hinted in a Facebook Live Q&A that the series would “get creative” “from our own homes” in the coming weeks.
And now, it’s official: This season of American Idol will remotely broadcast from the judges’ and contestants’ homes. Seacrest, Perry, and judge Lionel Richie will be participate from their Los Angeles living rooms, while judge Luke Bryan and mentor Bobby Bones will be social-distancing from Nashville. And the contestants will compete from their own homes for America’s votes.
While many TV productions that were previously dependent on live studio audiences — from late-night and daytime talk shows to even Saturday Night Live — have switched to an at-home format with varying degrees of success, this setup could actually work wonderfully for American Idol. The show has always been about humble regular folks, the proverbial girls and boys next door, pursuing their dreams — so a peek inside the contestants’ homes could resonate with longtime viewers. Additionally, the ratings for recent at-home musical specials like Elton John’s Living Room Concert for America and ACM Presents: Our Country indicate that music fans are perfectly happy to watch stripped-down performances on television.
What will be key going forward is if producers can figure out a way to level the playing field.
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The at-home American Idol semifinals will kick off Sunday, April 26, following this coming Sunday’s part two This Is Me special.
Read the rest of the update here: https://abc.com/shows/american-idol/
[Editor’s note: Disappointing to see that Denver contestant Perrin York did not make the Top 20 although she did make the Top 40. Congratulations, Perrin, on that accomplishment! Watch Perrin as she sings Lizzo’s ‘Good As Hell’ for judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan as her solo performance during the new Hollywood Week on ‘American Idol.’ Watch full episodes and highlights on ABC.com, Hulu and the American Idol app!]