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    ABC announces revival of “American Idol” next season 

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments3346 Views
    In this Thursday, April 7, 2016, file photo, Katherine McPhee, from left, Casey James, Carly Smithson, Jessica Sanchez, Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard and Amber Holcomb perform at the "American Idol" farewell season finale at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. ABC said Tuesday, May 9, 2017, it will revive "American Idol" after it has spent only one year off the air. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)

    By David Bauder, Television Writer

    NEW YORK (AP) --

    ABC announced a deal Tuesday to revive "American Idol," only a year after the powerhouse music competition aired its 15th and last season on Fox.

    The show that dominated television in the 2000s and minted stars like Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Clarkson will be back sometime during the next TV season. That season starts in September, but the return of "Idol" will likely come later. Fox generally premiered each new season in January.

    ABC, which agreed with producers FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment on the reboot, released few details, including whether longtime host Ryan Seacrest will return.

    "American Idol" was television's No. 1 series for nine years, peaking with 30 million viewers an episode in 2006. By its last season the average audience had dipped to 11 million and skewed older, and NBC's "The Voice" surpassed it in popularity. Still, in today's television world, an audience of 11 million would rank it among TV's top 20 shows.

    "'American Idol' is a pop-culture staple that left the air too soon," said Channing Dungey, ABC entertainment president. "ABC is the right home to re-ignite the fan base."

    In "Dancing With the Stars," ABC already has a competition show that has remained popular while primarily attracting older viewers.

    Harry Connick Jr., Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban were the judges when "American Idol" went off the air. The show's iconic judges were the first: villain Simon Cowell, his sparring partner Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.

    ABC recently hired Seacrest to be co-host with Kelly Ripa on the daytime talk show "Live," so he's already in the corporate family – although "Live" is shot in New York and "Idol" is California-based. Seacrest, on the talk show Monday, said he had only learned of the revival last week when he read a news story about it and made a call.

    "I said at the end of the series, 'goodbye for now,' hoping that somewhere it would come back," Seacrest said.

    He played coy when Ripa encourage him to return as host.

    "Whatever you want," he joked. "You're my work wife. I say 'yes' and bow to you."

    Tags:ABCAmerican Idol



    Trump taps “Apprentice” producer, Mark Burnett, as special envoy to the U.K.

    Saturday, December 21, 2024
    Television producer Mark Burnett, left, looks on as President Donald Trump arrives for the National Prayer Breakfast, Feb. 2, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

    Mark Burnett, the power producer who helped reintroduce Donald Trump to a national television audience with "The Apprentice," is being tapped by the president-elect as special envoy to the United Kingdom in his upcoming administration.

    "With a distinguished career in television production and business, Mark brings a unique blend of diplomatic acumen and international recognition to this important role," Trump announced Saturday.

    Burnett, who was born in London, helped produce hits like "Survivor" and "The Voice," but is perhaps best known for teaming up with Trump for "The Apprentice," which first aired on NBC in 2004.

    Trump had been well-known in real estate and pop culture circles for decades. But the show helped again make him a household name — though Trump severed ties with NBC in 2015, the same year he launched his first White House run.

    The selection of Burnett continues Trump's trend of filling out his incoming administration with people who have high-profile backgrounds in television or politics, or both — including his choice to be defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, a former co-host of "Fox & Friends Weekend," and ex-television doctor and unsuccessful Senate candidate in Pennsylvania, Mehmet Oz.

    Trump's first campaign in 2016 was rocked by allegations about his conduct on "The Apprentice" and other appearances during his association with NBC, notably in footage in which he said he could sexually assault women and get away with it because he was a "star."

    Almost a decade after he left his reality TV role, Trump's television career remains central to his biography and political rise. The show presented Trump Tower to tens of millions of people as a symbol of power and success before Trump launched his first... Read More

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