Lionel Richie In Talks For American Idol Judge

Report from American Idol Net:

Posted: 26 Jun 2017 11:30 AM PDT

We’re still waiting on ABC to finalize their American Idol 2018 panel for both the judges and perhaps even more importantly the host. Now it sounds like the second Judge seat next to Katy Perry may have a name penciled in.

TMZ via MJs shared an update that Lionel Richie is a top pick to join the next Idol team and considering his big name and great talent I think this would be an awesome match for the show:

‘A.I.’ sources tell TMZ … producers think Richie’s legendary music career makes him a perfect pick … credibility and a knack for honing in on what will become popular. Richie is also extremely outgoing, which makes for good TV.

But before ABC picks anyone else up for American Idol’s 2018 return it seems they wisely want to make sure they’ve got Ryan Seacrest locked in for the role of host. Until then I think we’ll be waiting and watching to see what happens with Richie. Hopefully The Voice doesn’t come in and try to steal him away like they did with Clarkson!

If Idol secures Lionel Richie for the American Idol Judges panel to sit with Katy Perry then who do you think should be the third person on that team? Both Richie and Perry have to fall in to the “nice” category, right? Maybe it’s time to try and find a sharper tongue to balance them out? Any suggestions?

American Idol 2018 Auditions: Events Schedule & Details

 News from American Idol Net.

 

American Idol is back and ABC is ramping up their preseason game to get things rolling and that means it’s time to find the first of the American Idol 2018 Hopefuls. Think you’ve got what it takes?

American Idol Bus hits the road – Source: FOX

This year for American Idol the age limits are 15-28 years old, so no changes there from what I remember. Idol will again be holding some audition city events, but not as many as we’ve seen in the past. Instead there are many more bus audition tour stops and you can submit your application and video online. And don’t forget about the ‘direct marketing’ casting efforts that they’re working on. Could be some interesting things ahead for next season of American Idol.

Speaking of next season, this would be American Idol 16, but on the eligibility requirements doc (PDF) from ABC, which you should read if serious about trying out, the new installment is being listed as “American Idol Season 1 on ABC.” I get that they want to differentiate themselves from the show’s history on FOX, but I dunno. Seems weird to try and call it Idol 1 when it’s Idol 16. Anyway, on to the important parts.

American Idol 2018 Auditions:

Open Audition Cities

• Chicago, IL – September 11
• New Orleans, LA – September 14
• (Locations and dates subject to change.)

West Bus Tour

• Portland, OR – August 17
• Oakland, CA – August 20
• Provo, UT – August 23
• Denver, CO – August 26
• Omaha, NE – August 29
• Tulsa, OK – September 1
• Shreveport, LA – September 4
• Muscle Shoals, AL – September 7

East Bus Tour

• Orlando, FL – August 17
• Miami, FL – August 19
• Atlanta, GA – August 22
• Charleston, SC – August 25
• Asheville, NC – August 27
• Louisville, KY – August 30
• Pittsburgh, PA – September 3
• Annapolis, MD – September 5
• Boston, MA – September 8

Can’t make it to any of these locations? Then head over to the online auditions at ABC’s American Idol website. There you can create an account then submit in your info and video to get reviewed for your chance to be on American Idol! ABC also notes that you’re free to try both methods, online and in-person.

Will you be trying out in the American Idol 2018 auditions? If you do then best of luck. We hope to see you on TV performing next season!

American Idol 2018: Ryan Seacrest Still Not Under Contract

American Idol 2018 is official and headed for ABC but so far the wheels aren’t too secure on this fast moving car. At this point they’ve got Katy Perry and, well, that’s about it.

Ryan Seacrest talks American Idol – Source: FOX/YouTube

It was widely expected that Idol’s permanent fixture, Ryan Seacrest, has yet to become permanently attached for the upcoming relaunch of the series. According to Variety, those talks have stalled since the announcement of Katy Perry as one of the American Idol 2018 judges.

I imagine there are lots of obstacles in many contracts, but a few of the issues being raised by Variety could definitely turn an obstacle in to a roadblock. First up is money. Now allegedly ABC budgeted around $38 million for talent and supposedly they earmarked $25 million of that for Katy Perry… Huhwhat? That would leave about $13 million to bring in Ryan Seacrest and presumably two other judges. Yeah.

So say they try to give Ryan Seacrest $10 million, an amount Variety reports, to host American Idol 2018. He’d be there at 40% of what Katy Perry is being paid and would leave just $3M for the other two judges. At that point they’d have to be pretty junior in the musicsphere, right? Ugh.

Variety also brings up the issue that we’ve discussed and that’s location conflicts. Seacrest just moved out to New York per his new contract with ABC. Idol is going to be filmed in LA. So there we go again. That one seems like the none-starter to me, but apparently ABC has been working hard on this and continues to do so.

Really I think they should have secured Ryan first with whatever cost and then got us some decent judges. Katy Perry isn’t worth $25 million a year. Simon Cowell made north of that for a season, but come on, we can’t compare them for their impact on a series like Idol.

What a mess. Come on ABC, please pull this together and get us American Idol in 2018 with it ready to go and all the important pieces, like Ryan Seacrest.