It’s Official: ‘American Idol’ Revived ‘Bigger, Bolder’ on ABC
You’re not living in a parallel universe, but you might as well get used to the phrase “American Idol, live from ABC!” The reality singing hit is officially coming back for another round, moving from its FOX home in a surprising upset for the major networks.
ABC confirmed the news on Tuesday, albeit without setting any official judges, or word of host Ryan Seacrest (who himself has a new east coast gig, complicating matters). ABC entered bidding for Idol later than FOX or NBC, both of whom were locked in stalemate over Core Media’s concerns of conflicts of interest with The Voice.
Says ABC of their new acquisition, tossing a bit of shade at FOX:
American Idol is a pop-culture staple that left the air too soon. ABC is the right home to reignite the fan base. We are thrilled viewers will once again share in these inspiring stories of people realizing their dreams.
‘Idol is an entertainment icon, and now it will air where it belongs, in ABC’s lineup of addictive fan favorites alongside Dancing with the Stars and The Bachelor. America, get ready for the return of a bigger, bolder and better-than-ever Idol.
First debuting in 2002, American Idol began the nationwide love-affair with reality singing competitions, despite falling off in popularity over the past few years. The new American Idol will debut in the 2017-18 season at an unknown point.
We’ll see what Idol classics return, but will the series feel different on a new network?