Temperatures are cold, and a huge part of the country is covered in snow and ice. It’s the perfect excuse to snuggle up under a warm blanket and enjoy the season premiere of American Idol on ABC when it returns tonight. Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Ryan Seacrest are back, and the show is better than ever. Of course, it wouldn’t be Idol without a few twists and turns, and from the sound of it, this season will keep us all on the edge of our seats.
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“American Idol” Returns with Some Exciting Twists
Showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick told Deadline that when American Idol returns, it will have some big changes. First, auditions only took place at Belmont University in Nashville, and instead of sending singers to Hollywood, the gold tickets kept them in Nashville.
“It’s Hollywood Week: Music City Takeover. Hollywood Week is IP at this point, just like American Idol is,” Megan said. “The momentum of getting through, getting a golden ticket, making it to Hollywood in the past has been maybe sometimes months. There was a momentum that I wanted to experiment with. The music industry in Nashville is just as strong as it is in LA, too. It is a hub and a dream for people to go to.”
When American Idol returns, the top 30 contestants will travel to Hawaii for the new Ohana Round. And, Idol will introduce social media voting.
“We have to meet the audience where they are. Back in 2002 when the show began, texting was the new hot thing. We also have to meet the technology where it is, as well. We want to make it as easy as possible for people to vote for their favorites, weigh in from their couch with their second screen, in real time,” Megan added.
This all sounds like so much fun. American Idol returns tonight on ABC.
This story’s featured image is by Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty Images
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