Idol’s return could mean even more Ryan Seacrest
Busy media personality’s name swirling as potential host of rebooted singing show
It’s officially happening: after going dark in 2016 on Fox, American Idol will be back on your television sets.
The singing competition show that once reigned as ratings king will air on ABC for the 2017-2018 season, the network announced Tuesday, following rumours of its return that surfaced last week.
“American Idol is a pop-culture staple that left the air too soon,” Channing Dungey, president of ABC Entertainment, said in a statement.
It’s not clear who will serve as host or on the panel of judges. ABC said an announcement would come later, but one name is obviously swirling about: Ryan Seacrest.
The former Idol host has a jampacked work schedule these days, including a new gig he started this month: serving as Kelly Ripa’s cohost on ABC’s Live, the second most watched daytime TV show. On Monday, Ripa asked Seacrest on air about the reports that Idol would return.
“I said at the end of the series, ‘Goodbye for now,’ hoping it would come back,” Seacrest told her. “It was rumoured to be going to other networks. I had no idea that it was being talked about to come here until late last week. I saw some rumour in the news, so I made a phone call and they said, ‘Yeah, it may actually end up here,’ and I said, ‘That’d be good to know, since I work here.’ ”
But, he added, “I don’t know if I can host,” given the preparation he has to do every night to be ready for Live. Ripa cut him off — “Yes, you can!” — and said that the morning after Idol shows, “you won’t even have to think, I will do it all!”
Seacrest had been based in Los Angeles but announced he’d move to New York City for the Live job and continue his other commitments out of studios there. He’s still a staple radio presence, hosting On Air With Ryan Seacrest every weekday morn- ing and American Top 40 on the weekends. Oh, and Seacrest will continue to interview celebrities before all award shows on the E! red carpet; host Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest on Dec. 31; and executive produce the E! Kardashian empire shows.
But how much Seacrest is too much Seacrest? He was a constant, but not a standout presence on Idol, which is why he was so good at the job.
“Sometimes, you just forget he’s there. That’s intentional, and really, the mark of an excellent host,” the Washington Post’s Emily Yahr wrote last year. “Move the proceedings along; banter with contestants; throw in a quip or two; and make it look so easy that no one realizes how hard you’re working.”
Idol was a ratings juggernaut in its early years — at times, it was America’s most-watched show — but the numbers dropped toward the end of the series’ run. At its peak, it drew more than 30 million viewers. But by its 15th season, that number hovered around 9 million.
“All of the intense speculation surrounding the comeback of American Idol demonstrates just how popular and powerful this brand remains,” Peter Hurwitz, CEO of Core Media CEO, which produces Idol, said in a statement. “ABC shares our belief in the enduring value of Idol and will provide us with the perfect new home to showcase the gold standard of singing competition shows.”