ABC stuck in ‘Idol’; Fox ‘finds’ toxic tape
Sunday brings an interesting battle between networks. ABC has revived the most popular show in Fox history, so Fox has gone dumpster-diving in its own corporate landfill to come up with a competitive stunt. It’s not a pretty sight.
You have to question the wisdom of exhuming “American Idol” (8 p.m. Sunday, ABC, TV-PG). It was the dominant series of the first decade of the 21st century, so powerful that schedulers called it “The Death Star” that destroyed all competition.
But that was a long time ago. “Idol” was a hit for an earlier generation of TV watchers. It may have been the last big hit before digital streaming and YouTube changed viewing habits.
Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie will be on hand to judge the new “Idol,” or the 16th season, depending on your point of view. Ryan Seacrest returns to host.
Hit-makers in their own right, Perry and Richie are so overfamiliar that they often resemble animatronic versions of themselves.
The country singer/songwriter Bryan brings a folksy twang to the proceedings, but his inclusion seems to be an obvious nod to Blake Shelton’s presence on “The Voice,” the series that has since eclipsed “Idol.”
Long a symbol of the bland, corporate and strenuously innocuous state of pop music, Seacrest irked many in his fawning efforts to become the next Dick Clark. But recently, even the insipid Seacrest has been dogged by allegations of sexual harassment. He has denied any wrongdoing, but it’s not great advance buzz for the family-friendly talent show.
MUSIC AWARDS
Music fans who’ve outgrown “Idol” may also sample the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Awards (8 p.m. Sunday, TNT, TV-14), with performances by Bon Jovi, Ed Sheeran, Cardi B and Maroon 5.
O.J.’S CONFESSION?
To counter the Sunday premiere of “Idol,” Fox airs “O.J. Simpson: The Lost Confession?” (8 p.m., TV-14).
Fox is promoting this as a “lost” interview, but everyone with a functioning memory knows it was part of a 2006 special surrounding the book “If I Did It,” a speculative confession ghost-written for Simpson.
The notion that Simpson was cashing in on the killings of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman in such a ghastly manner appalled many, including some in Fox management, who canceled the scheduled show and fired the book publisher (Judith Regan) who had produced the project as well as conducted the interview with Simpson.
But that was then. A dozen years later, the interview is back on Fox. The whole gimmick appears to be an attempt to make viewers stick around for two hours to see if Simpson actually confesses. Or says something memorably dreadful.
As such, this is not only a throwback to the scandals surrounding the 1994 murders and trial but also a kind of tabloid TV stunt that dates back to Geraldo Rivera’s highly promoted 1986 special about the opening of Al Capone’s vault. (Spoiler alert: Nothing was revealed.)
It’s interesting to note that among the many jobs in Regan’s storied career was working as a producer on “Geraldo,” a celebrity journalist who all but personifies the decline of television news.
Help yourself.
MAGICAL REINVENTION
After “Idol,” ABC launches “Deception” (10 p.m. Sunday, TV-14). Jack Cutmore-Scott stars as Cameron Black, a famous Las Vegas illusionist (think David Blaine) whose career vanishes in a puff of scandal. After that, he volunteers himself to FBI agents, who reluctantly accept his vain personality and his ability to use visual trickery and sleight of hand to fool and capture bad guys.
Bottom line: Not as fun as “Psych” or as involving as “The Mentalist.” I’m no fortune-teller, but I suspect viewers will be making “Deception” disappear from the schedule in short order.
REALITY STALKER
Here’s a tip: Living in the world of “Big Brother” or “The Bachelor” may not be healthy for your social skills. Cynthia Preston, Emily Bader and Robert Scott Wilson star in the 2018 shocker “Stalked by a Reality Star” (8 p.m. today, Lifetime, TV-14).
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
› College basketball action in the Big East Tournament championship game (6:30 p.m., Fox).
› Insects besiege the undressed on “Naked and Afraid: Bugged Out” (8 p.m., Discovery).
› The Oklahoma City Thunder host the San Antonio Spurs in NBA action (8:30 p.m., ABC).
› Brian Cox stars in the 2017 biopic “Churchill” (8 p.m., Starz).
› Sterling K. Brown hosts “Saturday Night Live” (11:30 p.m., NBC, TV-14), featuring musical guest James Bay.