‘Idol’ auditions here Sept. 3
Pittsburgh, pitch:
Although “American Idol” left the stage only a year ago, it’s being revived by ABC Entertainment. The original version, which ran for 15 seasons on Fox and was produced by the team at Britain’s FremantleMedia, announced Monday it will bring auditions to the Steel City Sept. 3.
Singers must be at least 15 years old and can audition in person at one of 19 sites, or through online video submission. More details available at AmericanIdol.com.
Two concurrent bus tours (East and West) begin in August. The West tour features eight cities, the East has Orlando, Miami, Atlanta, Charleston, S.C., Asheville, N.C., Louisville, Ky., Pittsburgh, Annapolis, Md., and Boston.
“Idol”auditions were held at Heinz Field in 2012 and Oakland in 2015. here’s the
Other reality shows
• Start your engines for the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” finale.
Surprising no one, in the closest “Race” in a long while, host/mentor/mama RuPaul Charles decided all four semifinalists would advance to the grand event — which was shot June 9 to air June 23 (VH1, Fridays.). A reunion show airs this week. Valentina, girl, what were you thinking?
Of the group, Trinity Taylor (Ryan Taylor), Shea Coulee (Jaren Merrell) and Peppermint (Agnes Moore, a transgender woman) are more traditional. The fourth, Sasha Velour (Sasha Steinberg) represents a newer, more cutting-edge drag.
RuPaul herself is the cover girl for Entertainment Weekly’s LGBTQ issue, out this week.
Some of the queens from season nine will be strutting their stuff July 20 in the “RuPaul’s Drag Race War on the Catwalk.” The show is at 8 p.m. at the Byham Theater, with a VIP meet-and-greet option.
• Syfy’s “Face Off: Divide and Conquer” (Tuesdays, 9 p.m.) kicked off with a team format this season. At least two designers with Pittsburgh ties — Phil Harrah and Suzanne Bostwick are Savini alums — helped create packs of werewolves for creature shops Twisted Six and Ethereal, respectively. Both advanced to the next round.
• To use one of “MasterChef” contestant Mark Togni’s tiresome sports analogies, the Portland, Ore., home cook really fumbled on this one.
Don’t present a lackluster dish to the judges (raw apples and sliced bananas?). Most of all, don’t be an arrogant dude who doesn’t seem to care what Gordon Ramsay says.
Mr. Togni went home on the season eight (Fox, Wednesdays) opener, even after getting the chance for a doover.
• The “network” in “Battle of the Network Stars” sure has grown.
Back in the 1970s, ABC put together a come-as-youare series that featured singers, actors and other “names” from the Big 3 networks to compete in goofy games of competition. In a world without internet, cable or even startup Fox, even the B-listers were household names.
Lynda Carter was indeed a Wonder Woman for ABC’s team; announcer Howard Cosell referred to her in the swimming relay as “lustrous.” Other events included track and a team tugof-war.
ABC is giving “Battle of the Network Stars” another showcase, this time with 100 folks from 14 networks and cable represented. The 10-episode summer series debuts June 29 (9 p.m.).
A few originals return this time around, including Mackenzie Phillips and Willie Aames. Press materials show teams broken into genres (“TV Sitcoms,” “Troublemakers,” “Primetime Soaps,” “TV Lifeguard”) and indicate a mix of stars from current and seasons long past.
• One might argue that the only reason “Bachelor in Paradise” exists is to get the participants so drunk they’ll do awful things to each other. Now that Warner Bros. has shut down production of season four in Mexico, it seems they might have crossed a very broad line.
Chris Harrison, who hosts the show, issued a statement Tuesday urging fans to quit accepting “misinformation.”
“Let me start by saying the safety and care of the cast and crew of our show is of the utmost importance to us. ... An investigation into the situation was started immediately. Warner Bros. is handling the details of that investigation,” he said.
Various entertainment sites report Corinne Olympios became so drunk she was in no condition to deal with the sexual advances of DeMario Jackson. Mr. Jackson’s own brief statement — He’s not talking, for now.