American Idol
‘American Idol’ Crowns Season 21 Winner
American Idol has crowned a new winner. Sunday’s season 21 finale saw Iam Tongi named the winner of the ABC singing competition. He beat out Megan Danielle and Colin Stough, who came in second and third place, respectively. Tongi, who is 18, performed his original song “I’ll Be Seeing You” on the live finale. He […]
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‘The Conners,’ ‘American Idol’ Among Nine ABC Renewals
A pair of comedies and a passel of unscripted series have secured places on ABC for the 2023-24 TV season. The Disney-owned broadcaster has renewed The Conners for a sixth season and Not Dead Yet for a second; the two comedies join Abbott Elementary on the schedule. The bulk of ABC’s in-season unscripted lineup — America’s Funniest […]
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King Charles and Queen Camilla Appear on ‘American Idol’
The coronation of King Charles III on Saturday had all manner of bizarre rituals and moments, but perhaps one of the weirdest was revealed on Sunday night when the newly minted British monarch and his wife Queen Camilla made an appearance on American Idol. In a pre-taped segment, Lionel Richie and Katy Perry had called […]
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Ryan Seacrest Says He Was Initially Considered to Be an ‘American Idol’ Judge
Ryan Seacrest revealed he was initially considered to be a judge on American Idol before becoming the longtime host of the singing competition show. During his appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show Friday, The Kardashians executive producer told Clarkson, who won the first season of American Idol in 2002, that then-producers Nigel Lythgoe and Ken […]
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Bruce Gowers, Director on Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” Music Video and ‘American Idol,’ Dies at 82
Bruce Gowers, the Emmy and Grammy winner who directed nine-plus seasons of American Idol and hundreds of music videos, including the seminal “Bohemian Rhapsody” from Queen, has died. He was 82. Gowers died Sunday in Santa Monica of complications from an acute respiratory infection, his family announced. Gowers also directed and co-created the long-running series […]
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C.J. Harris, Former ‘American Idol’ Contestant, Dies at 31
C.J. Harris, a prominent contestant on the 13th season of American Idol, died Sunday night in Jasper, Ala. He was 31. The Walker County Coroner’s Office confirmed the singer was rushed to Walker Baptist Medical Center after suffering from cardiac arrest. At this time, they believe his cause of death was possibly a heart attack. Harris, born […]
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Fremantle Hires ‘X Factor’ Veteran Andrew Llinares as Director of Global Entertainment
Global production giant Fremantle has appointed Andrew Llinares as its director of global entertainment. Llinares — who will be based in London and report to group CEO Jennifer Mullin — takes over from Rob Clark, set to retire at the end of February after 20 years with the company. The role sees the exec assume overall responsibility […]
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Willie Spence, ‘American Idol’ Finalist, Dies in Vehicle Crash at 23
A finalist on American Idol has died in a vehicle crash in Tennessee. Willie Spence, 23, died Tuesday after hitting the rear of a tractor-trailer that was stopped on the shoulder of Interstate 24 East near Chattanooga, according to news outlets, which cited a Tennessee Highway Patrol report. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts, and the […]
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Ryan Seacrest to Receive Career Achievement Honor From Los Angeles Press Club
Ryan Seacrest will soon have another award for his mantel. The veteran host and Emmy-winning TV mogul has been selected by the Los Angeles Press Club to receive a Luminary Award for Career Achievement during the organization’s 15th annual National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards gala Dec. 4. The trophy was created to honor “distinguished members of […]
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Nigel Lythgoe, Ken Warwick List Paso Robles Winery for $22M
From reality TV to winemaking, American Idol creators Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick are ready to move on to their next venture. After purchasing a 164-acre Paso Robles farm house in 2005, the producing duo tore down the old structure, thus creating what now stands as Villa San-Juliette (VSJ). Reminiscent of Italian wine country, VSJ […]
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‘Bachelor,’ ‘American Idol’ Among ABC Unscripted Renewals
ABC is solidifying its unscripted lineup for 2022-23. The network has renewed five veteran series for next season: America’s Funniest Home Videos, American Idol, The Bachelor, Celebrity Wheel of Fortune and Shark Tank. They join Bachelor in Paradise and Judge Steve Harvey, which earned renewals in April, on ABC’s reality and game show slate. Supermarket […]
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TV Ratings: CMT Music Awards Score Big Increase With CBS Move
The CMT Music Awards scored huge year to year ratings increases on Monday — no surprise, since the show moved from its namesake cable outlet to broadcaster CBS. ABC’s American Idol finished in a near-tie with the awards, with both coming in way ahead of American Song Contest on NBC. The CMT Music Awards averaged […]
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