‘American Idol’: ABC Plots Remote Live Shows Following COVID-19 Production Shutdown

Tearing up! Katy Perry felt emotional during Francisco Martin‘s performance on the Sunday, May 3, American Idol episode.

Things in these hyper-accelerated, Coronavirus-era live rounds of American Idol are about to get brutal, as only 10 of the remaining Top 20 contestants will be moving on through following last week’s nationwide vote -- that is, unless judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan decide to use their one save of the season to rescue one of these folks from the jaws of obscurity.The theme this week: Homeward Bound.

Jonny West returned with another stunning performance on Sunday’s “American Idol”.

Katy Perry is doing what she can to liven up quarantine for “American Idol” viewers.

Katy Perry is doing what she can to liven up quarantine for viewers.

After amusing fans with her hand sanitizer get-up during American Idol's at home episode last week, Katy Perry recently dressed up as a toilet roll in the latest episode of the singing show. Looks like Katy Perry has the most comical ways to spread awareness about the ongoing Coronavirus outbreak. After hand sanitizers, toilet rolls have become the most much-in-demand products during the COVID-19 spur and the 35-year-old singer surely knows how to put out her message about the same.

Katy Perry put on her Sunday best in a cheeky way to kick off the at-home tapings of “American Idol” as the program forges on with live shows during the coronavirus pandemic. The “Dark Horse” performer, 35, sent a message to viewers to stay home when she appeared on the program dressed as a life-size bottle of hand sanitizer ready to judge the contestants.

returned on Sunday with a new remote episode, and Katy Perry decided to celebrate the episode with a fun, weird costume choice.

Katy Perry returned to the front seat of her car on Sunday for another Facebook Live chat with fans ahead of an all new “American Idol“, shot remotely from the contestants’ and judges’ homes.

Katy Perry returned to the front seat of her car on Sunday for another Facebook Live chat with fans ahead of an all new, shot remotely from the contestants' and judges' homes.

Ryan Seacrest is bringing back a prop for the upcoming “American Idol” shows.

This is an American Idol blast from the past. After production was shutdown in the wake of social distancing guidelines to curb the spread of the coronavirus, ABC was forced to change things up for American Idol.

By Jake Kanter

American Idol is all set to air its’ remote shows starting this weekend.

Even a global pandemic will not stop Ryan Seacrest from finding the next American Idol. The singing competition will move forward with the newest season using remote performances from its final 20 contestants, TV Guide has learned.

LOS ANGELES (Variety.com) – The search for a superstar must continue. After taking some time to make the decision on how to proceed with “American Idol” as it heads into what should have been its live, shiny floor studio portion of the season, ABC has confirmed that it will continue via remote performances.

American Idol season 18 will continue, pandemic or no pandemic.  ABC announced today that the show will continue to film, while following all stay at home guidelines, with the top 20 performing from their own homes while the judges judge from their own homes, with viewers voting from—you guessed it—their homes. Allow judge Katy Perry to explain: "How will American Idol continue? I'll be judging from California, Lionel Richie from LA, Luke Bryan & Bobby Bones in Nashville.

On with the show!