‘American Idol’s First Remote Live Show Tops Sunday Ratings; ‘God Friended Me’ Series Finale Steady

By Leo Barraclough

The season 31 finale will also spend time with Santa's Little Helper

By Dino-Ray Ramos

“American Idol” is getting ready to air its first-ever remote finale.

It's a first for American Idol: A remote finale. On Sunday, May 17, American Idol will wrap up its season 18 (third season on ABC) with a live remote finale featuring the return of American Idol veterans, Cynthia Erivo, the Rascal Flatts and more.

By Dino-Ray Ramos

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.

In case you hadn’t gathered from the previous two weeks of American Idol Season 18 recaps that ABC aired, the pre-taped episodes ran out after Hawaii as the pandemic finally caught up with the show.

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 putting a piece of history to good use! The 45-year-old longtime host took to Instagram on Wednesday to reveal that he'll be using the show's original judges' desk during its upcoming at-home, live episodes, which he'll host from California.

Ryan Seacrest is putting a piece of history to good use! The 45-year-old longtime host took to Instagram on Wednesday to reveal that he'll be using the show's original judges' desk during its upcoming at-home, live episodes, which he'll host from California.

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” made TV history amid the coronavirus pandemic by airing its first-ever remote results show. As people across the country continue to stay inside their homes in an effort to curtail the spread of COVID-19, the hit reality singing competition made the choice to forge ahead with the remainder of its season by having the contestants appear from their homes.

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.