The new twists coming to 'American Idol' season 24, including a new round & voting method
“American Idol” is getting ready to kick off its 24th season with some new twists!
The first new trick up “Idol's” sleeve is that fans are able to vote on social media. Showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick told Deadline, “We have to meet the audience where they are. Back in 2002 when the show began, texting was the new hot thing. We also have to meet the technology where it is, as well. We want to make it as easy as possible for people to vote for their favorites, weigh in from their couch with their second screen, in real time.”
This pivot is a way to get the younger audience to watch and vote, “If we can get Gen Alpha and Gen Z to weigh in a little bit more in the easiest way possible, that’s very exciting,” she explained. “It could tip the scale.”
The show’s infamous “Hollywood Week” is also seeing some major changes
Hollywood Week is being relocated to Nashville, and according to Michaels Wolflick, “The music industry in Nashville is just as strong as it is in L.A., too. It is a hub and a dream for people to go to.”
Lastly, the long-running singing competition show is introducing a new Ohana Round that will take place at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii, and will take place during its three-episode Hollywood (Nashville??) week.
During the Ohana Round, 30 contestants will perform for a group of “industry tastemakers,” who will be helping judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood and Luke Bryan, narrow down the competition to the Top 20.
The “industry tastemakers” include influencer duo Kaniyia Brown and Terry McCaskill, music creator Anthony Gargiula, actress Loren Gray, podcast host Evan Ross Katz, vocal coach Cheryl Porter, Grand Ole Opry announcer Kelly Sutton and “Rolling Stone” co-editor-in-chief Shirley Halperin.
Michaels Wolflick said the goal of Ohana Week is to get a good sense of who the fans and industry pros are connecting the most to.
“The judges have the power right all the way up to America’s Vote of who they want to put through and I thought it’d be interesting to do some sort of focus group before they get to America’s Vote to inform the judges of who people are responding to,” she explained, noting that each of the groups will get a chance to pick their favorite contestant. “Back in the day, Kris Allen would have been the pick of the people and Adam Lambert probably would have been the industry pick. I’m super curious who the [potential] Idols are going to pick because they can’t vote for themselves.”
“American Idol” season 24 premieres on Monday, Jan. 26 at 8/7c on ABC and streams next-day on Hulu.
Follow us on Instagram @WeArePauseRewind for all your pop culture obsessions.
