If you were a die-hard fan of American Idol before it went off the air last year, what I’m about to tell you should be music to your ears (see what I did there?). Fox — aka the very network responsible for American Idol — has a new reality singing competition in the works.
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According to Variety, Israeli producer and distributor Armoza Formats has been tapped to help develop the show. Although the series apparently hasn’t been officially ordered yet, production has amped up enough to assume it’s a sure thing.
And why not? Prior to having its plug pulled, American Idol was the No. 1 broadcast show on television for eight years, boasting more than 30 million viewers per episode at the height of its popularity. With that kind of massive appeal and longevity to their credit, Fox knows the recipe for success in regard to this genre of reality TV.
I know what you may be thinking, though… another singing show?
Not only will Fox’s new series have to compete with NBC’s long-running hit, The Voice (who, ICYMI, has tapped Idol-alums Kelly Clarkson and Jennifer Hudson as coaches), but it will also join the ranks of other reality singing-slash-talent competitions such as America’s Got Talent and none other than American Idol itself.
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Yep, you read that right. While American Idol‘s days on Fox are done, producer FremantleMedia is reviving the once monolithic series on ABC. With Ryan Seacrest in talks to return as host and with pop superstar Katy Perry already pinned down as a judge, Idol‘s return is no idle rumor.
However, if word on the street is right, what sets Fox’s latest musical endeavor apart is a super-unique format we haven’t yet seen from a reality singing competition.
In an unexpected twist, the show’s four finalists are chosen in the first episode. Only, these finalists can’t get too comfy — each week, new contestants are thrown into the mix to challenge the finalists. If a challenger succeeds, they get to steal one of the four finalist slots and so on and so forth until the finale, when presumably the finalists that remain square off against each other.
This format has already worked for Armoza, in fact. In April, French production company Satisfaction snagged it from the producer. It’s set to air internationally as The Final Four.
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Of course, the big question is, “Will it be a hit here too?” Considering no new singing competition has successfully launched since the inception of The Voice, suffice it to say Fox better bring its A game.
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