'Idol' replacing AbdulFox execs talk future of franchise at TCAAug 6, 2009, 01:19 PM ET Updated: Aug 6, 2009, 10:41 PM ET
The network's entertainment chairman Peter Rice said Thursday that he intends to find a replacement for Paula Abdul before live "American Idol" episodes begin airing in January. When Abdul abruptly announced she was quitting the show this week, some assumed the network would revert to using three judges. In the meantime, Fox will have guest judges each week during an audition process, choosing female pop stars and performers to sit in for Abdul while "American Idol" tours cities seeking new contestants. "Our intention is to have guest judges at each of the auditions," Rice said at the TCA summer press tour. "Our intention is to have the guest judges be female pop stars, female performers, female artists. Between now and January we will come up with a more permanent solution (and) come up with a replacement for Paula. There's also something exciting about that, and we'll be looking to bring a different element and a different energy to this season." Victoria Beckham and Katy Perry are booked, with other guest judges to be announced soon. "Idol" begins shooting audition episodes this week in Denver. Asked if there's any chance of Abdul returning, Rice replied, "Our understanding is ... we've concluded the negotiation." Added entertainment president Kevin Reilly, "She was the right person at the right time with chemistry -- but under the heading of great producing. When shows are this successful, it's very easy to take for granted the level of producing because things seem so seamless. I'm not saying it's easy. You're messing with chemistry that works, but that's part of what top producers do. And we're pretty confident they're going to find that." Pressed on whether there absolutely will be a fourth judge next year, Rice said, "There's a possibility we'll have three, but the probability is we will have four." This was Rice's debut appearance at the press tour, and he was well received by the critics. After a cozy and familiar executive session with CBS' entertainment president Monday, then a tense and awkward meeting with NBC's drama and alternative heads, Fox's session was polite and jovial. Rice, the former head of Fox Searchlight, and Reilly joked with critics and gamely fielded many questions about Abdul. When one reporter brought up former NBC co-chair Ben Silverman, Rice joked, "I thought you were going to ask if he were going to judge 'Idol.' " In other news from the session, executives said they were close to picking up another animated series, 20th TV's "Bob's Burgers," from Jim Dauterive and Loren Bouchard. But controversial reality series "The Moment of Truth" is not coming back -- despite having shot an unaired second season -- nor is "The Osbournes," which Fox previewed after "American Idol" last season. Fox also announced an eighth cycle of "Hell's Kitchen" to go along with its upcoming seventh edition. The move leaves open the possibility back-to-back spring and summer cycles again next year. Chef Gordon Ramsay's one-hour cooking special, "CookAlong Live," also received an airdate: Dec. 15. During Fox's press day, Ramsay led critics in a demonstration of the special's live-cooking concept, which resulted in dozens of reporters frantically whisking egg whites for a baked Alaska. Fox also made playful use of its lunchtime presentation, with the cast of new animated series "Cleveland" performing a table read. After, creator Seth MacFarlane shrugged off Fox declining to air his abortion episode of "Family Guy" next season. "I trust (Reilly's) decision implicitly," he said. Reilly explained that he decided not to air the episode in the midst of conversations with advertisers about ad rates for the animated block. "At that moment in time, there was a tough conversation gong on with clients, and we didn't need the headache," he said. "We don't censor Seth. It was a business decision." 'Idol' replacing AbdulFox execs talk future of franchise at TCAAug 6, 2009, 01:19 PM ET Updated: Aug 6, 2009, 10:41 PM ET
Fox wants to stick with four.
The network's entertainment chairman Peter Rice said Thursday that he intends to find a replacement for Paula Abdul before live "American Idol" episodes begin airing in January. When Abdul abruptly announced she was quitting the show this week, some assumed the network would revert to using three judges. In the meantime, Fox will have guest judges each week during an audition process, choosing female pop stars and performers to sit in for Abdul while "American Idol" tours cities seeking new contestants. "Our intention is to have guest judges at each of the auditions," Rice said at the TCA summer press tour. "Our intention is to have the guest judges be female pop stars, female performers, female artists. Between now and January we will come up with a more permanent solution (and) come up with a replacement for Paula. There's also something exciting about that, and we'll be looking to bring a different element and a different energy to this season." Victoria Beckham and Katy Perry are booked, with other guest judges to be announced soon. "Idol" begins shooting audition episodes this week in Denver. Asked if there's any chance of Abdul returning, Rice replied, "Our understanding is ... we've concluded the negotiation." Added entertainment president Kevin Reilly, "She was the right person at the right time with chemistry -- but under the heading of great producing. When shows are this successful, it's very easy to take for granted the level of producing because things seem so seamless. I'm not saying it's easy. You're messing with chemistry that works, but that's part of what top producers do. And we're pretty confident they're going to find that." Pressed on whether there absolutely will be a fourth judge next year, Rice said, "There's a possibility we'll have three, but the probability is we will have four." This was Rice's debut appearance at the press tour, and he was well received by the critics. After a cozy and familiar executive session with CBS' entertainment president Monday, then a tense and awkward meeting with NBC's drama and alternative heads, Fox's session was polite and jovial. Rice, the former head of Fox Searchlight, and Reilly joked with critics and gamely fielded many questions about Abdul. When one reporter brought up former NBC co-chair Ben Silverman, Rice joked, "I thought you were going to ask if he were going to judge 'Idol.' " In other news from the session, executives said they were close to picking up another animated series, 20th TV's "Bob's Burgers," from Jim Dauterive and Loren Bouchard. But controversial reality series "The Moment of Truth" is not coming back -- despite having shot an unaired second season -- nor is "The Osbournes," which Fox previewed after "American Idol" last season. Fox also announced an eighth cycle of "Hell's Kitchen" to go along with its upcoming seventh edition. The move leaves open the possibility back-to-back spring and summer cycles again next year. Chef Gordon Ramsay's one-hour cooking special, "CookAlong Live," also received an airdate: Dec. 15. During Fox's press day, Ramsay led critics in a demonstration of the special's live-cooking concept, which resulted in dozens of reporters frantically whisking egg whites for a baked Alaska. Fox also made playful use of its lunchtime presentation, with the cast of new animated series "Cleveland" performing a table read. After, creator Seth MacFarlane shrugged off Fox declining to air his abortion episode of "Family Guy" next season. "I trust (Reilly's) decision implicitly," he said. Reilly explained that he decided not to air the episode in the midst of conversations with advertisers about ad rates for the animated block. "At that moment in time, there was a tough conversation gong on with clients, and we didn't need the headache," he said. "We don't censor Seth. It was a business decision."
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