'American Idol' to Shift to Remote Episodes Starting April 26

ABC/Eric McCandless

“American Idol” will continue airing its current season remotely, ABC announced on Tuesday.

Starting Sunday, April 26, the singing competition show will shift from pretaped episodes to new installments featuring the three judges, host Ryan Seacrest, mentor Bobby Bones and the top 20 contestants all appearing from home.

The episode will be preceded on April 19 by the second “This Is Me” recap episode featuring unseen footage and performance highlights from the 20 contestants.

Also Read: Ratings: 'American Idol' Dips With Contestant Backstory Special, Still Manages Easter Sunday Win

There had been considerable questions about how “American Idol” would handle its live episodes while the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and government stay-at-home mandates precluded the possibility of the show’s usual live-audience studio setup.

The season was set to begin airing live episodes late last month, but ABC and producers Fremantle and Industrial Media’s 19 Entertainment bought themselves a few extra weeks to sort out the situation by scheduling additional recap episodes using pre-recorded material once production was forced to shut down.

In a Facebook Live conversation over the weekend, judge Katy Perry teased the shift to remotely produced episodes. “I think we’re all gonna have to be really creative,” she said. “You’ll just have to be tuning into that creativity that we are probably going to create from our individual homes … We’ll see how this goes.”

Isolation TV Guide: The Most Binge-Worthy Shows on Every Streaming Service (Photos)

Have you, like so many of us,found yourself doing an absurd amount of binge-watching during isolation? And yet, do you find yourself struggling to find a decent thing actually worth watching? Well, here is TheWrap's list of the five most binge-worthy original series from the major streamers, including Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Disney+, Apple TV+, Showtime, and Amazon.
Netflix, Fox, HBO
Netflix: "Love Is Blind"

Little did we know that soon enough, we'd all be in the pods. Close your eyes and let the sweet, grating tones of Jessica's voice carry you away.
Netflix
Netflix: "The Witcher"

Watch this while you pray that Henry Cavill didn't come in contact with the infected "Game of Thrones" actor who was set to star in Season 2 of this monster-hunter drama.
Netflix
Netflix: "Sex Education"

Try not to think of all the sex you're not having while cooped up in quarantine/isolation.
Netflix
Netflix: "Locke & Key"

This one dropped last month, but if you slept on it, it's not too late to catch up on the first season of this strange, key-filled drama.
Netflix
Netflix: "You"

If we're talking binge-worthiness, this one will have you sucked in faster than you can say Joe Goldberg.

Other honorable Netflix mentions: "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina," "Russian Doll," "Narcos," "Breaking Bad," "Better Call Saul," "Mad Men," "Sherlock," "Mindhunter," "Outlander," "The Circle," "Ozark"
Netflix
Amazon: "Carnival Row"

Escape from the terrors of reality by slipping into this magical world of fairies and beasts.
Amazon
Amazon: "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"

Come along with Midge on her quest to become a stand-up comedian.
Amazon
Amazon: "Fleabag"

Can we offer you a hot priest in this trying time?
Amazon
Amazon: "Good Omens"

In this David Tennant and Michael Sheen-led series, an angel and a demon partner up to save the world from the apocalypse. Wonder if they have any free time these days?
Amazon
Amazon: "Jack Ryan"

Look into John Krasinski's glistening green eyes and be soothed.

Other honorable Amazon mentions: "Bosch," "Modern Love," "Goliath," "The Man in the High Castle" and "The Expanse"
Amazon
Hulu: "Handmaid's Tale"

If you need a distraction from the dystopian society we're currently living in, rest assured this series will convince you it could always be worse.
Hulu
Hulu: "The Act"

Joey King and Patricia Arquette star as Gypsey Rose Blanchard and her mother in this Munchausen-by-proxy drama based on a true story.
Hulu
Hulu: "11.22.63."

James Franco is masterful in this Stephen King imagining of what would happen if one man tried to go back in time to stop the JFK assassination.
Hulu
Hulu: "Castle Rock"

A psychological-horror series, also from Stephen King.
Hulu
Hulu: "Ramy"

Because we all need some laughs right about now.
Hulu
Disney+: "The Simpsons"

This obviously isn't a Disney+ original, but since Fox and Disney are one now, we had to count this classic cartoon.
Fox
Disney+: "The Mandalorian"

It's not too late to get on board the Baby Yoda train.
Disney
Disney+: "High School Musical: The Musical: The Series"

For those who loved the original, or for their children.
Disney
Disney+: Early 2000s Live-Action Disney Channel Classics

"Even Stevens," "Lizzie McGuire," "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody," "Hannah Montana," and "That's So Raven," to name a few.
Disney
Disney+: Early 2000s Animated Disney Channel Classics

Get you some "Kim Possible," "Doug," "The Proud Family," and "Phineas and Ferb."
Disney
HBO: "Game of Thrones"

Winter may have come and gone, but if there ever was a time to binge the entirety of this series, it's now.
HBO
HBO: "Succession"

Money. Power. Glory. Crying into your father's arms.
HBO
HBO: "Westworld"

Season 3 only just premiered, which means it's not too late to catch up on the first two seasons.
HBO
HBO: "McMillions"

McDonald's may be closed because of coronavirus, but HBO will never leave us.
HBO
HBO: "Curb Your Enthusiasm"

Who doesn't smile when they hear that theme song?

Honorable mentions: "Euphoria," "Chernobyl," "The Outsider," "Avenue 5," "Gentleman Jack"
HBO
Showtime: "On Becoming a God in Central Florida"

Why not use this downtime to learn about pyramid schemes?
Showtime
Showtime: "Murder in the Bayou"

Not only can you binge-watch this extremely sad and yet-unsolved true crime murder story, but you can also read the book by Ethan Brown when you're done.
Showtime
Showtime: "Homeland"

This series may be coming to an end next month, but the good news is, now you have plenty of time to catch up on all seven seasons prior to the eighth and final one.
Showtime
Showtime: "Shameless"

Because we're all feeling a bit like William H. Macy in the above picture right now.
Showtime
Showtime: "Kidding"

Let Jim Carrey make you laugh. It's what he does.
Showtime
Apple TV+: "The Morning Show"

Watch Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell star as television journalists during the #MeToo era.
Apple
Apple TV+: "See"

Who couldn't use a little shirtless Jason Momoa in times like these?
Apple
Apple TV+: "Dickinson"

Watch Hailee Steinfeld as a sassy, young Emily Dickinson.
Apple
Apple TV+: "Little America"

Watch the heartwarming stories of immigrants unfold in this series from executive producer Kumail Nanjiani.
Apple
Apple TV+: "Servant"

Two words: Baby doll.
Apple
Apple TV+: "Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet"

Who doesn't love Rob McElhinney?
Apple

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From “Love Is Blind” to “Westworld”

Have you, like so many of us,found yourself doing an absurd amount of binge-watching during isolation? And yet, do you find yourself struggling to find a decent thing actually worth watching? Well, here is TheWrap's list of the five most binge-worthy original series from the major streamers, including Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Disney+, Apple TV+, Showtime, and Amazon.

View In Gallery