American Idol Season 18 is on hold thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, but that hasn't stopped the singing competition from planning ahead for Season 19 (Season 4 on ABC). Auditions are now live for the next season for hopefuls to audition from home, and while the process could potentially make for some major changes, it could also be a good thing in the long run.
It's hard for me to see this early audition process as anything other than an absolute win for everyone involved. American Idol's decision to go ahead and hold auditions for Season 19 while the current season is on hold is a plus for everyone, from viewers to the contestants themselves.
Advance Auditions For American Idol Season 19 Will Limit Delays For Both Seasons
Right now, there's no telling when American Idol Season 18 will be able to resume. The only thing known right now is that live shows can't continue without the all-clear for productions to get back to work, and it could be at least another month or longer before Season 18 of American Idol can continue. Auditions for the next season of American Idol are typically held in August-September, and while there's reason to be optimistic things won't be as bad then as they are now, nothing is certain.
With little more to do than wait, American Idol is smart in taking early applications for Season 19. This will ensure that, whenever Season 18 resumes, production won't overlap with the next season, and we'll still get new episodes in the midseason like in the past if all goes well. As someone who can't wait for life to return to normal, I can certainly appreciate the fact that at least Idol will likely have a more or less normal schedule when this is all said and done.
Applying Online Is Less Stressful Than In Person
There may be some musicians out there upset about missing out on the chance to audition in person, but quite frankly, this crowd is lucky. The many auditions that happen before a contestant ever gets in front of the celebrity judges are brutal, and the first round is among the hardest. Under the usual process, hopefuls register online and line up at a location and it's first-come, first served.
That's right, there are many people who register to audition for American Idol each and every year who get turned away before they even sing a note. Online submissions may not necessarily change that, but at least contestants can submit from the comfort of home rather than sitting for hours in a line only to be turned away before ever getting close. Also, it does seem like in-person auditions will happen after callbacks, so anyone feeling their personality is lost in a YouTube video will eventually get a shot to strut their stuff in front of producers.
American Idol Could Bring Some Consistency To A Potentially Inconsistent Future Of Television
With major sports on hold and shows unable to finish their current seasons or go into production on future seasons in a timely matter, it could be a couple years before the television we know and love is back on track. All hope is not lost for American Idol Season 19 though, and there's still a solid chance especially with these auditions that it'll air early in 2021 when most people would expect.
As I touched on earlier, it feels like everything is uncertain at the moment. In a world where we know so little about the future, it is somewhat comforting to know Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan could be cutting up and cracking jokes like usual when 2021 arrives. It doesn't completely remove the sting of how television will be impacted in the coming year, but it does give me just a little optimism.
American Idol Season 18 is still airing new episodes on ABC Sundays at 8:00 p.m. ET, but live shows are on hold until further notice. Continue to stick with CinemaBlend for all the latest news happening in television and movies, and for updates on what shows are postponed or on hold.
