Andy DehnartOn last night’s American Idol results show, Ryan Seacrest revealed that the show’s producers are “looking for a group–a band.” Television’s number one series is spinning off a talent competition that will search for an instrument-playing group.
The new show “will follow the ‘Idol’ format, starting with an audition phase in which producers will look for musical groups of all ages and genres,” Variety reports. It’s tentatively called The Search for the Next Great American Band, but my guess is they’ll change it or shorten that title to just American Band.
After auditions, “Judges will then narrow the wanna-bes down to 10 semi-finalists, each of which will get to perform in front of a live audience. Viewers will determine who moves on to the next round, with three bands facing off in the finale,” according to Variety. They will have to “play various styles and themes.”
Casting information and rules have been posted, and as Seacrest said last night, producers are “looking for the best undiscovered group in America. Any sound, any style, any age, anything goes.”
No debut date has been announced, but Variety says “it seems likely the show would land in late summer or early fall,” and The Hollywood Reporter agrees with that estimate.
The Search for the next Great American Band [American Idol]
Fox’s ‘Idol’ hands band together again [Hollywood Reporter]