‘American Idol’ showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick on ‘exciting search’ to replace Katy Perry
“American Idol’s” executive producer and showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick just wrapped up one of the strongest seasons yet of ABC’s reality TV show, which ended with Abi Carter claiming victory on finale night. “It’s exciting to have a girl winner, and someone that really brought it from her first audition,” she tells us about the 21-year-old pop ballad singer from California. “She really had a magic moment when she first auditioned with ‘What Was I Made For?’ in L.A. for the judges, and I think she only grew from there.” Watch the exclusive video interview above.
Speaking about the longevity of “American Idol,” Michaels Wolflick proclaims, “This show is a brand. It is a trusted brand. I do feel like it is, in my mind, the NFL of singing shows as far as you come to us because you trust in the process. It’s a show about the finalists. It’s not a show about celebrities. It’s a show about the Cinderella story.” She adds, “It’s never boring. It’s never old. It’s never hacking. And if it was that, then it’d probably be time to hang up the hat. But until then, I am more excited now than I ever was about the show.”
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Michaels Wolflick readily admits that her favorite “American Idol” performance of all time is “a little obscure,” namely Joshua Ledet singing “Up to the Mountain” in Season 11. “Obviously, Phillip [Phillips, the winner] and Jessica [Sanchez, the runner-up] were also amazing. But I love Joshua. He always brought so much to the stage. So I still will go on YouTube and watch it here and there,” she confirms with a laugh.
The recently wrapped 22nd season served as the last year for Katy Perry, who joined the judges’ panel seven years ago alongside Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie. Speaking about the high-profile departure, the producer notes, “I think Katy would never have thought back when she first began her journey on ‘Idol’ that it was going to be seven years, and it was an evolution. And I understand her need and want to get back out there, tour and put an album out. That’s the first love. But to quote her song, it’s never really over. Maybe, who knows? I mean, people have come back to the show before.”
Also in our exclusive video interview, Michaels Wolflick talks about the “exciting search” for Perry’s replacement, declaring, “It’s into the unknown at the moment. But we will hopefully have news soon.” The showrunner then gives her thoughts on the season’s runner-up, Will Moseley, on the third-place finisher, Jack Blocker, and on McKenna Faith Breinholt‘s audition that went viral.
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