American Idol to film episodes on iPhone for rest of the season

A colorful studio backdrop with five people posing. Three men stand while one woman in a metallic dress sits on a case, and another man stands beside her. There are stage lights, ladders, and guitars in the background, giving an American Idol behind-the-scenes vibe.

American Idol will film the rest of its season remotely using iPhones, according to Deadline.

The show’s runner Trish Kinane has confirmed the production team have decided to make the switch to iPhones and wrap up the rest of the season from home, rather than canning the season or postponing filming due to the coronavirus pandemic in the United States.

Each judge and contestant has been sent an iPhone 11 so they can film from home, as well as new lighting equipment and wardrobe to help them style themselves for performances.

Speaking of the new iPhones, Kinane said that the iPhone 11 was “amazing” and expected to see them being used in studios around the world in the future.

She added: “These are kids who are really used to ‌iPhone‌ technology, they are really familiar with it and use it every day.

“In the end, we decided rather than send them some complicated camera that you really need a camera operator to use, we would go with the technology that they’re familiar with.

“These top of the range iPhones are amazing. It wouldn’t surprise me if we were using iPhones in the studio in the future.”

ABC is working “hand-in-hand” with Apple to ensure filming can continue from home.

In the coming weeks, ABC will air four more episodes of American Idol, where finalists will be hand-picked by judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, Ryan Seacrest, and Lionel Richie. None of the episodes are expected to air live due to logistical issues with working from home.

Are you excited to see American Idol filmed on an iPhone? Let us know on social media and check back soon for more news and rumors on everything Apple, every week.

About the Author

News content on AppleMagazine.com is produced by our editorial team and complements more in-depth editorials which you’ll find as part of our weekly publication. AppleMagazine.com provides a comprehensive daily reading experience, offering a wide view of the consumer technology landscape to ensure you're always in the know. Check back every weekday for more.

Editorial Team | Masthead – AppleMagazine Digital Publication