WARNING: Spoilers for ‘American Idol’ Week 5 ahead!
The hunt for America’s next superstar is back! The long-running competition show “American Idol” has returned for its highly anticipated Season 24. The first four weeks wasted no time in delivering emotional backstories, surprising moments, and several early favorites who instantly caught the attention of the judges trio, Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Carrie Underwood. Now that auditions have officially come to an end, the competition is really starting to heat up.
On Monday, February 23, Week 5 will kick off the first round of “Hollywood Week,” which will be moved from Los Angeles to Nashville, now being called “Hollywood Week: Music City Takeover.” It will consist of a single round of competition instead of the usual multiple rounds, with ABC promising the “biggest Hollywood Week cut in ‘Idol’ history.” Below, we’re previewing what to expect from the contestants and their performances.
‘American Idol’ Hollywood Week: Music City Takeover – Part 1 Preview
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DisneyUpcoming Release Schedule for ‘American Idol’
New episodes of “American Idol” are set to air every Monday. As of the season premiere, the series has only released the weekly breakdown up to the ninth episode featuring the Top 20 contestants.
Here’s the episode release schedule:
Feb. 23: Episode 5, “Hollywood Week In Music City – Part 1”
March 2: Episode 6, “Hollywood Week In Music City – Part 2”
March 9: Episode 7, “Ohana Round”
March 16: Episode 8, “Top 20 at Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawai’i – Part 1”
March 23: Episode 9, “Top 20 at Disney’s Aulani Resort in Hawai’i – Part 2”
What Makes This ‘American Idol’ Season Different?
Besides the changes to “Hollywood Week” this season, another addition to Season 24 is that fans will be able to vote on social media. Showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick told Deadline, “We have to meet the audience where they are. Back in 2002 when the show began, texting was the new hot thing. We also have to meet the technology where it is, as well. We want to make it as easy as possible for people to vote for their favorites, weigh in from their couch with their second screen, in real time.”
“If we can get Gen Alpha and Gen Z to weigh in a little bit more in the easiest way possible, that’s very exciting,” she explained. “It could tip the scale.”
The show is also introducing a new Ohana Round that will take place at Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii, and will take place during its three-episode “Hollywood Week.”
During the Ohana Round, 30 contestants will perform for a group of “industry tastemakers,” who will be helping the judges narrow down the competition to the Top 20.
The “industry tastemakers” include influencer duo Kaniyia Brown and Terry McCaskill, music creator Anthony Gargiula, actress Loren Gray, podcast host Evan Ross Katz, vocal coach Cheryl Porter, Grand Ole Opry announcer Kelly Sutton and “Rolling Stone” co-editor-in-chief Shirley Halperin.
In her recent interview, Michaels Wolflick said the goal of Ohana Week is to get a pulse on exactly who fans—and industry professionals—are connecting to.
“The judges have the power right all the way up to America’s Vote of who they want to put through and I thought it’d be interesting to do some sort of focus group before they get to America’s Vote to inform the judges of who people are responding to,” she explained, noting that each of the groups will get a chance to pick their favorite contestant. “Back in the day, Kris Allen would have been the pick of the people and Adam Lambert probably would have been the industry pick. I’m super curious who the [potential] Idols are going to pick because they can’t vote for themselves.”
