- Click to share on Facebook (Opens in a new window)
- Click to share on Twitter (Opens in a new window)
- Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in a new window)
- Click to email a friend (Opens in a new window)
(CNN Spanish) - The show must continue despite the pandemic and the delivery of the popular program "American Idol" this Sunday came in a new format.
The singing competition is in its Top 20 phase, but due to the covid-19 crisis, the contestants were sent home.
"#AmericanIdol continues to wish everyone health and safety," said a press release on Sunday's program. "For the first time in the history of the competition, #AmericanIdol has broadcast an entirely remote episode from more than 40 locations, with all of the contestants' performances filmed on their iPhones."
That did not diminish the quality of the performances.
Kimmy Gabriela, 17, from Lakeland, Florida, impressed the judges with a cover of Ariana Grande's "Leave Me Lonely".
"I felt like you're starting to know who you are and you take it seriously," said Judge Katy Perry, who is expecting a baby and dressed in a hand sanitizer outfit called 'American Idol Instant Music Sanitizer.' I just like to see that you are evolving as a stage artist too. ”
Francisco Martin, 19, performed Perry's hit "Teenage Dream" from his home in Daly City, California.
"You took a unique opportunity," Judge Lionel Richie told the teenager. "But you made it your song."
Richie, Perry, and fellow jury member Luke Bryan hooked up individually on Facebook live before Sunday's episode to answer questions from viewers.
"All the 'Idol' people have been working very, very hard," Bryan said from his home in Nashville.
The Sunday episode of "Idol" marked the first reality show to air after a work stoppage in Hollywood due to the pandemic.
Ryan Seacrest made a very special montage from his home, using the desk where the original judges of the program, Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson sat.
View this post on Instagram
Kept this in my garage for over 3 years in case of an emergency. The time has come…. @AmericanIdol is going to be HISTORIC on so many levels. We're broadcasting from 25 different locations - don't miss an all-new show this Sunday at 8 | 7c on ABC!
A post shared by Ryan Seacrest (@ryanseacrest) on Apr 22, 2020 at 3:59 am PDT
"I kept this in my garage for over 3 years in case of an emergency," Seacrest wrote in the title of a video on his verified Instagram account showing the desktop. "The moment arrive…"
ABC reprized "American Idol" in 2018 after its Fox career ended in 2016 after 15 seasons.
American Idol