ABC Is Desperate for a Non-White Judge to Complete Its American Idol Panel

By Clover Hope  |  September 25, 2017 | 2:40pm
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American Idol’s ongoing issue with securing a judging panel for its dreaded return is perhaps one sign that the show is ill-fated from the start. Nonetheless, the producers need just one more expert to join Katy Perry and country singer Luke Bryan and it would be nice if it wasn’t another white person.

Charlie Puth’s name has been floated, but alas he is white and, according to TMZ, “ABC believes there must be racial diversity on the panel.”

While Lionel Richie has long been in the running, his salary requirements ($10 million) are reportedly above what Idol’s budget can allot (despite Katy Perry making $25 million), so producers are instead considering lesser known figure Troy Carter, the industry veteran who’s managed Lady Gaga, John Legend and Meghan Trainor.

TMZ reports:

We’re told one of the reasons Carter may be appealing … if ABC wins on the diversity issue, Carter wouldn’t come with as big a price tag as Lionel, and the budget is almost blown.

Idol’s judging panels in the past have been powerful in name and relevance. Simon Cowell and Ellen DeGeneres sat on one panel. There was Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson and Keith Urban all at once. There was Jennifer Lopez, Keith Urban and Harry Connick, Jr…

The combination of Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Charlie Puth isn’t quite the same. Fitting that the last, non-white judge will have to settle for crumbs.

 
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