American Idol Finds New Ways to Make Money

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Music, Prime Time, Reality, FOX, American Idol, Gossip, News

It’s the Number One rated series. It gets more press than any other program on TV. Product placement has totally gotten out of control on the show, and promos run almost all year long. How in the world could FOX possibly squeeze even more money out of American Idol?

Thank goodness for partner deals. Idol has inked a deal with Apple’s iTunes which will allow fans to buy performances from the Top 24 contestants, which will be whittled down to 20 later this week (so get them while you can). It will cost 99 cents for each song (already available), but for $1 more buyers can also have video of the Top 12 performers belting out tunes (this will be available March 11). You can even pre-order performances in anticipation.

Idol is already chock-full of sponsors, including Coca-Cola, Ford and AT&T (products from whom are featured every single episode). I’ve got an idea. Forget the show. Just show us sponsored products throughout, forget about pretending to offer entertainment and get on with the business of making as much loot as possible. The three existing big sponsors of the show, by the way, pay a cool $35 million a pop for commercial time.

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

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Knight Riders’ KITT Replaced

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Action, Drama, Specials, NBC, Announcements

A TV project months in the making has had a major casting change in the 11th hour.

Will Arnett, the voice of NBC’s new KITT mobile, has had to sever ties from the Knight Rider movie.  It seems his vocal cords actually belong elsewhere.

The actor (Blades of Glory) has been doing General Motors voice-over work for some time now.  Unfortunately, those who have seen trailers for the ‘80s update know the automobile featured belongs to Ford.  GM, finally realizing there may be a conflict of interest, asked the two-timing Arnett to step aside.

Fortunately for the network, another actor has been found to fill the void.  Val Kilmer will now be the one heard in the Feb. 17th special.  Assuming the movie serves as a new series’ pilot, it’s unclear whether Kilmer would continue on with the role.

As for Arnett, let’s just hope that Arrested Development film happens after all.

Read More | Variety

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