As the final season starts for “American Idol” (8-10 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday on Channel 19, Fox) the stars of Fox’s singing competition are busy preparing for life after the show.
Judge Jennifer Lopez debuts her new NBC police drama, “Shades of Blue,” on Thursday (10 p.m. Jan. 7, Channel 5, NBC). Among the producers is “Idol” host Ryan Seacrest.
A Bronx native, Lopez plays Brooklyn detective Harlee Santos working as a FBI informant providing info on her boss, Lt. Matt Wozniak (Ray Liotta, “Goodfellas,” “Field of Dreams”), known for breaking the rules.
Harlee, a single mother, is caught in the middle between Wozniak, who’s consumed with finding the snitch, and FBI handler Special Agent Stahl (Warren Kole), “who develops an unhealthy obsession with her,” NBC says.
Judge Harry Connick Jr. is planning a daytime TV talk show for fall. “Harry” will be more like “Ellen” than the other issue-oriented daytime talk programs. Showcasing Connick’s acting and musical talents, Variety calls the show “a mix of musical performance segments, field pieces, comedic sketches and audience participation.”
Judge Keith Urban will take his guitar to the Carolina Country Music Fest at Myrtle Beach, S.C., on June 10, and also perform at the Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion at Gilford, NH, on July 2. Those are the only tour dates listed on his website.
Ryan Seacrest has parlayed hosting “Idol” all 15 seasons into a busy TV production company. In addition to “Shades of Blue,” Seacrest produces “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” “Shahs of Sunset,” “Knock Knock Live,” “E! Live from the Red Carpet” specials and those “Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” shows on ABC.
So it’s no surprise that Kim Kardashian and her husband, Kanye West, just happened to show up at “Idol” auditions last fall in San Francisco for the 15th and final season.
Due to falling ratings in recent years, "Idol" will wrap up in April instead of the final week of May sweeps.
