American Idol broadcasted from nearly every corner of the country last night as the Top 20 contestants of Season 18 performed for viewers’ votes from the comforts of their own homes.
The 20 remaining singers were sent special packages – each contained three iPhones for multiple angles, as well as professional microphone and lighting kits – which they used to convert their homes into makeshift performance venues.
With Ryan Seacrest, Katy Perry, Luke Bryan and Lionel Richie beaming in from remote locations, the show went off without a hitch.
The show didn’t actually air live. Because it was emanating from so many locations, the live performances were actually edited together in advance. Each of the Top 20 were allowed three opportunities to perform their chosen song, and then production took the audio from the second take for all 20 artists, but the camera passes were from all three of the performances.
Among those who shined, according to Katy, Luke and Lionel were Franklin Boone, who performed “Everybody Wants To Rule The World,” Arthur Gunn, singing “Love Machine,” Louis Knight with “If The World Was Ending,” and Jonny West, who closed the show with “What A Wonderful World.”
American Idol returns May 3rd on ABC when the Top 20 will learn from Seacrest who will go on to the Top 10.