https://tvline.com/2020/03/17/american-idol-postponed-delayed-coronavirus-suspends-production

The ABC reality competition is the latest show to suspend production, effective immediately, but pre-taped episodes will continue to air. "Filming has been halted to ensure that contestants can get home to their families, according to a source; the rest of the production is working remotely, and has been since last week," reports TVLine's Dave Nemetz. "For now, episodes will continue to air as scheduled through the beginning of the live shows, which were slated to kick off in mid-April, but producers will continue to evaluate things on a week-to-week basis." ALSO: Idol has already ruled out shooting live shows with an audience (https://deadline.com/2020/03/coronavirus-american-idol-suspends-rehearsals-sends-contestants-home-live-show-decision-looms-1202886278/).

ABC shifts American Idol episodes as it explores "multiple options" for live shows (https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/american-idol-live-shows-coronavirus-1203547164/)

Idol was set to begin airing live shows on Monday, April 6. Instead, ABC will air pretaped shows on March 29 and April 5 and show a repeat of Celebrity Family Feud on April 6. The following week, on April 12 and April 19, ABC will air specials titled American Idol: This Is Me. “Regarding American Idol live shows, we are monitoring the situation and exploring multiple options within statewide guidelines," ABC said in a statement. "We will share a production plan as soon as it’s in place.”

Why don't they just shoot it without an audience???

Katy Perry: American Idol will have to be "really creative" to proceed with live shows (https://deadline.com/2020/04/katy-perry-american-idol-live-shows-abc-quarantine-1202906676/)

“We’re gonna all have to be really creative — I know we are going to be really creative,” Perry said Sunday during a Facebook chat before last night's American Idol, according to Deadline. Idol's live shows were supposed to begin on April 6 but have been delayed.

American Idol will proceed with remote live shows (https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/american-idol-abc-coronavirus-1234580234/)

Starting Sunday, April 26, American Idol will go live with its first-ever at-home remote edition. Host Ryan Seacrest, mentor Bobby Bones, judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie will judge from their homes as Idol's 20 contestants perform via remote video. More details of how Idol will set up the remote judging will be revealed at a later date. Idol had to delay the April 6 start of its live shows due to the coronavirus shutdown. Idol usually tapes its live shows at CBS Television City, which is also home to The Late Late Show with James Corden and Real Time with Bill Maher. On Sunday, Katy Perry said Idol would have to find a creative way to proceed (https://deadline.com/2020/04/katy-perry-american-idol-live-shows-abc-quarantine-1202906676/). “We’re gonna all have to be really creative — I know we are going to be really creative,” said Perry form the comfort of a car.

Why a live remote version of American Idol is a terrible idea (https://themuse.jezebel.com/when-will-american-idol-give-up-1842881114)

Idol will proceed with live shows this season amid the coronavirus crisis by having the 20 finalists perform remotely while the judges weigh in from their homes. "Although American Idol ceased to be about singing a long time ago, this new format strips away the last bit of normalcy from the singing competition and leaves viewers with one incredibly awkward televised Zoom meeting," says Shannon Melero. "Amateur singers just don’t sound good without the bells and whistles of a sound team behind them. Singing from home, presumably in a bathroom to optimize acoustics, also robs viewers of the musical arrangements put together by the Idol band. With no musicians and vocals being passed through a subpar microphone, what exactly is the show supposed to be? Canceled. It’s supposed to be canceled."

American Idol's quarantine shows will air with pre-taped performances from 45 locations (https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/american-idol-abc-coronavirus-ryan-seacrest-katy-perry-1234584601/)

When Idol kicks off its live shows next week from the homes of 20 contestants, their performances won't actually be live. Instead, they'll be "live to tape" in order to give producers a chance to edit the show to make it broadcast-ready and to make sure the contestants have an equal playing field in case of technical problems. “I think we’re about 45 different locations that we’re producing the show from now remotely. So it's quite an operation,” says showrunner Trish Kinane. Because the live shows were delayed, there will be multiple eliminations each week. Ryan Seacrest will host from an original Fox American Idol desk that he happens to have at his home. Each contestant has been sent iPhone cameras and lighting kits, while producers have been working with them on shooting themselves. “One of our contestants took it upon himself to build a little stage in his garage with backdrops, and it’s looking amazing," says Kinane. "They’re bringing out cushions and tapestries and goodness knows what else out of their cupboards. We’ve got one girl who has a lake as a backdrop, which looks fantastic. I’m proud of the quality that we hope to be able to deliver.” The contestants will be working with the in-house Idol band, whose members will be performing remotely. All the performances will be fed through a control room in Kansas City. “It is a singing show so we really wanted it to be good quality sound and vocals,” Kinane said. "It’s quite an operation. We’re not doing it all via Zoom or Skype. Basically we’re doing it in a sort of much higher quality way.”

Ryan Seacrest reveals the original American Idol desk he'll be using when hosts the remote live shows (https://deadline.com/2020/04/ryan-seacrest-finds-original-american-idol-desk-garage-1202914691/)

"Kept this in my garage for over 3 years in case of an emergency," says Seacrest of the Idol desk from his Fox days. Sunday's Idol, he says, will broadcast from 25 different locations.