Producers of ABC’s new version of “American Idol” have been busy trying to round up personalities to join Katy Perry on the panel of judges for the new show. The New York Daily News cites insiders saying ABC and producer Fremantle have been in talks with former “Baywatch” star David Hasselhoff for a spot on the panel.
The report quotes a source saying: “David is interested in the role and his management have made contact with the show’s executives with a view to working out a deal.”
Ryan Seacrest will be back as host, and Perry is reportedly locked in with a $25 million salary. The report notes that ABC is still deciding whether to go with three judges or four.
Hasselhoff has experience, having sat as a judge on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” until 2010.
The report quotes another TV source saying: “David goes in and out of favor in Hollywood, but at this moment he is red hot.”
ABC was idiotic in not having Katy Perry sign a nondisclosure agreement related to her astronomical salary to be a judge. They’ve made hiring additional judges more difficult now that it’s public knowledge what ABC is willing to pay for her services. This huge misstep by ABC’s “American Idol” execs does not bode well for a successful return.
Are you saying that Katy Perry’s level of credibility, recognition and popularity, especially with the demographics this show is targeted to, is the same as David Hasslehoff? If they add Hasselhoff it is to bring the older generation to the show. That isn’t as valuable to ad buyers as the Perry demo. Hasselhoff doesn’t deserve what Perry gets and if his agent insists that he does, there are plenty of other tv “stars” from the 90’s who would be happy to sit on the panel for 1/2 of what Perry is getting.