While Katy Perry is exiting her gig at the judges table on American Idol at the end of this season, that will not stop the show from continuing on. The popular reality-singing competition had been renewed for its 8th season on ABC and its 23rd season overall.

American Idol started on Fox and was given new life at ABC seven years ago. The announcement of the renewal comes ahead of its Season 22 finale set to air on Sunday, May 19th.

As for Perry, she revealed back in February that she is stepping away from the show to pursue other career interests. The show is actively looking for the right chemistry and person to sit alongside judges and music superstars, Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan, who will be back next season, as will longtime host, Ryan Seacrest.

Photo: ABC

In other renewals, The Bachelor will be back following Joey Graziadei’s ratings winner of a season. The reality-dating competition will serve up its 29th season.

There is no premiere date set, but as has been in the past, the series usually premieres in January of the new year. While ‘Bachelor Nation’ will need to await, just who will be the next ‘Bachelor’, that person will most likely be selected from Jen Tran’s season of The Bachelorette, which is currently in production.

Photo: ABC

Jen’s journey to find love as the lead in The Bachelorette, marks that shows 19th season. It’s set to premiere this summer on July 8th and will again be hosted by Jesse Palmer.

Glad to hear “Idol” is coming back? Who should replace Katy Perry? Are you over ‘The Bachelor’ or did the last season featuring Joey as the lead, reinvigorate your interest in the show? Comment below.

When Adam J. Harrington showed up on all-new episodes of General Hospital, it shocked viewers of the long-running ABC soap opera, because he was the recast John “Jagger” Cates.

The character was previously played more than 30 years ago by Antonio Sabato Jr., and as fans of the soap have seen, Harrington’s version of Jagger and his circumstances are quite different. As it turns out, Adam was in the dark at what GH role he would be eventually cast in.

Speaking with GH co-stars, Steve Burton (Jason) and Bradford Anderson (Spinelli) on their Daily Drama podcast, Harrington shared the behind the scenes journey that led him to being the new version of John.

Photo: ABC

Adam shared, “I went into a chemistry read with Laura Wright (Carly) for a different character. I was told I wasn’t going to get the character, but hang tight, there’s something else. Then, that kind of took a couple of months and now we’re in December (2023), and then all of a sudden it was like, ‘here you go.'”

Once Adam was given a role on GH, he explained, “I still didn’t know who I was playing. I should have asked at that point. So the deal gets done, and I go, ‘By the way, who am I playing?'”

Photo: ABC

That’s the point where the GH powers-that-be let him in on just what he was about to take on. “They sent me a one sheet with John “Jagger” Kates in the description,” shared Adam. “It wasn’t until I went on YouTube and spent a good three or four days, watching all of Steve (Burton’s) storylines in the nineties (that I figured it out). By the way, they were fantastic. The production value … it was amazing the level of the acting, and the relationships you guys had. I really enjoyed it. So, that’s how I found out (about the character).”

Burton and Anderson asked Harrington about his thoughts on being a recast. “I thought it was important to go back to his circumstances and his upbringing, because that wouldn’t change no matter what he had become in the 20 or 30 or 70 years since we’ve seen him,” Adam shared. “I looked at what Antonio Sabato Jr. did and thought, ‘There was no way in hell I can even touch that or even come close, nor do I want to.’ The only thing I recognized was given his upbringing and what he’d gone through, it was a common sense of humor in there that’s either used defensively or as a way of getting through the world.”

Photo: JPI

As to how Adam should approach the part given it was a recast, he noted, “What I had been told from the brass is don’t worry about following that same emotional storyline. He’s gone away for a very, very, very long time, become successful and he’s come back. Basically, they were saying, you bring in you.”

Being part of the fabric of GH for awhile now, Harrington expressed, “I will say this about my experience so far. I am in absolute awe of the cast and the crew and watching how you do this on a train that refuses to stop. I said to a friend, ‘I’m on a train that’s going a hundred miles an hour, and they slow down to about 90 to kick you off after your scene is done.'”

So, what are your thoughts on Adam as John “Jagger” Cates after now seeing how the role has evolved and changed since its original version over 30 years ago? Comment below.

On Friday, May 10th, General Hospital fans received some wonderful images and news. John J. York who has played the beloved Mac Scorpio on the ABC daytime drama series is back at work and taping all-new episodes of the show.

“Mac is back!” read the General Hospital social media post hashtag. John is pictured with longtime leading lady, Kristina Wagner and in other pics with Wagner, along with his TV son, Josh Kelly.  York has played the younger brother of Robert Scorpio (Tristan Rogers) since 1991.

Previously, York announced he was taking time off from GH to undergo treatment for myelodysplastic syndromes and multiple smoldering myeloma (two blood and bone marrow disorders). This included chemo treatments, finding a blood doner match for  blood stem cell transplant and more.

Courtesy/GHIG

Late in 2023, York shared an update on his health on social media. At that time, John expressed, “(Things) are actually going along very well. I’m still in the middle stages of everything.” He added, “I’m feeling really good. Hopefully, hopefully, things go the way they are, maybe be back on the show late spring, early summer.

York’s return pics were greeted with wonderful excitement from his GH co-stars on the Instagram post, including  co-stars Finola Hughes (Anna) and Cameron Mathison (Drew).

Michael Fairman TV is wishing John well, and thrilled to see he is back at work.

Share your thoughts as “Mac is Back” to General Hospital via the comment section below.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by General Hospital (@generalhospitalabc)