The Masked Dancer

“Masked Dancer” has Abdul judging anew

Eighteen years ago, Paula Abdul had a front-row seat for the TV revolution.

It was the very front row, as an “American Idol” judge alongside Simon Cowell (shown here, after they settled their differences). The show spurred endless variations – including “The Masked Dancer,” where she’s now a judge.
That starts Sunday (Dec. 27), then jumps to Wednesdays on Fox … which is where this all started.
In the summer of 2002, Fox tried a variation on the British “Idol,” with Abdul judging alongside Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell … whose acerbic comments startled her. Twice, Cowell wrote in “I Don’t Mean to Be Rude But …” (Broadway Books, 2003), she walked out of auditions. “The tension was so tremendous, the bad feeling so strong, that I didn’t know how we could continue together.” Read more…

“Equalizer,” others, get football boost

Struggling to launch a handful of new shows, the networks turn to the one thing they can count on – football.
CBS has given its best spot – after the Super Bowl on Feb. 7 – to “The Equalizer” (shown here) The show – a reboot starring Queen Latifah – will remain on Sundays, starting 8 p.m. Feb. 14.
Earlier, Fox decided to launch both of its new shows after NFL doubleheaders.
“The Masked Dancer” will debut Dec. 27, then settle into a temporary spot at 8 p.m. Wednesdays. “Call Me Kat,” a Mayim Bialik comedy, debuts Jan. 3, then moves to 9 p.m. Wednesdays. Read more…

Mid-season plans set: from old “Idol” to new “Masked Dancer”

Just as the fall TV shows belatedly arrive, there’s a bonus: Two networks – ABC and Fox – have announced mid-season plans.
For ABC, that ranges from “The Bachelor” on Jan. 4 to “American Idol” on Valentine’s Day. For Fox, it includes January starts for six scripted shows – five of them returning, plus a new comedy that Jim Parsons is producing, with Mayim Bialik (his “Big Bang” wife) as star – along with “Hell’s Kitchen” and the new (shown here) “Masked Dancer.”
Read more…