Jaws dropped when news that Katy Perry signed on to American Idol for a crisp $25 million emerged in May.
But one of the series’ lead producers staunchly defended the singing show’s astronomical salaries in a chat with The Hollywood Reporter published Thursday.
American Idol producer and FremantleMedia CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz told the industry rag that Perry is more than worth the money, saying the Chained To The Rhythm songstress is ‘brilliant’ and ‘genuinely cares.’
One of American Idol’s lead producers stood behind Katy Perry’s $25million salary for the show, calling the hitmaker ‘brilliant’
Producer Frot-Coutaz gave the California Gurl a ringing endorsement in her interview, telling THR it is the perfect time for Katy to take on the small screen.
‘Katy is in a transition in terms of her own career. It has been shown now what these platforms can do for artists.’
The Hollywood power player already expects Perry – born Katherine Elizabeth Hudson – to be a natural, citing her charming appearance as one of the show’s guest judges back in 2008 as well as her time on the UK version of The X-Factor.
Good for everyone! Producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz thinks it is the perfect time for the songstress (above with Simon Cowell in 2008) to take on TV, saying ‘Katy is in a transition in terms of her own career,’ adding ‘It has been shown now what these platforms can do for artists.’
She’s a natural! The Hollywood power player already expects Perry to be a natural, citing her charming appearance as one of the show’s guest judges back in 2008 (pictured above with season nine judges Randy Jackson, Kara Dioguardi and Simon Cowell)
The exec was quick to dismiss any worries industry insiders might harbor about the program spending literally 50% of its talent budget on Perry.
‘The show is not more expensive than its competitors in the genre,’ said the French-born executive.
‘If other networks can make it work on similar properties, then there’s no reason why ABC couldn’t.’
AI is still trying to cast Katy’s three fellow judges.
She finished, adding ‘ABC wouldn’t order something that didn’t work for them financially.’
Frot-Coutaz also talked about how the show secured their other main attraction: long time host Ryan Seacrest.
It was a difficult deal to make, seeing as the host/producer (who Coutaz called ‘the face of Idol’) is now based on the East Coast for his gig on ABC’s Live with Kelly And Ryan.
Face it! Frot-Coutaz also talked about how the show secured long time host Ryan Seacrest, who she called ‘the face of Idol’
‘[Ryan] had to figure out how to make it work, but he’s the hardest-working man in show business, so there will be some flying back and forth.’
She did concede that though ‘It would be very strange to make American Idol without Ryan… it’s the contestants that make the show.’
American Idol will return from its two-year slumber come the 2017-2018 TV season.
Idol hands! The Witness artist is no stranger to Idol, having also appeared as a performer on the show (seen above in 2012)