American Idol’s planned triumphant television return has been plunged into chaos as producers struggle to fill the judging panel.
Show bosses shelled out a staggering $25 million to land pop princess Katy Perry, 32, as a panelist on the revival of the hit talent contest.
But TMZ reports producers are still ‘no closer to locking down stars’ to join the singer on the panel, meaning the show’s season 16 launch could be delayed.
Trouble ahead: American Idol’s planned triumphant television return has been plunged into chaos as producers struggle to fill the judging panel
Now the clock is ticking, with Katy due to start her Witness world tour in Montreal, Canada, on September 19.
A source told TMZ: ‘Thursday is the last stop for the show’s tour bus auditions, and it’s just weeks away from the planned taped auditions with the judges. Problem is producers are no closer to locking down stars to join Katy on the panel.
‘If the show’s forced to postpone filming, it will likely conflict with Perry’s Witness tour schedule producers worked so hard to accommodate in the first place.’
The Swish Swish hitmaker recently boasted about her $25 million paycheck she got for agreeing to appear on the show.
Expensive: Show bosses shelled out a staggering $25 million to land pop princess Katy Perry, 32, as a panelist on the revival of the hit talent contest
During a radio interview she said: ‘I’m really proud that as a woman, I got paid. I got paid more than any man that’s been on that show.’
But that big payday could spell big trouble for Idol producers.
With a rumored $40 million cap on talent, and $10 million of that going to returning host Ryan Seacrest, the starmaking franchise is apparently trying to sweeten deals with offers of Disney partnerships.
But that wasn’t sweet enough for country star Luke Bryan, who has apparently turned down an offer to appear on the ABC talent show.
Host with the most: $10 million of the show’s estimated $40 million talent budget will be going to returning host Ryan Seacrest
No deal: Country star Luke Bryan has apparently turned down an offer to appear on the ABC talent show – with producers still struggling to lock down big names for the panel
The Firework singer might just try to work out her schedule for the sake of a payday though.
She’s recently been working overtime to add to her estimated $275 million fortune.
The pop superstar recently cashed a check for appearing in a cringeworthy commercial for a Japanese fabric softener.
But even the hefty payday on offer for a role as a judge on Idol is dwarfed by the potential payday from an international tour.
Perry’s California Dreams tour of 2011-2012 netted her a reported $59.5 million.
Cheesy: The pop superstar recently cashed a check for appearing in a cringeworthy commercial for a Japanese fabric softener
Smelly: The singer featured in two 15-second commercials on behalf of fabric and air care brand Laundrin’
And the Witness tour seems to be going full steam ahead, if Perry’s social media is anything to go by.
In an August 31 Instagram post, Perry is pictured reclining saucily on a piano wearing a blue sequined suit with the jacket unbuttoned. Underneath she wears only a bra.
The post is captioned: ‘Tickets & VIP packages for both #WITNESSTHETOUR Auckland shows are on sale now’
No stopping: Katy’s Witness tour seems to be going full steam ahead later this month, if the star’s social media is anything to go by