Television still has an occasional dab of music – just not as much of it.
The good news comes in small bits – a new date (Sept. 16) for the Academy of Country Music awards … some music guests via video chat … and a flood of concert reruns (including Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson, show here) on the AXS cable channel.
The coronavirus has led to the postponement of the ACM and Billboard awards and jeopardizes “American Idol,” which was supposed to begin live broadcasts on March 30. In addition, the latenight shows that usually have music have switched to full or partial reruns (see spearate satory under “News and Quick Comments”). Dua Lipa was scheduled to be on “Saturday Night Live” March 28, but that’s been switched to a rerun, with Scarlett Johanneson and Niall Horan as music guest.
The new developments are:
– The ACM awards have now been re-scheduled for Sept. 16, with Keith Urban as the first-time host. They were originally set for April 5 – a spot which CBS will now fill with at-home acoustic performances by country stars.
– The “Idol” judges – Katy Perry, Luke Bruan and Lionel Richie – will be guests Tuesday (March 24) on “Live With Kelly and Ryan.” The show – with Ryan Seacrest of “Idol” as co-host – does interviews by video. On Friday, Johnny Rzeznik of Goo Goo Dolls will sing from the porch of his New Jersey home.
– And AXS will rerun lots of concert.
The music-oriented channel, on cable and satellite, also will rerun Dan Rather’s interview with Kenny Rogers, who died Friday at 81. That will air at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) today (March 23) and 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) Wednesday. The concert specials (all times ET) include:
Today (March 23): “Kenny Loggins and Friends,” 6 p.m.
Tuesday: Meat Loaf, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday: “New Wave Day” (The Clash, Stray Cats, etc.), at the US Festival, 1 p.m.; Joe Walsh and friends (Garth Brooks, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, etc.), 5:30 p.m.
Thursday: Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard, noon; Travis Tritt, 1:05 p.m.
Saturday: The Eagles, 9 and 10:50 p.m.
Sunday: Peter Frampton, 10 a.m.; Bachman & Turner, 12:05 p.m.; John Mellencamp, 1:10 p.m.; REO Speedwagon, 2:50 p.m.’ Chicago, 3:55 p.m.; Cheap Trick, 5 p.m.; Stevie Nicks, 9.