Alongside all those music-from-home moments, TV will soon have one full-scale, screaming-fans concert special.
Taylor Swift (shown here) has her “City of Love Concert” at 10 p.m. May 17 on ABC, following the “American Idol” finale, from 8-10 p.m.
“Idol” has its contestants singing from home. That’s the same approach used during the pandemic by “The Voice,” late-night shows, seven (so far) primetime specials and PBS Memorial Day eve concert, on May 24.
Viewers wanting the traditional concert-crowd excitement have had to settle for occasional specials taped before the shutdown. That has included a Prince tribute on CBS and two orchestral concerts (May 8 and 15) on PBS.
Swift’s concert was filmed last September in the L’Olympia, which was built in Paris in 1888. The relatively intimate setting (holding2,800 people for concerts) had fans from 37 countries, to hear songs from her “Lover” album. A “Lover Fest” tour was subsequently canceled due to the pandemic.