"American Idol" is ditching Hollywood for Georgia amid renewed concerns about California’s competitiveness.On Wednesday, Fremantle, the production company behind ABC's long-running singing competition, confirmed the relocation to Fox News Digital.The company is reportedly in final discussions with an Atlanta-area studio complex, according to Deadline.Longtime fans and viewers of the show were quick to react on social media."'You’re going to…Atlanta!' Just doesn’t have that same ring to it," one user wrote on X."Another one bites the dust LA.
Sad!" another added."So much for those 'hollyweird' tax breaks eh?" one person quipped.NEWSOM SAYS FILM TAX INCENTIVES ARE BRINGING HOLLYWOOD HOME BUT INDUSTRY EXPERTS WARN IT MAY BE 'TOO LATE'Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, Ryan Seacrest and Luke Bryan will be filming the 27th season of "American Idol" in Georgia.(Disney via Getty Images)"LOL !!! Another production Hollywood GETTING THE HELL OUT OF CALIFORNIA ! AFTER 25 YEARS BYEEEEE GAVIN NEWSOM American Idol is OUT OF CALI," another wrote.While the move marks a significant change for a series long associated with Hollywood, Lisa Cusack, president of the Don’t L.A.
My Burbank PAC, said the relocation should be a warning to California officials."The issue is that Georgia offers generous incentives for reality TV shows, while California often leaves them behind," Cusack told Fox News Digital."For example, Nick Schultz’s entertainment tax credit bill, AB 2319, specifically excludes unscripted programming.""Now Georgia has a lot of the same infrastructure as Hollywood, and offers a less expensive, more family-friendly quality of life," she continued.
"There’s very little keeping even Hollywood business in California anymore.This should serve as a five-shot-espresso wake-up call to Rob Bonta to settle with Paramount and not make things worse."Last month, Paramount CEO David Ellison threatened to relocate the company’s headquarters to a more business-friendly st...