As ‘American Idol’ Leaves Los Angeles for Atlanta, More Concerns Emerge About the State of Local Production

By Michael Schneider

Michael Schneider

Executive Editor

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Forget Hollywood. “American Idol” is heading to Georgia, dawg.

In news that felt all too depressingly common in production-starved Los Angeles, word emerged Tuesday that “American Idol” — which has been broadcast live from Los Angeles since it originated in 2002 — would move production to Georgia.

ABC, as well as producers Fremantle and 19 Entertainment (via owner Sony Pictures TV), didn’t respond to requests for comment about the news. But it makes “American Idol” the latest studio-based reality competition series to pull up stakes and leave Los Angeles in search of tax incentives and lower costs.

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