American Idol 2024 is on longer tonight (This is how long you’ll need to tune in for)

Since the American Idol 2024 season started, we've gotten used to having the show on for two hours each episode. That's the standard time slot - 8 p.m. ET to 10 p.m. ET. Well tonight, April 14, 2024, you're going to need to factor in an extra hour. That's because American Idol is on for three hours this evening! I suggest you get comfortable and have lots of snacks ready. That's what I'm doing.

So why is this episode longer? Well, there's actually a lot going on that there needs to be additional time for. First, the Top 24 who performed in Hawaii last week will find out if their performances were enough to earn America's vote. Tonight, the Top 24 becomes the Top 20, with four people being sent home. The rest of the night will also be dedicated to the Top 20 taking the stage with a "song of their choice," per a press release, as we need to get ready to vote once again.

That's because tomorrow evening, April 15, even more Idol hopefuls' journeys will come to an end as we get the results of who from the Top 20 will continue on in the competition series and make it into the Top 14. Per a press release, 10 contestants will be chosen by our votes while the other four will make it based on judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie's decision. The competition series will be back to two hours for this episode.

How to watch American Idol season 22 tonight

As mentioned above, American Idol will be three hours long tonight so that means the show starts at 8 p.m. ET and ends at 11 p.m. ET on ABC. It's a bit of a later night to be honest, especially for a weekday (unless your in the west coast!). But, that's ok. I think all us early birds can all make an exception. Here's the schedule this evening based on your time zone:

• Eastern: 8 p.m. ET to 11 p.m. ET
• Central: 7 p.m. CT to 10 p.m. CT
• Pacific: 5 p.m. PT to 8 p.m. PT
• Mountain: 6 p.m. MT to 9 p.m. MT

ABC can of course be accessed through a cable provider, as well as various platforms like FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and YouTube TV. Here's a list of all the online sources that provide ABC so you can watch American Idol season 22 live tonight:

Sometimes life gets in the way and it's hard to tune in live. Thankfully, that's what streaming is for! American Idol is also available to stream on Hulu the next day, Monday, April 15. If you have Hulu + Live TV, then a subscription to the streamer is already included in what you pay for (unless you get the Live TV Only plan). The prices above are pretty hefty and not cheap so it's understandable to perhaps go with the streaming option instead and just wait an extra day to tune in to Idol. These are the prices for just a Hulu subscription:

• Hulu (with ads): $7.99/month
• Hulu (no ads): $17.99/month

Stay tuned to Hidden Remote as we continue to bring you news and updates about American Idol 2024 each week!