Apple pushes 'Carpool Karaoke' launch back to 'later this year'
It appears Apple's first foray into original video content, "Carpool Karaoke," will not make its scheduled April debut, as the company on Monday again postponed a launch party initially slated for March.
Apple did not offer an explanation for the apparent delay, saying only that "Carpool Karaoke: The Series will premiere on Apple Music later this year," reports Reuters.
CBS Television Studios, Apple's partner on the project, offered a similar statement on Monday, saying, "We're excited about our 'Carpool Karaoke' for Apple Music, and look forward to everyone seeing it later this year."
Apple first announced it was working on a spinoff of The Late Late Show With James Corden's "Carpool Karaoke" last July. Similar to its namesake, the Apple Music version of "Carpool Karaoke" pairs musicians, actors, sports stars and other pop culture personalities together as they go on a road trip and listen to their favorite tunes.
Apple lined up an A-list cast for season one, including Will Smith, Metallica, Chelsea Handler, Blake Shelton, Shaquille O'Neal, John Legend, John Cena, Ariana Grande, Game of Thrones co-stars Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner, and more.
At the Code Media conference in February, Apple SVP of Internet and Software Services Eddy Cue said the series would be available for streaming on Apple Music sometime in April. He also debuted a trailer that teased a selection of the 16 celebrity pairings for the 30-minute long shows.
The short ad also revealed a new Apple Music section called "TV & Movies" that will one day include both "Carpool Karaoke" and Apple's upcoming "Planet of the Apps" game-style reality TV show.
For Apple, "Carpool Karaoke" represents a first foray into digital media content creation, an area that has seen tech firms like Amazon and Netflix thrive. With coffers full of cash, Apple was long rumored to enter the space. For now, the company is attaching its original programming effort to the fledgling Apple Music streaming service, a platform Cue says has the ability to cultivate pop culture.
Whether the "Carpool Karaoke" delay also impacts "Planet of the Apps" is unclear.
Apple did not offer an explanation for the apparent delay, saying only that "Carpool Karaoke: The Series will premiere on Apple Music later this year," reports Reuters.
CBS Television Studios, Apple's partner on the project, offered a similar statement on Monday, saying, "We're excited about our 'Carpool Karaoke' for Apple Music, and look forward to everyone seeing it later this year."
Apple first announced it was working on a spinoff of The Late Late Show With James Corden's "Carpool Karaoke" last July. Similar to its namesake, the Apple Music version of "Carpool Karaoke" pairs musicians, actors, sports stars and other pop culture personalities together as they go on a road trip and listen to their favorite tunes.
Apple lined up an A-list cast for season one, including Will Smith, Metallica, Chelsea Handler, Blake Shelton, Shaquille O'Neal, John Legend, John Cena, Ariana Grande, Game of Thrones co-stars Maisie Williams and Sophie Turner, and more.
At the Code Media conference in February, Apple SVP of Internet and Software Services Eddy Cue said the series would be available for streaming on Apple Music sometime in April. He also debuted a trailer that teased a selection of the 16 celebrity pairings for the 30-minute long shows.
The short ad also revealed a new Apple Music section called "TV & Movies" that will one day include both "Carpool Karaoke" and Apple's upcoming "Planet of the Apps" game-style reality TV show.
For Apple, "Carpool Karaoke" represents a first foray into digital media content creation, an area that has seen tech firms like Amazon and Netflix thrive. With coffers full of cash, Apple was long rumored to enter the space. For now, the company is attaching its original programming effort to the fledgling Apple Music streaming service, a platform Cue says has the ability to cultivate pop culture.
Whether the "Carpool Karaoke" delay also impacts "Planet of the Apps" is unclear.
Comments
In my opinion, it's a mistake... and an example of why Apple's normal approach (NOT commenting on unannounced products) is best. If a concept doesn't live up to the producers' original hopes, let it die a graceful death behind closed doors.
(I'll explain why I'm not best at the end for whoever might be interested)
The Carpool Karaoke episodes from the Late Late Show were really good. But then you take something really good, overdo the crap out of it, run it through a PC committee, and you end up with something seriously lame. Like you take a good voice assistant technology and call it "Bixby." Also think of what happens when middle-aged people try to intentionally do stuff that will appeal to "the kids." Or when little kids start adopting trends started earlier by their older siblings . . . totally obliterates whatever was cool about it. I totally see how Apple doing Carpool Karaoke could turn out badly. Apple could even damage their brand if it's LOL horrible.
I'm not the best person to answer because I am an old guy who doesn't watch any sports, don't have cable, married, kids, etc. The only show I watch is "The Grand Tour" and UK Top Gear even though it's not as good since the guys left. I don't follow Hollywood, don't care about fashion, etc. Just about all the music I want to listen to is from the 90s or earlier. (but check out Thao and the Get Down Stay Down) I think I'm pretty cool but I doubt my family or anyone else agrees. I watched a few Carpool Karaoke on Youtube to see what it was about after Apple announced their deal. Red Hot Chile Peppers were great, did some of my favorite songs. But I saw how kids reacted when the adults started joining Facebook. It could happen to Apple. They need to be careful with this. Apple has a PC risk-averse corporate culture, they could look like the biggest douches if they ruin this.
Sad; everyone says so.
I'm not a fan of Carpool Karaoke, but I just assume it isn't aimed at me, while the rest of the middle-aged couch spuds around here assume that they're more "down with the yoof" than Jimmie Iovine.
This isn't going to get me to sign up to Apple Music, but Vital Signs might.
I think Apple is going down the wrong path by getting into generating content like this. This frivolous crap seems beneath them. Stick with what you know and do best, Apple. Let's see some eye-popping innovation again. Let others work on the entertainment that you can then sell on your platforms. Make a deal with Disney to generate new exclusive content with Apple, like what Disney/Marvel has been doing for Netflix (for example).
What's next, this is why Apple hasn't released a new Mac Pro? I'm just waiting for someone here to post that and be totally serious!
Apple is obviously having some logistical issues with getting a guy, a car, some road, and a camera crew together.
And again, this has nothing to do with Apple's purchase of Beats. So lets put this stupid topic to rest. This horse has been beaten to death!
Read the article. CBS Television is Apple’s partner. If anything they are the ones holding up production for whatever reasons.
Car Pool Karaoke has a limited shelf life. It was a good idea, but as I am sure Cordon himself will admit, it will run out of steam. At the moment it is also free on youtube, used to attract people to Cordon's show. So either that continues, in which case that is what people will watch and will get the bigger audience ( and probably stars), or the Late Show will stop doing that and this will only appear on Apple Tv. Cue engraged fans of CarPool on YouTube.
Its a better idea than planet of the apps though.
That said they could commission comedian in cars and localize it. Seinfeld meeting with British and Australian comedians would be ok.
Is he actually driving?