The talent show will be back on the Miss American pageant–sort of.
Pageant organizers are backing down from plans to eliminate the talent portion of the competition from the show’s prime-time telecast. But viewers will get to watch only the two leading contestants reveal their skills when ABC airs Miss America on Sept. 18.
Following a year in which Miss America drew a record-low audience of only 10.3 million viewers, ABC cut its prime-time exposure down to only two hours. Initially Miss America planners put the talent displays on the chopping block, deciding to show talent highlights, but singling out only one contestant to perform her act live.
Immediately, past contestants and traditionalists protested that the talent is what makes Miss America unique, prompting the slight reprieve.
“We’ve always wanted talent in the show,” Miss America Organization CEO Art McMaster told The Associated Press. “It’s going to be one exciting show at the very end.”
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Edited by Cara DiPasquale ([email protected]) and Michael Morgan ([email protected])