‘Bandstand’ to get ‘Idol’ treatment

“American Bandstand,” the long-running music and dance show, is being revived by “American Idol” mastermind Simon Fuller, who is teaming up with Dick Clark Productions to relaunch the show, tentatively set for the summer of 2005.

“American Bandstand,” which Clark hosted for most of its 36-year run, 30 of those on ABC, offered pop and rock musicians a venue for performing live or live-to-track and motivated thousands of young men and women to dance before the cameras week after week. Allen Shapiro, the president of Mosaic Media Group, which control’s Clark’s company, approached Fuller about modernizing the cultural and social phenomena of the show.

In Fuller’s version of the show -- which does not have a network distribution deal yet -- there will be more live performances, as well as a DJ who will help producers strike a competitive mood among the dancers.

Although Fuller says all of the networks have shown interest in the show, he is first working on product and marketing “integration” financial models used on “American Idol” and “Survivor,” in which advertisers pay extra money for product placements and other promotional tools, including 30-second commercials. This, he said, will allow the show to simultaneously exist on network television, broadband and the Internet.

A nationwide search for the host is underway, Fuller said.