TV Talk: Western Pa. teen advances on ‘American Idol;’ Joe Serafini will be back on ‘High School Musical’

Morgan Gruber of Franklin Township, Beaver County, made it through her first audition for the “American Idol” judges in the episode on Monday, getting three “yes” votes to continue on the singing competition series.

The 17-year-old Riverside High School senior from Fombell already had judge Luke Bryan in her corner before singing when she said she hunts and fishes on her family’s 12 acres. But after singing “Can’t Be Loved” by Elle King the show’s other judges were ready to promote her forward, too.

“That was amazing,” said judge Katy Perry. “I don’t really have very many critiques for you. … This is why we do ‘American Idol.’ Because we find diamonds in the rough, just like you.”

“You came in here and not only gave us fabulous delivery but it’s your style,” said judge Lionel Richie.

Gruber said she auditioned for “Idol” because she used to be too shy to sing but her grandma, who passed away two years ago after a five-year battle with ovarian cancer, encouraged her to sing often and everywhere but especially in her grandmother’s presence.

“I looked at Katy’s sheet, it says Top 20. My sheet says Top 20,” Bryan said. “Your grandmother, as so many grandmothers are, was right on the money.”

Gruber’s next appearance on “Idol” will be in the first Hollywood Week episode at 8 p.m. March 28 on ABC.

‘High School Musical’ update

In an interview Saturday, “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” executive producer Tim Federle, a 1998 graduate of Upper St. Clair High School, confirmed Bethel Park’s Joe Serafini will be back for at least some of the show’s third season.

Serafini, who recurred on the show its first season and was a series regular in season two, was not included when Disney+ announced the season three seris regular cast in January.

“Joe will be back in season three,” Federle said, indicating it may be less screen time than Serafini had in season two due to the nature of season three as “a shake-up season.” “We went to a summer camp. We’ve got new characters that for all sorts of reasons — including just trying to keep a 15-year-old franchise fresh – that there was a real desire from the company to shake it up and get it outside the walls of a high school. But I consider Joe an incredibly important part of the success of ‘High School Musical’ and he’ll make a memorable appearance this season.”

Channel Surfing

Just before what would have been Fred Rogers’ 94th birthday Sunday, music producer Dennis Scott and TV host Tom Bergeron (“Dancing with the Stars”) re-upped their call for Rogers to be added to the Songwriters Hall of Fame via a Change.org petition that was started two years ago. … Gov. Wolf announced May 23, the 143rd day of 2022, will be 1-4-3 Day, a call for citizens to show kindness to one another in honor of Mister Rogers. … Heidelberg native Davis Wayne, 26, a New York-based 2013 graduate of Chartiers Valley High School who has performed with Pittsburgh CLO, was featured as a quadrille dancer in the last two episodes of the first season of HBO’s “The Gilded Age,” streaming on HBO Max. … WQED-TV regained the ability to program its lineup locally on March 17 after replacing its master control system that failed in late January.

You can reach TV writer Rob Owen at rowen@triblive.com or 412-380-8559. Follow Rob on Twitter or Facebook. Ask TV questions by email or phone. Please include your first name and location.