Robert Mills

ABC’s reality chief says American Idol will launch after the Oscars as he lets loose on the best picture debacle, his Richard Simmons dream and the first black Bachelorette.

- Michael O'Connell

One week out from ABC Entertainment’s May 16 upfront, Robert Mills’ Burbank office is a kitsch-covered sanctuary in the midst of whitecollar chaos. Decisions about renewals, pilot fates and the fall schedule are being weighed across the 10th floor of the company’s headquarters. But for the 43-year-old reality chief, surrounded by framed New England Patriots jerseys and ephemera from his Bachelor franchise, the big work is done: He just wrapped the deal of his career to date with ABC’s acquisition of American Idol. The resurrected singing competition, which ended a 15-season run on Fox in 2016, will add an anticipated 40 hours of programming to an already meaty alternative slate that includes Shark Tank, Dancing With the Stars and a suite of rebooted game shows.

Head of alternative series, specials and late night since 2015, with 11 employees in his department, the married father of two has a rare endurance hit in top performer The Bachelor and its spinoffs, including The Bachelorette, which returns May 22 with its first black lead. Right now, however, Mills’ attention is drifting to 2018. That’s when he and bosses Disney-ABC Television Group president Ben Sherwood and ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey have the daunting task of making Idol a hit again.

How did the Idol deal come together?