November 30, 2009
(Maghreb)- Star Academy Maghreb is on the brink of returning, and this year's re-vamped show will unleash several surprises, according to the show's creators. "The current version will see a major change at all levels," said Nessma TV executive Nabil Karoui. There are many versions of the Star Academy show, each country having its own slight variations, but the basic concept remains the same: contestants live in a boarding school called "The Academy", managed by a director, and various teachers coach them in several artistic disciplines. The participants are filmed with cameras throughout the day and night. Once a week, the contestants have to face a prime time show, where they sing the song they've prepared during the week before, as well as recapping their trials and tribulations at The Academy from the past week. The live show will often feature special guest stars, with whom some of the contestants have the opportunity to sing. Based on the judges' verdicts and viewer voting, the weakest contestant is dropped. The eventual winner is awarded a record deal and usually some amount of money. This show is similar to the "Idol Series" but different in that it also shows the contestants' lives together in the house where they live. Star Academy is in essence a singing competition, where the lowest vote-receiver each week must leave the show, ending finally when only one person remains.XXX
XXXFor starters, international recording artists will make weekly appearances with the 15 candidates. According to the press statement, this will include stars such as Italy's Eros Ramazzoti and Laura Pausini and England's James Blunt, as well Maghreb stars Cheb Khaled and Cheb Faudel. There will also be changes in how the candidates are judged. In the competition's first year, all of the candidates were chosen by a panel. Now, "the internet audience will be the jury in the initial stages," said Karoui. The show will now feature 15 candidates, and the jury will also serve a different purpose in the new-and-improved "Star Academy Maghreb". While in the show's first incarnation, jury members coached the candidates, this year the same advice will come from some of the Maghreb's most renowned artists. Auditions in Algeria, Tunisia, and Morroco have been taking place in the past few weeks.
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XXXStar Academy Maghreb will begin broadcasting this December, and will continue for 13-14 weeks. The prime-time attraction will be recorded weekly in Hammamet, where large 1,000-square-metre studios "will allow us to invite a large number of fans, unlike the previous [shows]," Karoui said. A new feature of this year's Star Academy will be the introduction of young local bands each week to expose them to a wider audience. The winner of the competition will record a CD, financed by Star Academy management.
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XXXThe show has yet to schedule auditions in Mauritania, despite holding a contract with the country. "I think we'll try to [bring on board] the relevant authorities in Mauritania, exactly as we did last time with Libya, so that the Maghreb presence will be complete," said Karoui. Audition dates have yet to be scheduled for Libya or France, where there is a large North African population. Lotfi Amari, editor-in-chief of Tunisian magazine Haqa'iq, hopes that Star Academy will not be restricted to Maghreb immigrants in France alone. "I think that it should include the other European countries, where there are significant Maghreb youth communities, such as Italy and Belgium," he said.
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XXXSamira Nefzi, a 22-year-old student, said she would be happy to see Star Academy return. "We almost lost all hope after we waited for so long, and the eyes of the audience were diverted to Lebanon [which broadcasts another version of the programme]. I hope that this year's show will be different from the previous show, and that it will bring us new things." For his part, Faisal Al Cheti said that he would audition for the competition. "I'll also tell my friends who have talent about this event," he said. "This is because we don't have information about the return of Star Academy Maghreb, and it will be just great if I manage to get through the preliminary rounds, because I have something to offer, especially in playing the harp and acting." (from maghrebia.com)
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1 Comment:
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January 08, 2010
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now keep it up!
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