Super Star (سوبر ستار) is an Arabic television show based on the popular British show Pop Idol created by Simon Fuller's 19 Entertainment & developed by Fremantle Media. The show unites the Arab community by democratically choosing the next singing sensation. The show is broadcast worldwide on Future TV, a Lebanese youth-based television station. It's also the first Idol franchise to feature contestants from multiple countries.
The show was a huge success. Ali Jaber, the executive manager of Future TV, was quoted as saying "This (program) is the most successful for an Arab television. There isn't a television program that moved the Arab world like that." *
2 finalists with the most phone & SMS votes were chosen from each group to advance to the finals of Super Star to make a final 12. At this point millions of votes had already been registered, All final shows featured famous guest singers including Sabah Fakhry & Ragheb Alama.
During the Top 3 results show on August 112003 long running favourite Melhem Zein was sensationally eliminated from the competition, this resulted in a riot in the studio causing the remaining two finalists Diana Karazon & Rouwayda Attieh to faint & have to be carried off the set by crew. Further riots ensued in the streets of Beirut.
In the final week of Super Star, Diana & Rouwayda toured their respective home countries to rally votes for the Grand Final, the King of Jordan declared free voting in Jordan to improve the chances for resulting Super Star - Diana Karazon. Over 4 million votes were cast during that week.
Super Star El Alaam
Diana Karazon participated alongside 10 other Idols in the 2 show mini-event World Idol, Diana placed equal 9th place with German SuperStarAlexander Klaws on 45 points. Diana performed the first radio single from her CD Super Star El Arab - Ensani Ma Binsak.
Three new audition cities were announced - Tunisia, Bahrain & Paris, France while Algiers was dropped. Tonia Moreeb decided to quit after receiving bad comments about her judging skills in the previous season. She was replaced with music critic/agent Fadia Tanab. An amazing 83 contestants had advanced to the semi finals of Super Star 2, 81 ended up performing before 2 contestants each week would advance to become part of the Top 14 contestants. This series also offered a Wildcard show where it was revealed by the CEO of Future TV - Ali Jaber, that the Top 14 would become a Top 17 & that the Top 5 vote getters in the Wildcards would advance.
The telecast of Super Star 3 was delayed after the assassination of Future TV Founder & Lebanese Prime Minister - Rafik Hariri, as the TV station went into mourning.
Super Star 3 is currently the longest Idol production ever with auditions beginning in Cairo on November 102004, with the program culminating on February 6, 2006.
Rania Kurdi did not want to renew her hosting position for Season 3, as a result Heba Sisi was hired for Season 3, but due to the lengthy hiatus over the Hariri scandal, her contract prematurely ended before the semi finals had begun, leaving Ayman to host solo for the rest of the season.
The new semi final format from Denmark & America was similarly adopted this season whereby the Top 21 (10 male & 11 female) were placed in male & female groups with 5 contestants advancing to the Top 12.
As of December 12 2005, the competition of Super Star has been delayed due to the assassination of Lebanese senator Gebran Tueni, the results show scheduled to air on Monday December 12 2005 will be included with the results due on Monday December 19 2005.
On January 15 2006, the competition was once again postponed due to the passing of another key political figure, Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The performance show was recorded on Tuesday & aired on Thursday January 19. The votes from this round will be combined with the performance show on January 22 with the elimination of 2 contestants.
On the evening of Monday February 62006, Ibrahim El Hakami from Saudi Arabia became the 3rd Super Star over Shahd Barmada with a 53% to 47% weighting. Along with the title of Super Star, Ibrahim also won a Ford Focus.
Special guests
Once again this season, special musical guests have been invited to the show to offer their support & critiques.
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