Nouvelle Star

Nouvelle Star
Created by	Simon Fuller
Presented by	Benjamin Castaldi (2003-06, 2015) Virginie Efira (2006-08) Virginie Guilhaume (2008-10) Cyril Hanouna (2012-14) Laurie Cholewa (2016) Shy'm (2017)
Country of origin	France
No. of series	13
Production
Producer(s)	FremantleMedia
Release
Original network	M6 (2003–2010, 2017) D8 (2012–2016)
Original release	27 March 2003 – 20 December 2017
External links
Website

Nouvelle Star (a.k.a. À la Recherche de la Nouvelle Star for the first series) is a French television series based on the popular Pop Idol programme produced by FremantleMedia. It was broadcast by M6 in seasons 1–8 and is currently broadcast on D8.

It was hosted by Benjamin Castaldi for the first three series (2003–2005). He also hosted 13 episodes of Series 4 (2006). Virginie Efira presented the remainder of Series 4, as well as presenting Series 5 and 6 (2007 and 2008). Seasons 7 (2009) and 8 (2010) are presented by Virginie Guilhaume. Since season 9, Cyril Hanouna is the Nouvelle Star's TV host.

On 4 July 2012, Bibiane Godfroid, program director of Nouvelle Star announced that the show will not return on M6 but will instead be on D8, after its acquisition by Canal +.

Format of the series

The four members of the jury have to judge about 25,000 contestants in various towns around France and Belgium. Until the final rounds begin, the show presents both the successful and the poorest performers, known as the "inoubliables" (unforgettable ones). Some of the worst performers have also performed as guests during the final stages.

Of the 25,000 contestants, only 150 (140 in series 6) are selected for the next round of auditions, which takes place at the Theatre Trianon in central Paris. There are two auditions over the space of three days, the highlights of which are shown over the course of two shows. Specific exercises are given to the contestants in order to evaluate their artistic talents: pitch, rhythmic accuracy, ability to remember lyrics and to learn songs, sing in a trio, and deal with tiredness and stress, etc. During the first day of the Theatre stage of auditions, contestants perform on stage in lines of eight, each contestant performing the song of their choice a capella. On day 2, 70 contestants who made it through the previous day are given a choice of three songs (two specifically for boys or for girls, and one for both, as of Series 6) and have to form trios with other contestants of their choice but of the same sex, they will be accompanied by a guitar and a piano. The 50 remaining contestants will interpret a song, in French, accompanied by an orchestra band. For the first time at this ultimate step before the live primes, this year, the contestants have performed in front of more than 400 persons including the jury at the theatre.

The jury will have to decide between 20 remaining contestants (27 in series 6) on a television screen, reviewing the all auditions of those contestants, of which they will select 15 for the first live television prime where they will be submitted to viewers' vote. In series 6, the viewers rejected 6 contestants of which the jury saved one.

There is no wildcard round in the French format, and viewers only vote by text or by phone. Only viewers' votes decide of the result during the prime, but the judges comment by giving first an illustrated verdict by colored traffic lights in front of them Blue for Good, and Red for bad performance (coloured lights introduced in series 5, and taken the form of traffic lights in series 6). The voting is different from American Idol as viewers vote during the programme and results are given at the end of it, by Virginie (The Host) and Maitre Najar(bailiff), where Virginie selects at random the saved contestants leaving only the ones dropped by the viewers. The previous series' jury (Mainly Marianne James) was used to contesting a lot the results.

Auditions

The first series featured auditions in France, Belgium, and Quebec, Canada. Later series dropped Quebec from the audition tour, as Canadian Idol had started, and therefore, Francophones could audition in their home country.

For Nouvelle Star's seasons 2, 3 and 4, auditions were held in Toulouse, Rennes, Marseilles, Lyon, and Paris and in one location in Belgium, at Liège. No auditions were held in Canada.

Overview

Spin-offs

Summary

*Also known as À la Recherche de la Nouvelle Star

See also

• List of French Adaptations of Television Series from Other Countries

References

External links

• Official Site (in French)
• Nouvelle Star on IMDb