Popstars is a South African reality competition television series based on the international format and produced locally by Mzanzi Crew (since 2010 - formerly by Tartan Sound and Video), in which aspirant singers from around the country compete to be awarded a place in a final group of "popstars".
The series originally premiered in South Africa on SABC3 on Wednesday 10 July 2002, at 19h00. It moved to SABC1 for the second and third seasons and was picked up by e.tv for the fourth.
See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 4 premiered on e.tv on Saturday 4 September 2010, at 18h05. New episodes broadcast weekly, with special recap episodes (called Popstars Extra) airing every Wednesday. There are 13 episodes in the fourth season.
The season was won by Nne-Vida.
Synopsis
Popstars is an international reality television franchise and a precursor to the Idol series.
It first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss. Dowling then licensed the concept to Screentime in Australia, who then on sold it to TresorTV in Germany before taking it worldwide.
Unlike other reality singing competitions like Idols, Popstars is presented as a documentary, looking at the formation of a modern pop group from the auditions through to the first released single.
In the South African version, contestants attend a first audition with the judges whereby they decide which aspiring stars make it through to the "call-backs" round.
In the call-backs contestants aim to win a ticket to the "workshop" phase, in which the Top 40 are first cut to 25 before a Top 20 is announced. This is later whittled down to a Top 10, who then go through makeovers, press training and vocal training.
The judges pick a group from the Top 10 (typically five members, although this may vary) who are declared the winners. The winning group is then documented as they decide on a name and are groomed in vocals, choreography and press interviews as a build-up to the release of their first single.
Their album launch is filmed, as is the making of their first music video. After that the group goes on tour around South Africa and later overseas.
Winners
Season 1: 101
Erin Samson, Kurt Herman, Pam Andrews, Preston "Vusi" Sihlangu, Tumi Mokhasipe
Season 2: Adilah
Karabo Motlhabi, Letang Tlome, Thembisile Ntaka, Refiloe Motha, Itumeleng Kgosana
Season 3: Ghetto Lingo
Sibusiso Tshangase, Martin Phike, Philemon Moikanyane, Bjorn Blignaut
Season 4: Nne-Vida
Lihle Ngongoma, Lyle Anthony (Volkwyn), Oscar Toorn and Zinhle Dube
Series Judges
Season 1: Ed Jordan, Nkhensani Manganyi, Karl Anderson, Sivan Pillay
Season 2: Anthony Morgan, Nkhensani Manganyi, Glen Lewis, Zwai Bala
Season 3: Zwai Bala, Andy "The Admiral" Kasrils, Azania Ndoro
Season 4: Zwai Bala, PJ Powers, Azania Ndoro
Seasons
Season 1 (13 episodes)
Channel: SABC3 | Premiere: 10 Jul 2002 | Finale: 2 Oct 2002 | Wednesdays, 19h00
Season 2 (15 episodes)
Channel: SABC1 | Premiere: 2 Jul 2003 | Finale: 8 Oct 2003 | Wednesdays, 20h30
Season 3 (14 episodes)
Channel: SABC1 | Premiere: 20 Jul 2004 | Finale: 19 Oct 2004 | Tuesdays, 20h30
Season 4 (13 episodes)
Channel: e.tv | Premiere: 4 Sep 2010 | Finale: 4 Dec 2010 | Saturdays, 18h05