Falling ratings have brought an end to the trailblazing music talent show in the US, but there are still hopes that Middle East version could produce some more superstars.
She is a 22-year-old call centre operator who has suffered domestic abuse, spent time in a women’s refuge and has a one-year-old child.
Reality shows revel in an emotional back story and there has been something especially heart-warming about La’Porsha Renae’s rise to American Idol favourite.
If she wins this week’s finale, she will be the last American Idol.
The show that once dominated television viewing figures in the United States is considered past its sell-by date.
Even the successful Arab Idol had a season off last year, to make way for MBC to screen some new reality shows, including The Voice Kids.
The Idol franchises – 57 spin-off shows across the globe – were inspired by British show Pop Idol.
Created in 2001 by Simon Fuller, the man behind the Spice Girls, the idea was simple and lifted from a New Zealand reality talent show called Popstars.
Fuller’s Pop Idol, though was about the search for a solo star rather than a group and it involved a public vote alongside the views of the judging panel. Its first winner, Will Young, went on to enjoy a significant music career.
The British show only ran for two series. The chemistry between the judges and their antics made the show a huge success but also became its downfall.
In 2004, Simon Cowell, now a judge on the two-year-old American Idol as well as Pop Idol, used his popularity to persuade ITV to commission his talent show, The X Factor, and Pop Idol was put on hold.
Cowell’s show still runs in the UK, although its viewing figures have also faltered.
In the United States, meanwhile, American audiences lapped up the drama at the judges’ table, with Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson, and the chance to vote to save their favourite singers.
Ratings were huge and American Idol’s place in the national conversation was confirmed with the debut single of Kelly Clarkson, winner of the first season, becoming the best-selling track of 2002 in the US.
A year later, Ryan Malcolm was voted the first Canadian Idol in a show hosted by Ben Mulroney, the eldest son of former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney. The series became the most popular television show in Canada.
However, Malcolm’s career trajectory mirrored that of most of the American Idol winners – outside Clarkson and Carrie Underwood – immediate success followed by relative obscurity, suggesting Idol franchise was more about the journey than the destination.
Perhaps the lack of a mega superstar removed some of the shine from the show because by 2008, Canadian Idol was over, crippled by a halving of its viewing figures, the economic downturn and the huge success of American Idol across the border.
Meanwhile, Australian Idol started up in 2003.
It lasted just one more season than Canada – with nosediving audience figures bringing it to an end in 2009.
To be fair, its first winner, Guy Sebastian, and last, Stan Walker, have enjoyed fruitful careers in the Australian music industry.
But it is telling that Walker and Sebastian both ended up as judges on The X Factor, which in many countries came to compete with the Idol franchise.
Add The Voice into the mix – a Dutch programme that now has as many international versions as Idol and The X Factor – and it did not take a television expert to surmise that the world was in danger of suffering from talent show fatigue.
When Indian Idol failed to make huge stars of its winners despite what seemed to be ideal conditions for success, a junior version of the show took its place from 2013.
France still has its Nouvelle Star and Germany enjoys a bit of Deutschland Sucht Den Superstar of a Saturday, which made a fleeting star of Mark Medlock, a bin collector who sold 3 million records before his private life became troubled.
Then, of course, there’s Arab Idol, which succeeded Super Star in 2011 and made a star of former Palestinian refugee Mohammed Assaf in 2013.
So compelling was his story – from wedding singer in Gaza to Arab Idol winner – there was even a movie made about it.
Hany Abu Assad’s film The Idol is proof that the premise of Pop Idol – regular people being given a shot at their dreams – still holds water and has the ability to enthral audiences.
Yet for all the television show’s incredible success in the Middle East, with 120 million people watching as Assaf was crowned, there was no Arab Idol last year, although a fourth season is scheduled for this year.
It may well be as American Idol comes to a close that Arab Idol will become the biggest show in the franchise, only time will tell.
In the meantime, for Idol fans Mohammed Assaf is performing today at the Spring Summer Fashion event at City Centre Deira in Dubai.
newsdesk@thenational.ae
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The Saga Continues
Wu-Tang Clan
(36 Chambers / Entertainment One)
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
More from UAE Human Development Report:
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
The%20specs
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Confirmed%20bouts%20(more%20to%20be%20added)
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SPEC%20SHEET
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
The Cairo Statement
1: Commit to countering all types of terrorism and extremism in all their manifestations
2: Denounce violence and the rhetoric of hatred
3: Adhere to the full compliance with the Riyadh accord of 2014 and the subsequent meeting and executive procedures approved in 2014 by the GCC
4: Comply with all recommendations of the Summit between the US and Muslim countries held in May 2017 in Saudi Arabia.
5: Refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of countries and of supporting rogue entities.
6: Carry out the responsibility of all the countries with the international community to counter all manifestations of extremism and terrorism that threaten international peace and security
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TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
Results
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Arsenal's pre-season fixtures
Thursday Beat Sydney 2-0 in Sydney
Saturday v Western Sydney Wanderers in Sydney
Wednesday v Bayern Munich in Shanghai
July 22 v Chelsea in Beijing
July 29 v Benfica in London
July 30 v Sevilla in London
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