By STEPANIE McGRATH
AllPop
TORONTO -- Tears, exuberant jumps for joy, giggles and belly-tops will be as rampant as young women longing to be the next Britney Spears, on Global's brand-new reality series "Popstars".
At the launch party and screening of the season premiere of the show at Al Frisco's in Toronto, "Popstars" producer, Lone Eagle Entertainment head Michael Geddes (who was also a judge during the audition process), promised the crowd that "Popstars" will feature "fears, tears and heart-strings pulled".
The 13-part series follows the creation of a five-member girl group from open auditions that drew more than 4,000 Canadian pop wannabes ages 18-25 to the unveiling of the final five group members during episode seven, and their ensuing efforts to become a successful pop group.
Brian Hetherman, of Universal Music Canada, which will release the group's albums, judged the auditions, along with Toronto radio station Kiss 92's Billie Holiday and Geddes. He has already seen the show and is confident the Canadian audience will find themselves riveted to the pop saga.
"I think it stands up," he says. "It's honest".
Hetherman is also excited about the album the group will produce.
"Our goal is to sell as many records as we can, but we're not going to forsake credibility," he says. "If it's not as big as the Backstreet Boys but still successful, we'll feel good."
Until episode seven, it's anyone's guess as to who the five music stars will be. The girls are said to be in the studio and in hiding, and Geddes told the room full of media that "you will not find them".
We won't find out what the band name is for a while, either. According to the series synopsis, the group name won't be revealed until episode nine.
(AllPop found the group's choreographer, though, chatting to another guest in the bathroom about the best place to buy snazzy clothes. We know she bought her top in "L.A., baby", but she didn't say which girls she was teaching to dance.)
The first episode, which will air this Sunday (Feb. 4) on Global, will feature footage from the auditions in Toronto, Calgary, Montreal and Vancouver, plus the first series of call-backs.
Check AllPop on Sunday night for a full recap of the first episode. We'll be reviewing each tiny, gossipy detail of the first show and each of the following 12 episodes.
We're also encouraging all of our readers to write in with their own opinions about the show, the girls, and the possible winners. We'll then post the most interesting comments.
Although we did get an exclusive viewing of the first episode at the launch party, we won't give out any secrets about Sunday's show, though we will list a few highlight to watch for:
A hilarious audition segment featuring someone who is quite possibly the worst singer in the world. Too much Aguilera-wannabe, not enough talent.
An angry accusation against the judges from one very bitter auditioner. (Also pretty funny).
A nice shot of the judges losing it during the auditions.
A plethora of sparkles, pleather, tube tops, and coloured cowboy hats.
A multitude of, "This is what I was meant to do, I've always dreamed of being a popstar" clips.
Tears, tears, and more tears.
|
