Israeli hit TV format advances in US
The top-rated singing competition ‘Rising Star’ will begin scouting for talent in Dallas this month
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleDebra writes for the JTA, and is a former features writer for The Times of Israel.
‘Rising Star,” the Israeli televised singing competition that broke records here when it premiered last year, is ready for the big time.
The program, which smashed the fourth wall between home and live viewing audiences with the inclusion of an integrated app, allowing home viewers to serve as judges in real time, is kicking off auditions for its US version on March 29 in Dallas, ABC announced Monday.
The program, from Israeli media powerhouse Keshet, has been sold to more than 20 territories internationally. Its US version, which will premiere this summer, is being directed by Ken Warwick (“American Idol”) and Nicolle Yaron (“The Voice”). Auditions will take place in seven US cities, starting in Dallas and followed by Atlanta on April 1, Chicago on April 8, Nashville on April 11, Los Angeles on April 15, New York on April 24 and Boston on April 26.
Just as in the Israeli original, the US version of “Rising Star” will follow singing hopefuls as they perform live in a studio audience. In order to proceed to the next round, the singers must pass a threshold of votes tallied in real time by viewers at home, who can root for their favorites thanks to an integrated smartphone app.
Wanna-be American crooners can check out www.abc.com/risingstar for more info.
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