'Superstar K' returns with new judges, rules
The judging panel of Mnet’s talent show “Superstar K 2016” poses during a press conference at Amoris Hall in Times Square, southern Seoul, Tuesday. From left are Gil of hip-hop duo Leessang, singers Gummy and Kim Bum-soo, FNC Entertainment founder Han Sung-ho, vocalist Kim Yeon-woo, music producer Brave Brothers and R&B singer Ailee. / Courtesy of CJ E&M
By Kim Jae-heun
The country’s oldest TV talent show series “Superstar K” will return with its eighth season, overhauling its title and design of its logo to fit the competition format and the number of judging panels ― in hopes of reviving the show’s old glory.
The talent show premiered in 2009 and became a hit series nationwide to make it an annually returning audition program recording its highest viewership rating of 18.1 percent in season two, which is considered a huge success for cable show. The survival program also produced star singers, such as Seo In-guk, Huh Gak, Busker Busker and Roy Kim.
However, the main producer changed from season three and, to make matters worse, viewers begin to get fed up with the never changing format. In the last season, Superstar K’s final stage viewer rating plummeted to 2.4 percent.
“We made the biggest change with Superstar K 2016 compared to all its previous seasons,” said the Chief Producer Kim Ki-woong during the press conference at Times Square in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, Tuesday. “We gave unprecedented changes to the judging panel to freshen it up for the audience.
“I believe the reason why we still make Superstar K series is because it is the only chance available for ordinary people to become a star. One can sing really well and he wants to become a singer but not anyone can do so, especially these days. Superstar K can change the life for singer wannabes with another jobs and I feel responsible to make their dreams come true,” said Kim.
The chief producer emphasized that from the beginning he screened out unskillful auditioners and did not travel around the country to hold regional auditions targeting thousands of applicants like he does now. The production team picked participants based on video clips that candidates sent.
Kim Bum-soo, who participated in the last season as one of the judging panels, agreed that the eighth superstar K series is a totally different show and he was worried about adopting himself to the new rules but it turned out much better than he expected.
In Superstar K 2016, the show will invite seven judges who will be categorized into three groups. Singers Kim Bum-soo, Gummy and Kim Yeon-woo will score each of the teams of “Legendary Vocal,” Gil of hip-hop duo Leessang and R&B diva Ailee will be put into the “Trendy Artist” group, plus the “Star Maker” group will include music producer Brave Brothers and FNC Entertainment founder Han Sung-ho. The aim of the new judging panel team is to diversify the categories of judging criteria as previous episodes only looked at the auditioners’ music talent.
Another major change is adopting the “Battle Round” where singers are given 20 seconds to appeal on their singing skills. Judges can press “plus” button to extend the auditioner’s singing time by 10 seconds and one can only allow a maximum of 30 seconds. However, if the singer fails to receive more than four judges’ approvals for passing him to the next round, he automatically drops out, even if he were given a full minute and 30 seconds of performing time on the stage.
Superstar K 2016 will air its first episode on Sept. 22.