“No one in his right state of mind would have anticipated 4,800,000 votes,” Nadim Munla, Future Television’s chairman of the board of directors, said after his station rocked the Arab world’s airwaves with its grand finale of the quest for an Arab superstar that started five months ago and ended Monday night, with the extremely popular Diana Karzoun of Jordan.
In Jordan and Syria, the countries of the two finalists, people gathered in town and city squares, while the rest of the Arab world tuned in from their homes to what could be described as the most compelling viewing since Mohammed Saeed Sahhaf, Iraq’s information minister, took to the airwaves during the recent Gulf War.
The drama that followed the ousting of Melhem Zein, the third-ranking contestant, was not in the finale, which proceeded in a well rehearsed and timely manner. There were no tears, no “I can’t believe it,” or people fainting. Karzoun got her title and there was a prevailing sense of closure and acceptance at the studio, as in Lebanon in general.
Even second place finalist Ruwaida Atieh later told reporters that she was satisfied with being the superstar of Syria. The only person who did not seem to accept the fact totally and walked around the entire time with an uncomfortable look on his face was Melhem Zein.
But credit where it’s due, Zein braced himself throughout the show and drew the loudest applause when he sang.
The highlight of the evening, since the program aired from 8.30pm to midnight, was not Karzoun’s victory but the closing performance of all 12 finalists. Lebanese composer and performer Ahmad Kaabour compiled and arranged the song that was chosen specifically to suit the style of each of the performers on stage.
Their group stage appearance conveyed two things clearly: that all 12 had become stars, and that the bottom line was that voice mattered more than looks when it came to choosing the Arab superstar.
In fact, Karzoun was asked bluntly by a female journalist at the press conference, which was held after the show, if she was going to do something about her weight since she was “a big star.”
Karzoun responded by saying that she didn’t know if she would attempt to lose weight and that people liked her and voted for her the way she is.
Karzoun, as the winner of the title, will be signing a contract with Warner Music. In fact, the only contract obligation for Future Television, as stipulated by Fremantle Media, is to sign on the superstar.
Warner Music has the option to chose and sign contracts with as many of the 53 program finalists as it wishes, and only after that can the contestants sign with any other party.
“After tonight, Future Television is also under contractual obligation to provide career counseling and direction to all 53 finalists for a period of three months. They are new and this is certainly overwhelming,” said Nigol Bezjian, the manager of programs acquisition at the station.
Concerning circulating rumors of contracts by Melhem Zein and others, Bezjian said: “No one can sign any contract before the superstar signs a contract. As of now everything is open and under discussion, but no contract has yet been signed.”
Fremantle Media representative Isabelle Garcia was also present at the studio. She described the show as a typical rags-to-riches story that everyone can understand and relate to. Concerning the reaction that the program drew from the Arab street, she said, “we are ecstatic with the results of the program. The production values at Future Television are equal to everywhere else.”
In clarification, she said Fremantle Media did not interfere in setting the criteria for choosing the Arab superstar. “We couldn’t even judge who was good or bad, so definitely it was all in Future Television’s hands from the start, before being moved to the public’s hands, as the format dictates. And by the way, we are very excited about the fact that the two finalists were females,” she added.
At the studio, a host of celebrities and local beauties were present. Michel Azzi, or better known as Micho, the host of Ossa Kbeere, another Fremantle Media copyrighted program, said: “They are stars, but my advice to them is to remain in control and not let things go to their heads.” Micho was discovered by the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation in a similar but much more limited program in 1992.
Yuri Mrakadi, the singer that broke the charts and entered the Arabic music scene with Arabiyun Ana, was also there. He said that the 12 contestants have already crossed a major part of the road to stardom, as they have rehearsed with bands, experienced live performances and become known. “This is an opportunity that was not out there when I started,” he said.
However, with the end of the much-loved show, the question arises as to the success of the program, its significance and its implications in relation to Arab culture. Munla, who admitted the reaction had surpassed expectations, said: “We are emotional people and the program was pure nostalgia.”
According to Munla, it represented the Arab who was looking to the past and hoping for a better future. But he stressed that the success of the program ultimately had to do with its structure and format.
Bezjian also said the program’s structure was the key element behind its huge success, but added that singing was what Arabs were good at and the high number of singers and talents out there reflected the Arabs’ historical oral tradition.
He added that it was Future Television’s idea to negotiate the contract with Fremantle Media for the entire Arab world, as opposed to a single-nation package as is currently being negotiated with Turkey.
According to a fan, the program was a success because it was full of suspense, which really goes to confirm what the directors at the station have been saying all along about the program’s structure.
“Although it first started out as a joke because of all the funny contestants, little by little we were lured in, and when the show got more serious and started showing talent, we all developed favorites and started cheering for them,” she said.
An exhausted employee of the station, who was lying on the floor during his interview with The Daily Star, said that he had worked 12 hours a day “God knows since when,” but that ultimately there came a point when the contestants took over and made the show what it is. After all, people came out of their homes to demonstrate for Zein and not for the program, he said.
For all those desiring to join the superstar caravan, know that Future Television is planning to launch its new quest for more Arab superstars soon, and that the auditions will start as of September.
The latest rumors on the street have hinted that Tonya Merheb will not be part of the judging panel in the next program. If so, superstar will have lost its first serious asset ­ an honest voice for the people.
As most Arabs would agree, the superstar experience has been the most successful initiative ­ if not the first genuine attempt ­ at granting the entire Arab world the opportunity to reach out and unite as one single family. As Arabs, it is an unprecedented occurrence and proof of an ability and willingness to come together.