Auditions for the most far-reaching talent search in Canadian history will begin this April and May, 2003 as CTV announces production details for its upcoming, cross-Canada search for the first ever Canadian Idol. The springtime auditions mark the launch of production for the highly anticipated series Canadian Idol. CTV will broadcast the 24-part series beginning June, 2003 (date/time is TBA) as the Network’s showcase event of the summer.
The auditions will be held as follows (all dates are subject to change):
City Date
Vancouver – Thurs., April 24
Calgary – Tues., April 29
Winnipeg – Sat., May 3
Montreal – Wed., May 7
Halifax – Tues., May 13
St. John’s – Wed., May 21
Toronto – Mon., May 26
Venue/Time will be announced at a later date.
CTV also announced the creation of an exclusive Canadian Idol web site located at http://idol.ctv.ca. Fans, viewers and Idol hopefuls are encouraged to bookmark the site and visit it frequently over the course of the audition phase and the broadcast. The site was launched today and houses the series’ rules and regulations, the competitor application form, FAQs and other information.
“For someone right here in Canada, today’s announcement signals the start of a dream come true,” said Susanne Boyce, CTV President of Programming and Chair of the Media Group. “For the rest of us, it’s a chance not only to watch the Idol phenomenon unfold in our own backyard, but to participate in the excitement.”
With today’s announcements CTV hopes to trigger a wave of enthusiasm similar to that seen south of the border with the smash-hit series American Idol. Canadian Idol will follow the same successful formula as American Idol where a weekly, hour-long performance-based episode will be followed the next night by a “Results Show”.
Canadians can look forward to a fiercely fought competition, in which thousands of competitors are gradually whittled down to 100 and then 30 by a yet-to-be announced Canadian Idol judging panel. Following weekly episodes, viewers will be vote for their favourite performers, gradually narrowing the field to the “Top 10” (All voting details will be announced shortly). The following weeks will see the stakes get incredibly high as the field is narrowed to only two finalists who are left to square off in the Canadian Idol grand summertime finale. At stake for the winner is a guaranteed recording contract and instant stardom. (See “Becoming the Canadian Idol” in the Addendum below for a detailed breakdown of the series).
CTV will make further announcements regarding Canadian Idol shortly, including details on the judging panel, show host(s), partnerships, voting, etc.
CTV, together with FremantleMedia / 19TV, announced last October that it would create and broadcast an all-Canadian, Canadian Idol. The announcement came on the heels of CTV’s broadcast of the season finale of American Idol: The Search for a Superstar that made an overnight sensation of 20-year old Texan, Kelly Clarkson. Canadians made the Sept. 4, 2002 finale the most watched show of the summer when 2.1 million viewers witnessed Clarkson’s crowning moment. Season 2 of American Idol currently airs Tuesdays and Wednesdays on CTV and has already surpassed the season one finale, averaging 2.35 million viewers after four episodes.
Canadian Idol is based on FremantleMedia and 19TV’s smash-hit international format “Idols” which has gripped millions of viewers around the world since premiering as “Pop Idol” in the UK. That series went on to win the “2002 Rose d’Or” (Golden Rose of Montreux), Europe’s top television award. In addition to the U.K, Canada and the U.S., the “Idol” phenomenon has been adapted for viewers in South Africa, Norway and Belgium.
Canadian Idol is produced in association with CTV by Insight Productions along with Atlantic Canada-based Rink Rat Productions and Alberta-based Aquila Productions.
John Brunton and Barbara Bowlby are Executive Producers. Mark Lysakowski is Supervising Producer. Producers are Mary Sexton (Rink Rat) along with Don Metz and Trevor Cousineau (Aquila).
1. Becoming the “Canadian Idol”
Episodes 1 & 2
Madness, mayhem and the audition process… The Canadian Idol judging panel sifts through thousands of hopefuls across seven cities. A combined total of 100 contestants advance to Toronto where they will face the next round of elimination. Over a three-day period, judges will eliminate 70, leaving only the “Top 30”.
Episodes 3-8
In episode three, viewers are introduced to the “Top 30”. One of these contestants will be the Canadian Idol. But now, it’s time for the viewing audience to take over. For the next three weeks (six episodes), a separate group of 10 performers will hit the stage. Following each “Performance Episode”, viewers will vote for their favourite three contestants, advancing a total of nine contestants after three weeks (all voting details will be announced shortly).
Episodes 9 &10
During these two episodes, one of the remaining 21 contestants will join the other nine as the show’s single Wild Card finalist. This 10th competitor brings us to the “Top 10”.
Episodes 11-22
Over the next six weeks, each “Top 10” finalist will be asked to deliver their performance before a studio audience. The episodes will be broadcast live on CTV. Competitors will be voted off by the home viewing audience until there are eight (8), six (6), five (5), four (4), three (3), then ultimately, two (2) left.
Episodes 23 & 24
In the two-part, grand finale, the two semi-finalists will perform selected numbers in an exhausting, nail-biting duel. For each of them, it’s the last chance to win the hearts of viewers everywhere. Once part one of the finale wraps, it’s time for the biggest vote in Canadian television history. The results will be revealed in the grand-finale the very next night on CTV and for one former unknown, it’s a dream realized, instant stardom, the title of Canadian Idol and the promise of a lucrative recording contract.
2. Summary of Rules and Regulations
The following is an abridged version of the complete rules and regulations that can be found in its entirety at http://idol.ctv.ca. All applicants are advised to familiarize themselves with the complete rules and regulations.
-Applicants must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada.
-All competitors must be legally eligible to work in Canada.
-Applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 26 on April 1, 2003.
-Applicants should download, complete and return the Competitor Application Form found online.
-Proof of age and picture I.D. (i.e. birth certificate and a driver’s license, a passport, etc.) must be presented at the audition.
-Applicants under the age of majority must bring a Competitors Release Form signed by a parent or legal guardian to the audition. The Competitors Release Form will be available shortly on the Canadian Idol web site.
-Applicants are ineligible if they already have either talent representation or a recording contract.
Applicants should have two songs prepared and will be asked to sing a cappella (without music).
-No musical accompaniment will be permitted.
-Before auditioning, individuals must complete, sign and agree to various required forms. Those selected to continue will have to sign and agree to additional forms.
-Applicants and viewers are encouraged to track developments as they pertain to the audition process and the broadcast online at http://idol.ctv.ca.
