Gang Starz 2 will see its “live†weekly concerts begin on May 11 for 13 consecutive weeks.
This time, Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand join Malaysia and Indonesia in the regional race to crown the most outstanding new ASEAN pop band.
The first season of Gang Starz last year saw Indonesian R&B trio The Lima comprising Arif, Bony and Tora emerge as champions.
Media Prima Bhd Television Networks chief executive officer Datuk Seri Farid Ridzuan said that while the process for determining the winners remained the same as last year â€" 50 per cent based on professional judges’ marks and the remaining half based on Malaysian viewers’ Short Messaging Service (SMS) votes â€" judging standards were more stringent in the new season.
He added the competition is getting stiffer as Thai, Filipino and Singaporean singers are in the race for the grand prize (RM100,000 and a recording contract).
Rocker Faizal Tahir, whose three-month suspension from live concert performances (because of a chest-baring stunt on 8TV in January) ended last Tuesday, returns as the talent search’s host.
However, co-host Putri Andreanna Syigim Mohamad Razalli has been replaced by her fellow Hot FM presenter Fara Fauzana Mohd Fadzil, the reigning Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian Popular Female Television Presenter.
Another Hot FM presenter, Kartini Kamalul Ariffin, who is also the co-host of women’s issues series 3R, joins as a third co-host.
Farid said the show would be divided into four slots namely, the Gang Starz Concert at 9pm on Sundays, Aksi Gang Starz at 5.30pm on Sundays, Blog Gang Starz at 7.28pm Mondays to Fridays and Teropong Gang Starz at 8.30am Mondays to Fridays.
The weekly concert will see the group which obtains the lowest marks eliminated, while 30-minute Aksi features the challenges faced by the contestants in preparation for the concert.
Blog, which runs for 20 minutes, features the contestants’ daily activities Teropong features the latest updates on the show.
Web surfers may get more updates on the show in the blog, SuperStarBabe and they may join the Gang Starz group on Facebook and www.gua.com.my.
Faizal and Fara will co-host the concert while Kartini (or Tini) will present Aksi.
The permanent jury comprises singer and composer Mohd Faizal Maas or Ajai and Singaporean hip-hopper, actor and television personality Sheikh Haikel, while the team of advisers which guides participants comprises composer and lyricist Azhar Abu Bakar or Azmeer, singer Damien Seet of V. E. and choreographer Sazlan Mat Adnan.
Azmeer and Damien coach the contestants in their vocals and performances while Sazlan takes care of their choreography.
The other advisers are Helen Yap (music director), Hanizam Abdullah (communications), Dr Fazley Yaakob (motivation adviser) and Faizal Hamid.
Farid said auditions were held nationwide for two months beginning January in George Town, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Johor Baru and Kuala Lumpur, as well as in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore.
A total of 12 groups are participating in the contest. They are Malaysia’s One Nation Emcees, Akasia and South Trio, Indonesia’s 3 Voices, D’Reborn and D’Raz, Singapore’s Brown Tone and Faith, the Philippines’s Paragon Child and 3.5 and Thailand’s PZG and Step.
“The programme’s popularity has been proven since it attracted more than 18,000 supporters at its first season’s finals in Stadium Malawati in Shah Alam,†said Farid, adding that the finals also became one of TV3’s top 20 programmes for 2007.
Gang Starz was also shortlisted for the Asian Television Awards in Singapore last year.
Farid said Gang Starz 2 would also be screened in the Philippines, in delayed telecasts.
“The groups from our neighbouring countries will spend four months in Malaysia preparing for and participating in the show.â€
Yap said she was confident that the second season of Gang Starz would be more entertaining and exciting as the participation of singers from Thailand and the Philippines would inject greater musical diversity.
Sheikh Haikel said the entry of Thai and Filipino singers would help ASEAN music enthusiasts share ideas on improving their respective music industries and boost performance standards in each participating country.
Faizal said he was happy to return as the show’s host as he was passionate about helping discover the next big regional act.
“There is an immense pool of raw talent in Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Singapore. Gang Starz will give the local and regional music industry world-class acts,†he said.
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