Star Académie is a Canadian reality television series that started in 2003, aimed primarily at the Quebec television audience, featuring an array of young women and men under the age of 30 competing for the title of the next solo singing sensation. It is the French-Canadian adaptation of the French television show Star Academy produced by Dutch company Endemol, based on the Spanish format called Operación Triunfo.

There have been seasons in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, and 2012. In June 2019, TVA stated that a reboot for Star Académie was possible.[1] Two months later, the network announced that the reboot is set for early 2021.[2] On September 22, 2020, it was announced that singer Patrice Michaud would take over Julie Snyder as host for the 2021 season.[3] In June 2021, Michaud stated that he would not return as host for the following season.[4] In August 2021, it was announced that singer-songwriter Marc Dupré would replace Michaud as host in 2022.[5]

Description

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It is aired for two months (February to April) on the TVA network. Hosted by Julie Snyder, the show is a competition to find the best young francophone singer, not only in Quebec, but also in French-speaking regions of Canada, having auditions in Ontario (Eastern Ontario) and New Brunswick (l'Acadie). Then fourteen people (seven of each gender) are chosen to compete in front of the cameras.

It is separated in two simultaneous formats: each day during the week, a show presents moments of the life and training in the common house of the Académiciens and each weekend sees one Gala show where the contenders sing. At each of these Galas, some participants are put on the line and one is chosen to stay by the public and by the judging panel.

It proved to be immensely popular, drawing not only viewership, but genuine affection from the public for the young idealistic contenders. Pride also arises for the regions where the participants are from, like pride was felt by many from the Acadian people when Wilfred Le Bouthillier, from Acadia, was chosen for the competition and later crowned winner of the first, 2003 edition.

It has also proved to be an effective springboard for the singing careers of some of its past participants, like 2003 finalists Wilfred Le Bouthillier, who recorded with the help of renowned Cajun singer Zachary Richard, and Marie-Élaine Thibert, who also released an album and sung for the soundtrack of Léa Pool's movie The Blue Butterfly.

The show was on a 4-year hiatus due to the second pregnancy of the hostess and her busy schedule with Le Banquier, the French-Canadian version of Deal or No Deal.

Origins

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It is inspired by the French show Star Academy and is similar to the Pop Idol and American Idol phenomena. The name was francized for its Quebec adaptation because of the local importance given to the respect of the French language. However, it does create a grammatically impossible phrase in French. The proper translation would be Académie des stars, although this could be considered less catchy. Francization is typically given even more importance in Quebec French than in France itself (see Office québécois de la langue française).

A relatively small, but notable difference in the show format from its French counterpart is the selection process. Each week, the French version asks the public and judging panel to vote for which one, out of the contenders in danger, should be excluded from the show. The results are announced live, on stage, to the excluded member and the viewers. While this formula was followed in the beginning for Star Académie, it soon was changed because of protests, for the system was seen as cruel treatment to the excluded participant. On one early show, singer Daniel Boucher quit the studio halfway through the show because of this impression. Consequently, the public and judges are now asked to vote for the participant to remain at the Académie. In all seasons, the results are announced live.

Criticism

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Star Académie drew criticism for the capitalist and vertical integration strategies of producing megacompany Quebecor to publicize the show and make it profitable. For example, each vote from the public costs one dollar, the website is in large part reserved to paying members and the Quebecor company, massive owner of many Quebec media, heavily promoted the show via TVA (its own television network), all of its magazines and newspapers like 7 Jours and Journal de Montréal. Astral Media's RockDétente also did a lot of heavy promoting themselves during the 2005 edition, as the official stations of Star Académie. Also were criticized the instant celebrity machine and supposed lack of artistic integrity aspects of the whole enterprise.

Theme songs

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Champions

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Académie's principal

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Notable guests

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Here's all the guest performers in Star Académie.

Discography

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Official albums

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  • 2003: Star Académie - (5× Platinum)[8]
  • 2004: Star Académie 2004
  • 2004: Star Académie 2004: Meilleurs moments des finalistes aux galas
  • 2005: Star Académie 2005
  • 2009: Star Académie 2009
  • 2012: Star Académie 2012 - (2× Platinum)[9]
  • 2012: Star Académie Noel - (Platinum)[10]

Contestants' albums

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First season (2003)

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Second season (2004)

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  • 2004: Corneliu Montano by Corneliu Montano
  • 2005: Sur le fil by Stéphanie Lapointe
  • 2005: Tête première by Meggie Lagacé
  • 2005: Marc-André by Marc-André Niquet
  • 2005: Faut que j'te dise by Martin Giroux
  • 2006: On s'en reparlera by Dave Roussy
  • 2006: Je l'ai jamais dit à personne by Étienne Drapeau
  • 2007: C'est pas de ma faute by Jean-Francois Prud'homme
  • 2007: Le coeur qui chante by Corneliu Montano
  • 2008: En cavale by Martin Giroux
  • 2008: Étienne Drapeau by Étienne Drapeau
  • 2009: Maintenant...Femme by Marie-Ève Côté
  • March 10, 2009: Donne-moi quelque chose qui ne finit pas by Stéphanie Lapointe
  • March 23, 2010: La vie ça s'mérite by Martin Giroux
  • September 2010: Paroles et Musique by Étienne Drapeau
  • November 2011: Influences by Corneliu Montano

Third season (2005)

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Fourth season (2009)

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  • 2009: Vox Pop by Maxime Landry
  • May 18, 2010: Un pied à terre by William Deslauriers
  • May 25, 2010: Chacun son chemin by Pascal Chaumont
  • January 2011: Fruits défendus by Brigitte Boisjoli
  • November 2011: L'avenir entre nous by Maxime Landry
  • April 2012: Le goût du bonheur by Émilie Lévesque
  • 2013 "J'suis la" by François Lachance.

Contestants

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2003

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2004

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2005

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2009

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  1. Karine Labelle, Huberdeau, Laurentides
  2. Joanie Goyette, Saint-Tite, Mauricie
  3. Brigitte Boisjoli, Drummondville, Centre-du-Québec
  4. Carolanne D'Astous-Paquet, Sayabec, Bas-Saint-Laurent (finalist)
  5. Sophie Vaillancourt, Laval, Laval
  6. Vanessa Duchel, Prévost, Laurentides
  7. Émilie Lévesque, Saint-Malo, Estrie
  8. Rich Ly, Montreal, Montreal
  9. Pascal Chaumont, La Conception, Laurentides
  10. Jean-Philippe Audet, Quebec City, Capitale-Nationale
  11. Olivier Beaulieu, Drummondville, Centre-du-Québec
  12. Maxime Landry, Saint-Gédéon-de-Beauce, Chaudière-Appalaches (winner)
  13. William Deslauriers, Plessisville, Centre-du-Québec
  14. Maxime Proulx, Plaisance, Outaouais

Through the weeks

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Contestant Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9
Maxime L. Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Saved
by public
Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Saved
by public
Non
evaluated
Winner
Carolanne Non
evaluated
Saved
by public
Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Saved
by public
Non
evaluated
Saved
by public
Finalist
Brigitte Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Eliminated
(Week 8)
Émilie Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Saved
by public
Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Eliminated
(Week 8)
Sophie Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Eliminated
(Week 8)
Jean-Philippe Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Eliminated
(Week 7)
Pascal Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Eliminated
(Week 7)
William Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Saved
by public
Non
evaluated
Eliminated
(Week 7)
Joanie Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Eliminated
(Week 6)
Rich Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Eliminated
(Week 5)
Vanessa Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Eliminated
(Week 4)
Maxime P. Saved
by public
Non
evaluated
Eliminated
(Week 3)
Karine Non
evaluated
Eliminated
(Week 2)
Olivier Eliminated
(Week 1)
Eliminated Olivier Karine Maxime P. Vanessa Rich Joanie Jean-Philippe
Pascal
William
Brigitte
Émilie
Sophie
  • During the first Gala, Vanessa and William were chosen by the public. Also, Émilie and Maxime P. were chosen by the judges.
  • During weeks 7 and 8, the contestants were automatically in danger.
The contestant was in danger and eliminated
The contestant was in danger but saved by the judges during the gala
The contestant was in danger but saved by the public during the gala
The contestant wins the competition

2012

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Through the weeks

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Contestant Gala # 1
2012-01-22
Gala # 2
2012-01-29
Gala # 3
2012-02-05
Gala # 4
2012-02-12
Gala # 5
2012-02-19
Gala # 6
2012-02-26
Gala # 7
2012-03-04
Gala # 8
2012-03-11
Gala # 9
2012-03-18
Gala # 10
2012-03-25
Jean-Marc Saved
by judges
Not in
danger
Non
evaluated
Not in
danger
Non
evaluated
Not in
danger
Non
evaluated
Saved
by public
Non
evaluated
Winner
Sophie Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Not in
danger
Non
evaluated
Not in
danger
Non
evaluated
Not in
danger
Non
evaluated
Saved
by public
Finalist
Andréanne A . Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Not in
danger
Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Eliminated
(Gala 9)
Andrée-Anne L. Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Not in
danger
Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Not in
danger
Non
evaluated
Eliminated
(Gala 9)
Mélissa Saved
by public
Non
evaluated
Not in
danger
Non
evaluated
Not in
danger
Non
evaluated
Saved
by public
Non
evaluated
Eliminated
(Gala 9)
Mike Lee Saved
by judges
Saved
by public
Non
evaluated
Saved
by public
Non
evaluated
Not in
danger
Non
evaluated
Eliminated
(Gala 8)
Jason Saved
by judges
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Not in
danger
Non
evaluated
Saved
by public
Non
evaluated
Eliminated
(Gala 8)
Olivier Saved
by public
Not in
danger
Non
evaluated
Not in
danger
Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Eliminated
(Gala 8)
Joanie Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Not in
danger
Non
evaluated
Saved
by public
Non
evaluated
Eliminated
(Gala 7)
Bryan Saved
by judges
Not in
danger
Non
evaluated
Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Eliminated
(Gala 6)
Sarah-May Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Saved
by public
Non
evaluated
Eliminated
(Gala 5)
François Saved
by judges
Not in
danger
Non
evaluated
Eliminated
(Gala 4)
Carole-Anne Saved
by judges
Non
evaluated
Eliminated
(Gala 3)
Simon Saved
by judges
Eliminated
(Gala 2)
Eliminated Carolane Cloutier
Jennifer Tessier
Kelly Blais
Alexandre Bélair
Francis Sigouin-Allan
Marc-André Valade
Simon Carole-Anne François Sarah-May Bryan Joanie Jason
Mike Lee
Olivier
Andreéanne A.
André-Anne L.
Mélissa
  • During the first Gala, out of 20 candidates, 14 were selected to go to the Academie, 6 female candidates and 6 male candidates were saved by the Judges without performing. 1 female and 1 male candidates were saved by the public based on a vote on their performance.
  • During Gala 8 and 9, the contestants were automatically in danger. (Gala 8 = Male, Gala 9 = Female)
The contestant was in danger and eliminated
The contestant was in danger but saved by the judges during the gala
The contestant was in danger but saved by the public during the gala
The contestant wins the competition

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "" Star Académie " pourrait faire un retour à TVA". msn.com (in French). June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  2. ^ "Star Académie de retour à l'hiver 2021 sur les ondes de TVA". TVA Nouvelles. Retrieved 2019-08-23.
  3. ^ Roy, Marie-Josée R., Patrice Michaud animera les galas de "Star Académie", retrieved 2020-09-22
  4. ^ "Patrice Michaud ne reviendra pas à la barre des galas de Star Académie". Showbizz.net (in French). Retrieved 2021-08-02.
  5. ^ Roy, Marie-Josée R., Marc Dupré animera «Star Académie, retrieved 2021-08-02
  6. ^ "Star Académie: l'Animateur, la directrice et le corps professoral dévoilés!". hollywoodpq.com. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  7. ^ QMI, Agence. "Lara Fabian de retour à "Star Académie" l'an prochain". Le Journal de Montréal. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  8. ^ "Gold & Platinum Certification – April 2003". Canadian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 2012-11-06. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
  9. ^ [1][usurped]
  10. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Various Artists – Star Academie Noel". Music Canada.
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