Popstars (Irish TV series)
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox television
| image =
| genre = Reality television
| creator = Jonathan Dowling
| presenter = Ali White
| judges = Louis Walsh
Linda Martin
Bill Hughes
| country = Ireland
| language = English
| num_seasons = 1
| num_episodes = 13
| list_episodes =
| executive_producer = Jonathan Dowling
| runtime = 30–90 minutes
| first_aired = {{Start date|2001|11|15|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2002|02|17|df=y}}
| related = Popstars
}}
Popstars is an Irish reality television series, broadcast and produced by RTÉ One, which ran from 2001 to 2002. The programme is based on the original New Zealand series and is part of the international Popstars franchise. The series follows members of the public auditioning to be part of a new band, with the age minimum being 18 years old.
The judging panel included band manager and television personality Louis Walsh, singer-songwriter Linda Martin and music executive Bill Hughes. The programme was broadcast on a weekly basis; starting on 15 November 2001 and ending on 17 February 2002. Following the conclusion of the series, Walsh became a judge on the second incarnation of the UK counterpart, titled Popstars: The Rivals.
Production
Following the success of Popstars: New Zealand, producers of the show decided to launch the show as an international franchise, with an Irish edition ordered in earlier 2001. Jonathan Dowling later signed on as creator and showrunner of the show, under the working title, Popstars: Ireland, which was later changed to Irish Popstars, before being changed once again to simply Popstars.{{Cite web |title=Popstars: Ireland (TV Series 2001) |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0307808/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 |access-date=10 December 2016 |website=Internet Movie Database}} Dowling decided to sign Boyzone manager and television personality Louis Walsh, Eurovision-winner Linda Martin and international music executive Bill Hughes to be seated as the judges on the programme.{{Cite web |date=5 July 2012 |title=Linda Martin, Bill Hughes and Louis Walsh (2001) |url=https://stillslibrary.rte.ie/indexplus/image/3026/083.html |website=stillslibrary.rte.ie |publisher=RTÉ Archives}}
Producers planned to have the series to be aired during the summer of 2001, however the series did not premiere until 15 November, broadcasting during the 2001–02 television season, with 13 weekly episodes ordered.{{Cite web |title=Popstars: Ireland: Episode 1 |url=http://www.tv.com/shows/popstars-ireland/episode-1-268193/ |website=TV.com}} The first season concluded on 17 February 2002, with the series' band being named Six, with Sinéad Sheppard, Emma O'Driscoll, Kyle Anderson, Sarah Keating, Andy Orr and Liam McKenna being elected as the band members.{{Cite news |date=5 April 2002 |title=Ireland's popstars Six head for UK |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/music/newsid_1913000/1913405.stm |url-status=live |access-date=16 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040711122531/http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/music/newsid_1913000/1913405.stm |archive-date=2004-07-11}}
The series is infamous for the then-16-year old Nadine Coyle's appearance on the show; she was initially inducted into the band after the auditions, but was later asked to leave the show as it emerged she had lied about being 18 in order to participate; she was then replaced by Keating, who originally did not make it into the band.{{Cite news |title=Sweet little lies |work=RTÉ One |publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann |url=http://www.rte.ie/tv/scannal/nadine.html |access-date=1 September 2010}}
In mid-2002, it was announced that the show had been cancelled after just one season and would be replaced by new singing competition, You're a Star. Walsh meanwhile became a judge on the second incarnation of the UK series, titled Popstars: The Rivals, which aimed to create a girl group and a boyband who would compete for that year's Christmas number one spot on the UK Singles Chart. With Walsh's encouragement, Coyle auditioned for the show and was voted by the public into the girl group Girls Aloud, managed by Walsh, eventually winning the competition with their song "Sound of the Underground".{{fact|date=March 2024}}
Episodes
The series contained 13 episodes.{{Cite web |title=Popstars: Ireland |url=http://www.tv.com/shows/popstars-ireland/ |website=TV.com}} RTE released a 2-hour "feature length movie" compilation version of the series on VHS in 2002. It was never reissued or rebroadcast in Ireland, however the series was broadcast on ITV in the UK during the Saturday morning children's television programme, SMTV Live.
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%;" |
| colspan="2" scope="col" style="background:#8B1C10; color:white;" | Episode
! scope="col" style="background:#8B1C10; color:white;" | Production ! scope="col" style="background:#8B1C10; color:white;" | Time slot ! scope="col" style="background:#8B1C10; color:white;" | Original air date ! scope="col" style="background:#8B1C10; color:white;" | Source |
|---|
| {{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber=1 |Title=Auditions |Aux1=101 |Aux2=Saturday 9:00 pm |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|11|15|df=yes}} |ShortSummary=The auditions kick off all around Ireland, in cities including Dublin and Sligo. The judges take interest into particular auditionee Nadine Coyle – but what is she who she says she is? |LineColor=#8B1C10 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=2 |Title=Top Artists Revealed |Aux1=102 |Aux2=Saturday 9:00 pm |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|11|22|df=yes}} |ShortSummary=The top artists are revealed, which includes the incredible Nadine Coyle. The judges give the contestants hard challenges to complete to prove they have what it takes to join the future band. |LineColor=#8B1C10 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=3 |Title=The First Performances |Aux1=103 |Aux2=Saturday 9:00 pm |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|11|29|df=yes}} |ShortSummary=The contestants prepare for their first live performances, but will nerves get the better of them? The judges take to their judging desk again to judge what they think of the hopeful's performances. |LineColor=#8B1C10 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=4 |Title=The Second Songs |Aux1=104 |Aux2=Saturday 9:00 pm |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|12|06|df=yes}} |ShortSummary=It's the second week of the performances, and the hopefuls prepare for their amazing performances. The judges decide to take it easy on the contestants as they are underpressure. |LineColor=#8B1C10 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=5 |Title=Week Three |Aux1=105 |Aux2=Saturday 9:00 pm |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|12|13|df=yes}} |ShortSummary=As the live performances continue, the third week is getting the contestants settled in, as they take to the stage with extraordinary performances. |LineColor=#8B1C10 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=6 |Title=The Fourth Week Goes |Aux1=106 |Aux2=Saturday 9:00 pm |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|12|20|df=yes}} |ShortSummary=The fourth week continues and the contestants have been getting stronger every week. But is there something going on with Nadine Coyle? |LineColor=#8B1C10 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=7 |Title=The Truth Comes Out |Aux1=107 |Aux2=Saturday 9:00 pm |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|12|27|df=yes}} |ShortSummary=The truth comes out for Nadine, and the contestants are one short. The judges decide to give the contestants challenging songs to prove their vocal ability and their true ability as singers. |LineColor=#8B1C10 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=8 |Title=2001 Goes, 2002 Comes |Aux1=108 |Aux2=Saturday 9:00 pm |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2002|01|03|df=yes}} |ShortSummary=To celebrate the new year, the contestants are allowed to pick their own songs - their favourites from 2001. |LineColor=#8B1C10 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=9 |Title=Another Week, Number 7 |Aux1=109 |Aux2=Saturday 9:00 pm |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2002|01|10|df=yes}} |ShortSummary=The seventh week goes on, and the competition is even tougher than before. With secret song choices selected by the judges, it's up to the contestants to prove their worthy enough. |LineColor=#8B1C10 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=10 |Title=Live Week Eight |Aux1=110 |Aux2=Saturday 9:00 pm |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2002|01|17|df=yes}} |ShortSummary=The live performances continue, and it's the eighth week already! The remaining contestants must prove that they really want to win the competition. |LineColor=#8B1C10 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=11 |Title=The Quarter Final |Aux1=111 |Aux2=Saturday 9:00 pm |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2002|01|31|df=yes}} |ShortSummary=So close to the final, the quarters begin and the competition is tougher than ever. And the results show the hopeful's futures in the compeititon. |LineColor=#8B1C10 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=12 |Title=The Semi Final |Aux1=112 |Aux2=Saturday 9:00 pm |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2002|02|07|df=yes}} |ShortSummary=The semi finals begin and it's so close to the final. But who is safe and who is going home tonight? |LineColor=#8B1C10 }} {{Episode list |Episode list |EpisodeNumber=13 |Title=The Live Grand Final |Aux1=113 |Aux2=Tuesday 9:00pm |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2002|02|17|df=yes}} |ShortSummary=It's the live grand finale, but who will be joining the band? The band's name is revealed as Six, and the top 6 band members are revealed, during the live results show. |LineColor=#8B1C10 }} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|tt0307808|Popstars}}
{{authority control}}
Category:2001 Irish television seasons
Category:2002 Irish television seasons
Category:Irish television series based on non-Irish television series
Category:RTÉ original programming
Category:2001 Irish television series debuts