(Getty)
Josh Groban will host ABC’s new singing competition game Rising Star that allows viewers to vote for their favorite singers in real time. The show is TV’s first interactive music competition show where the audience creates the star live.
Below check out Groban’s credentials, the other big acts joining him on the show, and how this show differs from The Voice, American Idol and The X Factor.
1. Groban Still Plans to Record 2 New Albums
Groban won’t let his new hosting gig slow down his own music career. He tweeted that he plans to record two albums at the same time as hosting. The singer has released five albums and one Christmas album. Josh popularized the song “You Raise Me Up” in 2003, that landed him on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time and garnered him a Grammy nomination.
Rising star is nuts. It’s gonna be a blast to host. Every show is LIVE. Hope you join me this summer!! @ABCNetwork
— josh groban (@joshgroban) May 16, 2014
Groban has lent his voice to soundtracks like The Polar Express, Muppets Most Wanted and Troy. He’s also appeared on shows like Glee, The Office and CSI: NY.
2. Kesha, Ludacris & Brad Paisley Serve as the Expert Panel
http://youtu.be/HDTN1tPC-iU The viewers decide who will stay and who will go in this reality competition show, so big-time musicians Kesha, Ludacris and Brad Paisley join as experts to the show, not judges. They will not make the elimination choices, but will give guidance and feedback to the singers.
stoked to be an expert on @RisingStarABC with @BradPaisley @Ludacris & @joshgroban. Watch us on the #BBMAs Sunday!
— kesha (@KeshaRose) May 16, 2014
Josh and the experts will make their debut on ABC’s 2014 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday, May 18. Expert Ludacris will also host the awards ceremony.
3. The Show Happens Live
Rising Star‘s contestants compete live every week as their fans in the audience vote on their performance using a smartphone app in real time. It’s the first time the audience will have final say on their favorite in real time. The format is imported from Israel where half of TV audiences there tuned in for its first season.
Israel’s Keshet DCP also sold the format to Germany, France, Italy and Russia. ABC entertainment president Paul Lee calls the format “a game changer” and the voting process “almost like a modern-day coliseum,” according to Entertainment Weekly.
Who needs a results show? #RisingStar pic.twitter.com/bAz3EYtPhg
— Rising Star (@RisingStarABC) May 8, 2014
4. Contestants Have to Gain Enough Votes to Be Revealed
http://youtu.be/Y9MiqhEhKtE Singers will perform behind a three-story high and 90 feet wide wall that will display the photos of the fans voting for them as they sing. If the contestant reaches a certain level of votes, the wall will rise up and reveal the singer to the audience. The show still needs to determine how to accomodate voting across America’s three time zones, according to Deadline.
5. Rising Star Premieres On June 22
(Twitter/@RisingStarABC)
The singing competition will premiere on Sunday, June 22 at 9 p.m. The show held nationwide auditions between March 29 and April 26 in Dallas, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Los Angeles, New York and Boston. Rising Star will feature solo vocalists, duos and vocal groups (up to five members). Only sixty acts received a callback for the show’s premiere season, but on its Facebook page, Rising Star encouraged all others who auditioned to try again next year.
“Thank you to everyone who auditioned for Season 1 of #RisingStar. We saw so much incredible talent this year.”
ABC’s last singing competition Duets, hosted by Quddus, lasted only one season. It starred Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, Robin Thicke and Jennifer Nettles as mentors.
Next month, you get to be the judge in real-time with #RisingStar! pic.twitter.com/0QCOpLXaQG
— Rising Star (@RisingStarABC) May 7, 2014