SuperStar KZ

SuperStar KZ is a reality television show based on the popular British show Pop Idol, which aired from 2003 to 2007 on the Kazakh television channel "Eurazıa Birinşi arnasy". The talent contest determined the best young singers in Kazakhstan by allowing viewers to vote by phone or SMS. A supplementary show SuperStar KZ Dnevnik (SuperStar KZ Diary), shown twice weekly, provided a recap of the previous show and week's events for the contestants.

SuperStar KZ was presented entirely in Russian, though Russian, Kazakh and English songs were performed. Some contestants such as Ainur Nazarbekova, Altynay and Zhanara spoke Kazakh on the show. A mix of ethnic groups, typical of the diversity in Kazakhstan, was usually represented, including Kazakhs, Russians, Koreans, Uyghurs, and Tatars.

SuperStar KZ held auditions in sixteen cities to find the best talent anywhere in Kazakhstan, visiting Astana, Taraz, Aktau, Semey, Pavlodar, Atyrau, Shymkent, Kyzylorda, Taldykorgan, Ekibastuz, Aralsk, Oskemen, Karaganda and Kokshetau, Aktobe before finishing in Almaty.

Finalists
(ages stated at time of contest)

Finalists
(ages stated at time of contest)

SuperStar KZ 3
SuperStar KZ Season 3 premiered on Channel One Eurasia on November 11, 2005.

Auditions
Over 12,000 people auditioned for SuperStar KZ Season 3 across nine cities:
 * Almaty: October 7, October 8, November 1, November 2
 * Aqtau: October 10, October 11
 * Aktobe: October 13, October 14
 * Pavlodar: October 15, October 16
 * Kostanay: October 18, October 19
 * Karaganda: October 20, October 21
 * Astana: October 22, October 23
 * Öskemen: October 24, October 25
 * Shymkent: October 27, October 28

Top 148
In November, the Top 148 successful candidates met in Almaty to perform in a three-day theatre round consisting of a chorus, duo & solo performance where eliminations would take place at each stage. During the first and last stage contestants can sing any song, during the duo stage a pre selected song was to be chosen, this included (among others) - Could I Have This Kiss Forever? by Whitney Houston & Enrique Iglesias and Махаббат Жалыны by Madina Sadvaqasova.

Top 40 - Semi Finals
Five groups of eight contestants performed every Sunday night to determine the two best singers of each group to advance to the Top 12. There was a Wildcards show or "Lucky ticket" round as it was known on the sixth week to give a last chance performance from unsuccessful contestants. Contestants sing a song of their own choice with piano and guitar backing.

Group 1 (January 7, 2006)

 * Adylzhan Umarov - Ljubit' tebja by Santos & Julija Nachalova
 * Ayan Birbayev - Aisulu by Bangor
 * Daniar Otegen - I Believe I Can Fly by R. Kelly
 * Ekaterina Revanova (from Karaganda) - Landysh Serebristyj
 * Marzhan Makisheva - Lebedinaja Vernost` by Evgenij Martanov
 * Meruert Musrali
 * Nurzhan Kermenbayev (from Satpaev)
 * Zarina Eleusizova - All At Once by Whitney Houston

Group 2 (January 14, 2006)

 * Alia Abilkairova (from Almaty) - Je T'Aime by Lara Fabian
 * Altynai Sapargalieva (from Zhanaözen) - The Voice Within by Christina Aguilera
 * Arstan Myrzagereev (from Karaganda) - Gde Zhe Ty? by K-7
 * Dauren Orazbekov (from Karaganda) - Noch' podruga by A-Studio
 * Gulmira Irzhanova (from Kostanai) - Underneath Your Clothes by Shakira
 * Gulmira Zakirjanova (from Kostanai) - Ömir-özen by Altinay Zhorabayeva
 * Sarman Tulebaev (from Karaganda) - Belle
 * Vjacheslav Balashov (from Ust-Kamenogorsk) - Neobyknovenyje glaza by Rashid Behbudov

Group 3 (January 21, 2006)

 * Anastasia Rossoshanskaja (from Karaganda) - Otpusti Menja by Valeriya
 * Ardak Kenzhesarin (from Pavlodar) - Alatau
 * Irina Pisareva (from Pavlodar) - Vyshe Oblakov by Slivki
 * Qarlyğaş Tastambekova (from Almaty)
 * Marat Orazbaev (from Zhanaözen) - Razluka by 101
 * Meruert Niazbaeva (from Kostanai) - I Have Nothing by Whitney Houston
 * Naila Zaitova (from Almaty) - Beautiful by Christina Aguilera
 * Rinat Malzagov (from Pavlodar) - Nemnogo Zhal` by Filipp Kirkorov

Group 4 (January 28, 2006)

 * Daria Akparova (from Karaganda) - I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor
 * Dinara Koskeldieva (from Almaty) - Hero by Mariah Carey
 * Erlan Alimov (from Kostanai) - Ty Sdelana Iz Ognja by Vadim Uslanov
 * Mnash Zhanbolatova (from Almaty) - Stena by Larisa Dolina
 * Timur Kalekperov (from Ust-Kamenogorsk) - Kak Ty Krasiva Segodnja by Valery Meladze
 * Vladimir Kim (from Karaganda) - Vechnaja Ljubov` by Andre Makarskiy
 * Zarina Beisembaeva (from Karaganda) - Mezhdu Nami Zima by Dilnaz Akhmadieva
 * Zhanara Khamitova (from Karaganda)

Group 5 (February 4, 2006)

 * Anastasia Usova (from Aqtöbe) - Adagio by Laura Fabian
 * Anton Ivlev (from Kostanai) - Jamaica by Robertino Loreti
 * Asem Tasbulatova (from Shymkent) - Jalt Etip Ötken by Asem
 * Evgeniy Gartung (from Rudniy) - Tropikana-zhenshchina hina by Valery Meladze
 * Irina Kononova (from Ust-Kamenogorsk) - "I Feel Good (I Got You)" by James Brown
 * Marat Nigmatov (from Astana) - Serenada 2000 by Bravo
 * Timur Akhmetzhanov (from Aqtöbe) - Insatiable by Darren Hayes
 * Vera Kan (from Almaty) - Geroi Ne Moego Romana by Yuliya Nachalova

Wildcards (February 18, 2006)

 * Anastasia Usova - Baqyt Quşağinda by Shamshi Kaldayakov
 * Ayan Birbaev - As Long As You Love Me by Backstreet Boys
 * Daniar Ötegen
 * Dariya Akparova
 * Erlan Alimov - Serdtse, Skazhi by Ivan Breusov
 * Gulmira Irzhanova - Don't Speak by No Doubt
 * Marat Orazbaev - Ya Eto Ty by Murat Nasyrov
 * Marzhan Makisheva - Karma by Alicia Keys
 * Mnash Zhanbolatova
 * Naila Zaitova
 * Sarman Tulebayev - Golos by Aleksandr Panajotov
 * Vera Kan - Inogda

Top 12/Themes
Each week there was a common theme on which the contestants base their song choices:
 * Top 12: Contestant's Choice (including special guest jury member Tomas N'evergreen)
 * Top 11: Russian Hits
 * Top 10: Hits From Soviet Era Films
 * Top 9: Latino Hits
 * Top 8: Kazakh Hits
 * Top 7: Eastern Hits
 * Top 6: My Idol
 * Top 5: 70's & 80's Hits
 * Top 4: Hits Of The New Millennium
 * Top 3: Love Songs
 * Top 2: Grand Final

Jury/Hosts
The jury members for the third season were:
 * Nagima Eskalieva - Recording artist.
 * Ludmila Kim - VJ.
 * Qairat Qūlbaev - Vice president of local media firm Shahar Media Group & HiT TV.
 * Igor Sirtsov - TV producer of local channel KTK.

and hosts for the third season were:
 * Alan Cherkasov
 * Sabina Saiakova

Hosts
The show has had many hosts throughout the three seasons including:
 * Nurai Mukades (Season 1 Auditions)
 * Irina Kordjukova (Season 1 Liveshows & Season 4)
 * Serik Akishev (Season 1 Liveshows)
 * Erik Solo (Season 2)
 * Ulpan Kuraisova (Season 1 Auditions & Season 2)
 * Sabina Saiakova (Season 3)
 * Alan Cherkasov (Season 3)
 * Adil Lian (Season 4)

Season one

 * Batyrkhan Shukenov - Famous singer and musician.
 * Roman Rayfeld - Famous music critic.
 * Arman Murzagaliev - World famous violinist.
 * Laila Sultanqyzy - Famous radio and TV personality.

Season two

 * Dariga Nazarbaeva - Daughter of the First President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev.
 * Almaz Amirseitov - Director of Premier Records KZ.
 * Oleg Markov - TV producer.
 * Diana Snegina - DJ from radio station "Europa Plus Kazakhstan"

Season three

 * Nagima Eskalieva - Recording artist.
 * Ludmila Kim - VJ.
 * Kairat Kulbaev - Vice president of local media firm Shahar Media Group & HiT TV.
 * Igor Sirtsov - TV producer of local channel KTK.

Season four

 * Nagima Eskalieva - Recording artist.
 * Taras Boichenko -
 * Serik Akishev -

Season two

 * On November 11 Oleg did not originally made the finals but replaced another contestant who withdrew as he got the 3rd most votes

Season four
Themes:

April 28: Russian Songs

May 5: World War 2 Era

May 12: Kazakh Songs

May 19: Drinking Songs

May 26: D'Artagnan and Three Musketeers Soundtrack

June 2: Songs for Children

June 9: World Hits

June 16: Song of Pepsi

June 23: Classic & Russian Rock

June 30: Grand Finale


 * On May 26 Talgat was voted off but saved by the judges