Season summaries

Deutschland sucht den Superstar

Season 1

Main article: Deutschland sucht den Superstar (Season 1)

The first season 2002-2003 of Deutschland sucht den Superstar debuted without much hype in October 2002 on the RTL network. The show's co-hosts were Swiss actress Michelle Hunziker and former soap opera actor Carsten Spengemann, while the jury consisted of music producer Dieter Bohlen, radio host Thomas Bug, British music journalist Shona Fraser, and the former president of BMG Germany, Thomas M. Stein.[1] Through word of mouth generated by the appeal of its contestants and the presence of Bohlen's acid-tongued commentary, the show grew into a phenomenon ending with a finale viewed by an estimated twelve million viewers in March 2003.[2]

Debut season winner Alexander Klaws in 2008.

Winner Alexander Klaws signed a recording contract with BMG, the label in partnership with DSDS. Immediately post-finale, Klaws released three singles, most notably the coronation song "Take Me Tonight" which was written by Bohlen and debuted on top of the German Singles Chart, eventually becoming the second biggest-selling single of 2003 – only losing to "We Have a Dream," the pre-released recording of all ten finalists.[3] Klaws has subsequently had three albums and several hit singles mostly from his more successful first album. While his debut, Take Your Chance (2003), and its follow-up, Here I Am (2004), saw nationwide success and garnered him several ECHO Award nominations, his independent 2006 release, Attention! failed to link on previous sales figures.[4] He has since established a secondary career as an actor on the Sat.1 telenovela Anna und die Liebe and appeared in leading roles on musicals such as Dance of the Vampires and Tarzan.[4]

Besides Klaws, all ten finalists with the exception of then-pregnant Andrea Josten signed record deals with various record companies.[4] Runner-up Juliette Schoppmann also signed with BMG, but in contrast to public expectations she declined working with Bohlen. Instead, she released three singles of which two entered the top ten and a solo album, Unique, which eventually debuted in 2004. Due to moderate sales BMG dropped her shortly after its release.[4] She has since made herself a name as professional songwriter.[4] Third-placed Daniel Küblböck also expanded his nationwide but extremely polarising popularity with a contract with BMG. Until June 2004 he released four major succeeded hit singles and a number-one album, titled Positive Energien (2003). However, further efforts failed on the charts after a controversial participations in the German versions of I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! and Big Brother and the release of his flopped motion picture Daniel – Der Zauberer (2004).[4]

Vanessa Struhler became the protégé of Hip-Hop producer DJ Tomekk and saw solid commercial success with her first album, Ride with Me (2003).[5] Gracia Baur also was signed to BMG, but was dropped after her moderate succeeded rock debut Intoxicated (2003). She then signed with Bros Music and was selected to represented Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 2005 with the song "Run & Hide", where it placed last in a field of 24.[4] Judith Lefeber, Daniel Lopes, and Nektarios Bamiatzis also scored mdeicore to little success after the show with their own releases.[4]

[edit]Season 2

Main article: Deutschland sucht den SuperStar (Season 2)

In the second series of DSDS 2003-2004, co-hosts Hunziker and Spengemann and all four jury members reprised their engagements in the show.[6] Following the success of the first installment, the second season was aired to a higher profile during 2003 fall schedule, including an increased number of episodes, budgets and charges for commercial spots. In contrast to the first season, however, the second soon found its main audience but never reached the overwhelming hype and demand which the first season had captured. This fact was underscored by decreasing phone votes and ratings, which were released after the show's final.[6]

Second season winner Elli Erl in 2009.

This time, teacher Elli Erl emerged as the winner. Though Erl agreed to release the Bohlen-produced coronation song "This Is My Life" in a remixed edition, she declined collaborating with him on her debut album In My Dreams due to musical differences.[7] While the debut single still reached the top three of the German Singles Chart, the album, released in October 2004, reached number thirty-three on the German Albums Chart and spawned another two singles of which none became a commercial hit, making Erl the lowest-selling DSDS winner to date.[7] Her following two albums Moving Out (2007) and Human (2009) failed to chart anywhere.[4]

Unlike in season one, the other finalists hit on major problems when they watched out for record deals. While runner-up Denise Tillmanns never signed a recording contract,[8] third-place finisher Philippe Bühler established himself as a professional songwriter and released two R&B-influenced singles, entitled "Warum?" (2005) and "Ich Kann Dich Lieben" (2006), both of which entered the top forty of the German Singles Chart.[8] Anke Wagner signed with independent label Perleberg, but neither her debut single nor her album magaged to enter any chart.[8] Benjamin Martell was signed to BMG, but was dropped when he demanded to write the album by himself.[8] Fifth-place finisher Gunther Göbbel became part of the R&B duo Lemon Ice, whose cover single "Stand by Me" entered the German top twenty in fall 2006.[8] Lorenzo Woodard participated in several prominent reality shows such as Die Alm and Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus! and has since enjoyed media attention under his transsexual identity "Lorielle London."[8]

[edit]Season 3

Main article: Deutschland sucht den SuperStar (Season 3)

Third season winner Tobias Regner in 2006.

After an absence of one year (2004–2005), the third season 2005-2006 introduced several new elements. Neither Hunziker nor Spengemann were asked back as the show's hosts as the studio wanted a new complexion on the season. They were replaced with Marco Schreyl and Dutch co-host Tooske Ragas. The jury cast also went through radical changes; Dieter Bohlen remained the only original member, and was eventually joined by music producer Sylvia Kollek and former manager Heinz Henn.

[edit]Season 4

Main article: Deutschland sucht den Superstar (Season 4)

Deutschland sucht den Superstar Season 4 is the fourth season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar which aired on RTL network. Mark Medlock, this season's winner, was awarded a contract with Sony-BMG. The judges in this season were Dieter Bohlen, Heinz Henn, Anja Lukaseder. It was hosted by Marco Schreyl and Tooske Ragas. The viewers chose the contestant's fates as they were able to call for their favorite contestant. The voting results were published on May 7.

[edit]Season 5

Main article: Deutschland sucht den Superstar (season 5)

Fifth season winner Thomas Godoj in 2008.

Because of the success of season four RTL decided to create a fifth season in 2008. This was announced just before the fourth season final show was shown on TV. There were several changes: Marco Schreyl became the sole host of the show, without the assistance of Tooske Ragas. Due to some arguments with Dieter Bohlen, Heinz Henn was replaced in the jury by Andreas "Bär" Läsker.[9] Läsker discovered and is the manager of Die Fantastischen Vier (The Fantastic Four), and joined existing jury members Bohlen and Anja Lukaseder. The last substantial change concerns only one semi-final shows ("Top 15 shows") with the name Jetzt oder nie (Now or Never): So far the 10 best candidates had been determined by telephone and SMS voting. Instead the jury selected the Top 10 live in front of 1,000 spectators. The five contestants with the highest number of votes from the public went through to the motto shows. The judges picked five more contestants of the remaining 10 to join them. Later, the candidates enter the final shows with public voting as in the earlier series. With the new rules, the producers hope to increase the excitement and to prevent good candidates from being knocked out too early.

The auditions started in August on Mallorca and for the first time ever on Ibiza. From September on the casting crew toured throughout Germany. The first show ,Now or Never-Jetzt oder Nie, started on March 8.

[edit]Season 6

Main article: Deutschland sucht den Superstar (Season 6)

Deutschland sucht den Superstar Season 6 was the sixth season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar which is airing on the RTL network. This season's winner, Daniel Schuhmacher, was awarded a contract with Sony-BMG. The judges in this season are Dieter Bohlen, Nina Eichinger, and Volker Neumüller. This season is hosted by Marco Schreyl. The viewers chose the contestant's fates as they were able to call for their favorite contestant. As with season 5, the "top 10" was created by the top 5 contestants with the most telephone and SMS voting and the other 5 were selected by the jury.

The sixth season started on 21 January 2009.

[edit]Season 7

Main article: Deutschland sucht den Superstar (Season 7)

Seventh season winner Mehrzad Marashi in 2010.

Deutschland sucht den Superstar Season 7 is the seventh season of the Idol series which aired on RTL Television and started on 6 January 2010. The season marked a new national record with more than 35,000 participants. The final aired on 17 April 2010, and the winner was Mehrzad Marashi.

[edit]Public votes

Mehrzad Marahsi won the show. Second was Menowin Fröhlich and on third place Manuel Hoffmann. Menowin has won every liveshow but lost against Mehrzad who won the final with 56,04 %. Manuel Hoffmann was eliminated in the 5th show, but he came back after Helmut Orosz was expelled from the show. Manuel came back and reached to the semi-final, so that he was the first one who was eliminated and has survived more than one show again. Thomas Karaoglan, who reached the 5th place was known as der Checker and Kim Debkowski has made some advertisement during her video previous her performance with some beauty tips on Kim Gloss Tv.

The live-shows began with the Top-15 show to determine the contestants that would make up the Top 10 in the mottoshows. As done in the previous seasons, the Top 10 were contestants put through from the public vote and the jury's vote. However, 7 (instead of 5) contestants were put through with the public votes and 3 (instead of 5) would be put through by the jury; which ultimately became the contestants that ranked with the next three largest number of votes. In the first live show, Steffi Landerer, whom was known for her sex appeal, was eliminated. Marcel Pluschke, whom was eliminated on the second live-show, did not perceive an excellent audience respect because of his weak voice and country music roots (which was a first in DSDS). Though critizied for his song selection in the third live show, Nelson Sangaré was surprisingly eliminated after ranking as one of the top contestants throughout the first and second live-shows. After being in the bottom groups every week, Ines Redjeb was eventually eliminated in the fourth live-show. Though proving to be a favorite in the competition despite ranking in the bottom half of the voting, Manuel Hoffmann was eliminated in the fifth show against Helmut Orosz. Orosz, whom was a Top 50 contestant in the second season, became criticized for his problems with singing correct texts; immediately after Hoffmann's elimination, the producers of DSDS had found a video of Orosz with a friend using cocaine recently, to which Orosz confessed. Because of this, Orosz was disqualified from the contest and Hoffmann returned to the live-shows surpassing crowd favorite Thomas Karaoglan in the sixth-live show and Kim Debkowski in the seventh live-show. However, Hoffmann's journey ended in the semi-final leaving the finale in the hands of the season's front-runners Menowin Fröhlich and Mehrzad Marashi. Fröhlich, a local DJ, successfully auditioned for the show in the third season making it to the Top-20 live-shows; he later became disqualified due to battery and fraud. Both friends throughout the recall, tensions rose throughout the competition between fans and themselves. After the final vote, Marashi won though only ranking in first place in the Top-15 and the finale as Fröhlich ranked first every week.

[edit]Season 8

Main article: Deutschland sucht den Superstar (Season 8)

Deutschland sucht den Superstar Season 8 is the eighth season of the Idol series in Germany began airing on RTL on January 8, 2011.[10] The winner will get a recording contract with Universal Music Group.[10] 34,956 people auditioned throughout the 35 cities that hosted auditions.[10] Nina Eichinger and Volker Neumüller were removed from the panel.[11][12] Their successors are Swiss singer Patrick Nuo and it-girl Fernanda Brandao.[13] Marco Schreyl will return as the host. DSDS has extended participation privileges to Austria and Switzerland.[10][14] The Top 35 will be going to the Maldives