YTV talent competition for Canadian kids seeks ‘The Next Star’

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This article was published 15/07/2008 (6628 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO – Christina Aguilera got her start as a Mouseketeer. Avril Lavigne crooned in her early teens with country singer Shania Twain. Michael Jackson was winning acclaim before he had run out of fingers to show his age.

They each started out when they were young and grew to be recording artists with multi-platinum, chart-topping albums. And that’s exactly what Canadian children performing on a new YTV show debuting Friday are shooting for.

Dubbed the first Canadian talent series for kids 15 and under, YTV’s “The Next Star” is part “Canadian Idol,” part “Kids Say the Darndest Things.” While there’s a competitive beat underlying the program – only one kid will receive the top honour – the show doesn’t revolve around the sometimes nasty eliminations seen in live, adult-based TV talent searches.

It does, however, start in much the same manner: a lively and lovable host, in this case 22-year-old Adamo Ruggiero (who plays Marco Del Rossi in “Degrassi: The Next Generation”), whisks across the country with a panel of judges/mentors to select 12 hopeful youngsters teeming with musical talent. In Toronto, the number of performers – plucked from auditions in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Halifax and Montreal – is cut to six. From that point on, the group charges head first towards a career in showbiz.

Through- episodes, viewers share the stress and elation of the budding artists as they audition, write their own songs, develop a signature look and navigate other music industry incidentals – things like giving back to your fans and, of course, how to handle badgering media types.

“We went in there not knowing what to expect from such a young demographic, and these kids have been so brilliant, they’ve come with a purpose,” said Ruggiero, who calls himself the group’s big brother. “They really are talented kids that have worked on music and are singers or musicians, and this is what they aspire to do.”

Along the way, the final six will be mentored by a trio of Canadian music industry professionals, including Christopher Ward, the songwriter known for penning “Black Velvet,” marketing executive Steve Cranwell, who boasts an encyclopedic knowledge of music, and musician Suzie McNeil, who was the last woman standing in the talent search show “Rockstar: INXS.”

“There’s some funny kids, and a few extreme kids in their own way, but there isn’t that sort of objectification that there is in those other (talent search) shows,” said McNeil, adding that the panel always tries to be kind and give constructive criticism.

“When we’re auditioning kids across Canada, the worst thing that could happen – and what we don’t want to do – is to say ‘No, you’re not right,’ and have them quit trying to live out their dream.”

Besides, said McNeil, who also sings the show’s theme song “Let’s Go,” in many ways all the participants are winners. Along with invaluable coaching, each will see their single included on a compilation CD.

The performer who comes out on top will land a recording contract with Universal Music Canada and make a professional music video. It all comes down to an audience vote, via www.YTV.com or text message, in a live finale show in late September.

The cast of performers is diverse, McNeil said.

“There is the sort of diva-chanteuse. There is the marketing dream – cute, like Miley Cyrus. There’s the girl who’s really into country. And then there’s the quirky – even at that age – singer-songwriter,” she said.

“I’m really excited to see what Canada chooses, because to me, that’ll speak volumes.”