Idol (Norway): Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Idol is a television show on the Norwegian television channel TV 2, based on the popular British show Pop Idol. The show describes itself as a "search for a superstar". The contestants are first narrowed down to 40-50 through several auditions and tests by a panel of judges. From this point on, the viewers decide who are in and who are out, and the judges limit themselves to commenting. TV viewers being what they are, the votes are based not solely on the singers vocal performance, but also on his or her looks, clothes, entertainment value, and other factors.

In the first season, 50 people were narrowed down to 10, with each contestant performing live. However, the official number of legal contestants was narrowed down to nine when Idol-finalist Jeanette Vik was disqualified for being underage. Four judges provided critiques of each competitor's performance. Viewers had several hours following the broadcast of the show to phone in their votes for their favorite contestant. Later the same night, the contestant with the fewest votes was sent home.

Kurt Nilsen won season one, with Gaute Ormåsen coming in second. Nilsen went on to win World Idol in the beginning of 2004.

The 2004 season changed the procedures a bit. First the contestants were narrowed down to 40 instead of 50. Then, after four shows where 2 of 10 were voted forward in each show, a fifth show was aired, where eight "wildcards" selected by the judges from all of the earlier contestants competed for the two last places. In addition to these 10 finalists, the judges picked a final 11th contestant, Håkon Njøten.

The fourth season started Friday January 13 2006.

Hosts

2003

• Thomas Numme
• Harald J. Rønneberg

2004

• Solveig Kloppen
• Ingrid Gjessing

2005 & 2006

• Kåre Magnus Bergh
• Solveig Kloppen

2003

• Jan Fredrik Karlsen (jury foreman)
• Ole Evenrude
• Morten Ståle Nilsen
• Lena Midtveit

2004

• Jan Fredrik Karlsen (jury foreman)
• Anneli Drecker
• Douglas Carr
• Thomas Strzelecki

2005

• Tone-Lise Skagefoss (jury foreperson)
• Tor Milde
• Ole Evenrude
• David Eriksen

2006

• Tone-Lise Skagefoss (jury foreperson)
• Tor Milde
• Amund Bjørklund
• Hans Olav Grøttheim