"Rising Star" is not looking too hot.
The series, which premiered last Sunday on ABC, is one of many singing competitions currently dotting the TV landscape. But this one comes with a twist- there are no judges. Only "experts," four celebrities (Brad Paisley, Josh Groban, Kesha and Ludacris) who advise the viewers at home how to cast their vote. Then, the audience decides, via a "Rising Star" app, who moves on and who doesn't.
A novel idea (even if it was originally taken by the Israeli series "The Next Star,") but so far audiences haven't taken to the series in the way ABC would have hoped.
The series premiere fared well, with roughly 5.1 million viewers- not enough to beat NBC's "America's Got Talent," which was penciled into the same Sunday night slot as "Rising Star" in an attempt to steal ABC's viewer base.
NBC's plan seems to have worked.
This Sunday, "Rising Star" faltered, losing roughly 20% of its premere viewers in only the second week (although part of this loss may be attributed to the BET Awards, which stole away a large chunk of Sunday's adult audience).
The competition, at least, is progressing nicely. Sunday's episode began with eighteen contestants, and the viewers whittled that number down to fourteen. So long as any contestant (or group of contestants) scores at least a 70% approval rating from the audience, he or she will continue on to next week.
Choice winners include April Lockhart, continuing on with a rendition of the Spice Girls' "Say You'll Be There," and Will Roth, sporting shaggy hair, a shaggy beard, a crowd-pleasing version of The Neighbourhood's "Sweater Weather." Megan Tibbits also skirted through, crooning John Legend's "All of Me" while playing the accompaniment on a harp.
If the ratings continue to falter, "Rising Star" may not make it to a second season, but there's always a chance. Maybe a surge of viewers can save this show in the same way they might save a faltering singer.
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