Hay Superstar (, literally "Armenian Superstar") was the Armenian version of the British television hit show Pop Idol, part of the Idol franchise. It is a talent contest to find the best young singer in Armenia.
Auditions were held in Gyumri, Vanadzor, Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Yerevan. The panel of judges for the show consists of Michael Poghosyan, Egor Glumov and Naira Gurjianyan.
The first season was aired on Shant TV from March to late July 2006, the second season aired from November 2006 to early April 2007. Season 3 ran exactly one year later. After a break of one year, the competition returned with a fourth season from November 2009 to March 2010. The fifth and final season aired from October 2011 to April 2012.
The first season of Hay Superstar was won by Susanna Petrosyan. Anna Avetyan was the runner-up. Mihran Tsarukyan, who was among the final two contestants, was eliminated on suspicion of having manipulated the televote in his favor. The elimination rounds went on from March to July 2006.
Participants and dates of elimination
Elimination chart:
The second season was broadcast starting 20 November 2006, with eliminations starting on Christmas Day of that same year. The final was on 8 April 2007. The winner was Lusine Aghabekyan, with Nare Gevorgyan runner-up and Hasmik Papyan third.
Participants and date of elimination
Themes:<br /> December 25: Beatles Songs<br /> January 15: Last Decade Hits<br /> January 22: Russian Songs<br /> January 29: Armenian Patriotism<br /> February 5: Love Songs<br /> February 19: 70s Hits<br /> February 26: Armenian 80s Hits<br /> March 5: Pop & Rock Songs<br /> March 12: Armenian Classics<br /> March 19: Solos & Duets<br /> March 26: Final
The third season of Hay Superstar was broadcast on 1 December 2007 with the finals broadcast on April 7, 2008. The winner was Lucy Harutunyan.
Participants and dates of elimination
Themes: <br> January 14: Modern Pop Songs<br/> January 21: Russian Songs<br /> January 28: Armenian 70 & 80s Hits<br /> February 4: N/A<br /> February 11: N/A<br /> February 25: Duets with Armenian Stars<br /> March 11: National Songs of Ashughs<br /> March 18: N/A<br /> March 25: N/A<br /> April 7: Final
Elimination chart:
After broadcasts were suspended for a full year, Hay Superstar returned for a fourth season by the late 2000s. The first broadcast was on 9 November 2009 and elimination rounds started on 14 December 2009. The season ended in March 2010.
List of participants eliminated with dates of elimination
Themes: <br /> December 14: N/A<br /> December 21: 80 & 90s Hits<br /> December 28: Elvis Presley and The Beatles songs<br /> January 18: Pop rock<br> January 25: Patriotic songs<br> February 1: N/A<br> February 8: Armenian rock and pop-rock<br> February 15: Love Day<br> February 22: Armenian Variety Art & Folk Songs
Elimination chart
After broadcasts were suspended for a full year, Hay Superstar returned for a fifth season in October 2011. Audition rounds started being broadcast on 16 October 2011.
The live shows were broadcast on Sundays at 20:10 and there were three weekly diary shows on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 16:45.
The jury for season 5 were singer-songwriters André and Leila Saribekyan, presenter Avet Barseghyan and actor, writer, director producer Garik Papoyan.
Elimination chart
Moe Szyslak of The Simpsons referenced Hay Superstar as "Armenian Idol" and mentioned Egor Glumov in episode 23 of season 21, titled "Judge Me Tender", which aired on May 23, 2010.