Latin American Idol

infobox television
show_name = Latin American Idol
seasons = 3


format = Interactive reality game show
creator =
starring = Gustavo Sánchez
country = ARG
network = SONY
first_aired = 2006
last_aired = 2008Finalists(With dates of elimination)
Season 1(2006)
"Winner" Season 2 (2007)
"Winner" Season 3 (2008)
Margarita Henriquez "Winner" | website = http://www.latinamericanidol.com

"Latin American Idol" is a reality television series on the Sony Entertainment Television network based on the popular "Pop Idol". The show, the first Idol series in the world to be run in Spanish, is a contest to determine the best young singer in Latin America, excluding Portuguese-speaking Brazil, which has its own version of the Idol series, "Ídolos Brazil".

"Latin American Idol" is hosted by Erika de la Vega from Venezuela and Monchi Balestra from Argentina. The judges consist of Cuban-born American Jon Secada, Gustavo Sánchez from Puerto Rico and Mimi from Mexico. Auditions for the first season were held from late April to mid May 2006 in Caracas, Venezuela; Bogotá, Colombia; Mexico City, Mexico and finishing in Buenos Aires, Argentina; the host country. The series premiered on July 12, 2006.

It was announced in late December 2006 that judge Elizabeth Meza would be leaving the show, due to her wanting to dedicate full time to her career as a solo jazz singer. On March 2007, Sony Entertainment Television informed that former Flans member, Irma Angélica Hernández Ochoa known as "Mimi", would be replacing Meza in the jury's table. From now on, she along with Secada and Sánchez will help Latin America find their next "Idol."

Carlos Peña is the only male to win the competition. Both him, and first season winner Mayré Martínez, are the only contestants to never have been in the bottom two or three during the course of the show.

At age 17, Margarita Henríquez, became the youngest person to win the Latin American Idol competition. She claimed the title on October 9th, 2008 at the end of the show's third season finale.

eason synopses

eason 1

The first season of "Latin American Idol" was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina and premiered on July 12, 2006 with the auditions in Caracas, Venezuela. Then came the auditions in Bogotá, Colombia; Mexico City, Mexico; and lastly Buenos Aires, Argentina. On August 2, 2006 the first group of ten semi-finalists sung, passing only three of them to the finals. Two other semi-finalists were chosen to participate in the wild-card show in 2 weeks.

The winner was announced on October 26th, the first Latin American Idol is Venezuelan Mayré Martínez, beating Argentinian born Noelia Soto in the season finale. Mayre Martinez and Noelia Soto won a brand new automobile, a record deal with Sony BMG Music Entertainment, and multimillioaire managing exclusivity contract.

eason 2

For this season the Judge Elizabeth Meza quit, and the Mexican singer Mimi was hired as the new Latin American Idol judge in June 13th, 2007.

Auditions of Season 2 take place in:

("In chronological order")
*Venezuela
**From March 17 to March 20, 2007.
*Mexico
**From March 24 to March 27, 2007.
*Colombia
**From March 31 to April 3, 2007.
*Argentina (Host)
**From April 14 to April 18, 2007.

Season 2 premiered on June 13th, 2007. And is aired every Wednesday and Thursday in Sony Entertainment Television (Latin America)The winner was announced on September 27th, the second Latin American Idol is Guatemalan Carlos Peña, beating Mexican born Ricardo Caballero in the season finale. Carlos Peña and Ricardo Caballero won a brand new automobile, a record deal with Sony BMG Music Entertainment, and multimillioaire managing exclusivity contract.

eason 3

The auditions for Season 3 started in March 2008, as in auditions for the previous seasons. There was a form to fill in the Latin American Idol official site to try for auditions for 2008.

The winner was announced on October 9th, 2008. The third Latin American Idol is Panamanian born Margarita Henríquez, beating María José Castillo from Costa Rica in the season finale.

Auditions dates and cities for Season 3 were:

*March 29,2008 - Buenos Aires, Argentina
*April 11,2008 - Bogota, Colombia
*April 19,2008 - Caracas, Venezuela
*April 26,2008 - Mexico City, México
*May 3,2008 - Panama City, Panama

External links

* [http://www.latinamericanidol.com/ Official Website]
* [http://latinamericanidol.my-musik.com/ Unofficial Website]
* [http://foro.univision.com/univision/board?board.id=latinamericanidol Unofficial Fan Forum]