La Academia


La Academia is a Mexican reality musical talent television series shown on TV Azteca, that premiered in June 2002 and is currently in its thirteenth installment. Although the show itself is not affiliated with the Endemol franchise, which includes the "Star Academy" shows, it does share the competition format of many of the variants of the global franchise.
Over the first seasons, the show was a reliable dominator of its time-slot, which was shown by its triumph over Televisa's Operación Triunfo Mexico, in several countries including Chile, Peru and Venezuela. The rival show was only produced for one season, and was in fact the official Endemol entry in Mexico. The last seasons of La Academia had declining ratings, being aired against the Mexican version of The Voice, produced by Televisa, and it eventually ceased production in 2012. However, in 2018, Azteca rebooted the franchise and it aired a new generation of La Academia which received positive reviews from critics and saw an impressive increase in total viewership.
The show has been franchised to other countries: Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Indonesia, United States, Paraguay, Singapore, Thailand, Central America and Greece.

Overview

Format

Each year, 14–49 people are selected to live together in a house isolated from the rest of the world, spending their days taking classes in singing, dancing, acting, and related fields, each preparing one or two songs for a 3-hour concert which they give each Sunday evening for TV viewers and a live studio audience. Each week, one of the contestants is eliminated based on the number of votes each one receives, until 4 to 10 students become the finalists and compete for the top prize. Viewers can vote by telephone, text or online.
Camino a la Fama aired during weekday afternoons, but it was cancelled after The Ninth Generation. This show taped what the students' lives within the La Academia house. It also demonstrated the singing, dancing, and acting classes.

Judges and hosts

The longest serving judge has been Arturo López Gavito with ten seasons on the panel, followed by Lolita Cortés five seasons as judge plus two as the academy's director. Óscar Sarquiz, Chacho Gaytán and Horacio Villalobos remain in third place, having been part of the judging panel three seasons each.
Whereas for hosts, Alan Tacher and Rafael Araneda both were part of the show for four seasons each, with Ingrid Coronado hosting three seasons. Judge and host Yahir, and two-time host Cynthia Rodríguez are two of the academy's students who have been part of the panel.

Series overview

Main Generations

Season 1: The First Generation (2002)

La Academia began on 7 July 2002. Fourteen were selected to be part of The First Generation, and Alan Tacher was selected to host. The National Auditorium in Mexico City served as the setting for the final concert, where the winner received a Coca-Cola touring contract, a worldwide trip, a brand new Chevrolet TrailBlazer and the top prize: MX$2.5 million and a recording contract.
Miguel Ángel, Myriam, Nadia, Víctor and Yahir reached the finale held on 1 December 2002. Myriam Montemayor Cruz was declared the winner of La Academia.
PlaceContestantsAgeCity
01Myriam Montemayor Cruz21Monterrey, Nuevo León
02Víctor Garcia Perez26Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas
03Miguel Ángel Rodriguez Chapital18Puebla, Puebla
04Yahir Othon Parra23Hermosillo, Sonora
05Nadia Lopez Ayuso19Oaxaca, Oaxaca
06Toñita Salazar Zamora22Tantoyuca, Veracruz
07Raul Sandoval23Mexicali, Baja California
08Estrella Veloz Llamas23Monterrey, Nuevo León
09Laura Caro18Tijuana, Baja California
10María Inés Guerra Núñez19Guadalajara, Jalisco
11José Antonio de la O24Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas
12Wendolee Ayala23Torreón, Coahuila
13Alejandro Danel20Taxco, Guerrero
14Héctor Zamorano23Veracruz, Veracruz

Season 2: The Second Generation (2002–03)

The Second Generation was presented at the final concert of The First Generation on 1 December 2002. Once again, the National Auditorium in Mexico City served as the setting for the final concert, where the winner received the top prize of MX$2.5 million and a recording contract.
Freddi, Manuel, Marco, Rosalía and Érika reached the finale held on 30 March 2003. Érika Alcocer Luna was declared the second winner of La Academia.
PlaceContestantsAgeCity
01Érika Alcocer Luna28San Luis Potosí
02Marco Moré18Monterrey, Nuevo León
03Manuel Mancillas Dena28Hermosillo, Sonora
04Fredy Bautista19Tlaxiaco, Oaxaca
05Rosalía León Oviedo27Mexico City
06Adrián Carvajal20Tampico, Tamaulipas
07Enrique Virrueta Gordillo21Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas
08Azeneth Gonzalez21Guadalupe, Nuevo León
09Andrea Gonzalez Romo18Guadalajara, Jalisco
10Fabricio Martinez21Toluca, State of Mexico
11Ana Lucía Salazar19Monterrey, Nuevo León
12Alejandra Ondarza23Mexico City
13Víctor Javier Ramos24Hermosillo, Sonora
14Mauricio Carrera Carranza17Querétaro, Querétaro
15Marvin Mainte Carpio22Tijuana, Baja California
16Karla Tijerina19Ciudad Obregon, Sonora
17Gisela Lopez22San Luis Potosí
18Elisa Valenzuela Galvan23Guadalajara, Jalisco

Season 3: The Third Generation (2004)

A year after the end of The Second Generation, The Third Generation, with far more production than before, began on 13 March 2004. The Teotihuacan Hall in Acapulco served as the setting for the final concert, where the winner received a brand new car and a larger top prize of MX$3 million and a recording contract.
This Season was the first to had a permanent judging panel.
Dulce, Melissa, César, Lety Lopez, Carlos and Israel reached the finale held on 4 July 2004. Carlos Rivera Guerra was declared the third winner of La Academia.
PlaceContestantsAgeCity
01Carlos Rivera18Huamantla, Tlaxcala
02Dulce Lopez18Mexico City
03Melissa Ibarra24Hermosillo, Sonora
04Lety López21Guadalajara, Jalisco
05Israel Estrada21Atizapán, State of Mexico
06César Robles20Acayucan, Veracruz
07Hiromi Hayakawa21Torreón, Coahuila
Fukuoka, Japan
08Ricardo Hernandez26Tijuana, Baja California
09Suzette Marquez18Tucson, Arizona
10Maricarmen Carrion18Puebla, Puebla
11Martín Vaka19Morelia, Michoacán
12Rodrigo Najera28Monterrey, Nuevo León
13Marcia Peña23Querétaro, Querétaro
14Arturo Quezada23Guadalajara, Jalisco
15Esteban Espinoza26Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas
16Marla Marrun25Veracruz, Veracruz
17Jessica Meza20Toluca, State of Mexico
18Diego Espinoza22Mexico City

Season 4: The Fourth Generation (2005)

Almost a year after the start of The Third Generation, The Fourth Generation began on 27 February 2005. The Monterrey Arena in Monterrey served as the setting for the final concert, where the winner received the newly raised top prize of MX$3.5 million and a recording contract.
The Fourth Season was highly controversial, with conflicts between contestant Jolette Hernández and members of the judge panel as the main source of controversy. The final results were also controversial, as frontrunner Yuridia placed second at the grand finale.
Yuridia, Adrian, Cynthia, Erasmo, Edgar and Silvia reached the finale held on 3 July 2005. Yuridia Gaxiola Flores was declared the fourth winner of La Academia.
PlaceContestantsCity
01Erasmo GonzálezXalpatlahuac, Guerrero
02Yuridia Gaxiola FloresHermosillo, Sonora
03Adrian VarelaCuliacán, Sinaloa
04Cynthia RodríguezMonclova, Coahuila
05Edgar GuerreroBoise, Idaho
06Silvia MendivilLos Mochis, Sinaloa
07Jolette HernandezGuadalajara, Jalisco
08José Luis DiazGuadalajara, Jalisco
09Johanna DelgadoLos Angeles, California
10Marco SilvaMexico City
11Paula GonzalezMonterrey, Nuevo León
12Mario SepulvedaMonterrey, Nuevo León
13Alan VelazquezToluca, State of Mexico
14Abyadé RodriguezGuadalajara, Jalisco
15Óscar OtuyemiPachuca, Hidalgo
16Karina CazaresCiudad Juárez, Chihuahua
17René LiceagaMexicali, Baja California
18Anahí GarciaMonterrey, Nuevo León