Project SuperStar season 3
The third season of the Singaporean reality talent show Project SuperStar began on 18 August 2014. It was broadcast on MediaCorp Channel U and simulcast on Toggle Live. The show was hosted by Dasmond Koh, with Jeremy Chan and Shane Pow acting as managers for the contestants. Roy Li and Dawn Yip returned as judges for their third season, and they were joined by Eric Ng who appeared as a judge for the first time. Taiwanese singer Tiger Huang and former judge Lee Wei Song served as the guest judges at the grand final.
On 26 October 2014, Alfred Sim the male category winner who was mentored by Dawn Yip, was declared the overall winner of the season; with female category winner Abigail Yeo, also mentored by Dawn Yip named as the overall runner-up. Justin Chua and Tan Yan Hua, both mentored by Eric Ng, were the runners-up of their respective category. Sim received a cash prize of $15,000 and a one-year management contract with Mediacorp, while Yeo was awarded a cash prize of $10,000, and Chua and Tan $2,500 each.
Judges and hosts
The judges were revealed during the round three auditions on 5 July 2014. Billy Koh, Lee Wei Song and Anthony Png, who were the judges for the past two seasons, did not return for their third season. Roy Li and Dawn Yip were the only two judges from the previous seasons to return to the show. They were joined by Eric Ng who was announced as the third and final judge of the season. Despite not returning for his third season, Lee appeared as a guest judge during the grand final, together with Taiwanese singer Tiger Huang.The season also saw a makeover in the hosting lineup, which was announced on 20 May 2014. Former hosts of the show Quan Yi Fong and Jeff Wang did not return for their third season as well, and were replaced by Dasmond Koh with season two quarter-finalist Jeremy Chan and Shane Pow as the co-hosts.
Development
Auditions
For the first time in Project Superstar history, the auditions were opened to the public without any restrictions on the age and nationality. For non-Singaporeans or permanent residents, applicants must hold a student pass or work permit that is valid till the end of October 2014, to ensure their stay in Singapore throughout the contest period. Besides removing the age and nationality restrictions from the competition, the show also allowed participants to audition in groups that is made up of not more than five members and the members must be of the same gender. The highlights of the auditions were aired during the premiere of the show on 18 August 2014.Campus auditions
The auditions first started in the campus of three local institutions Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic on 6, 7 and 19 May 2014 respectively. Only the students and staff of the respective institution were allowed to apply for the campus auditions. The campus auditions were hosted by radio personalities from Y.E.S. 93.3FM, with Chen Ning, Kenneth Chung and Xie Jiafa hosting at the Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic auditions respectively. Auditionees who were successful in the campus auditions advanced to the round two auditions.Round one auditions
The first round of the auditions began on 7 June 2014 and was held at Caldecott Broadcast Centre. More than 6,000 hopefuls turned up for the auditions at the Caldecott Broadcast Centre. Due to overwhelming response, the audition period for this round of the competition was extended till the following day on 8 June 2014. The second day of the round one auditions was not opened to any new applications and was strictly held for the auditionees who were unable to meet the judges on 7 June 2014 due to time constraints. Successful auditionees from round one auditions advanced to the round two auditions.Round two auditions
The second round of the auditions was held on 22 June 2014 at Square 2. 100 contestants each from the male and female category made it to this stage of the competition. From the top 200 contestants who participated in this round of the auditions, the judges narrowed them down to the 80 who progress onto the third and final round of the auditions.Invitations-only auditions
The show also held a special invitations-only auditions for local professional singers who were scouted by the producers of the show. The scouted contestants attended the audition on 24 June 2014 at Caldecott Broadcast Centre. Successful auditionees from this round of the competition advanced to the round three auditions.Round three auditions
The third and final round of auditions was held on 5 July 2014 at UE Convention Centre. Contestants were required to prepare three different songs to perform for the judges at this stage of the competition, with each of the songs either in karaoke, a capella or piano instrumental version. Among the three songs that were prepared by a contestant, the judges would decide which song they would like to hear and the contestant would have to perform the song on the spot. The final 12 contestants who would advance to the live shows were announced at the end of auditions. Similar to The Voice and The X Factor, each of the judges chose two male and two female contestants from the final 12 to form a team of their own, and then the judges will mentor their respective contestants throughout the competition.| Audition | Date | Venue | Judges | Host |
| Campus | 6 May 2014 | Ngee Ann Polytechnic | Zhu Xiaoming Lim Shiong Chiang Hideaki Koh | Chen Ning |
| Campus | 7 May 2014 | Singapore Polytechnic | Hideaki Koh Jean Toh Zhu Xiaoming | Kenneth Chung |
| Campus | 19 May 2014 | Temasek Polytechnic | Zhu Xiaoming Tay Lay Tin Tang Yuxuan | Xie Jiafa |
| Round one | 7–8 June 2014 | Caldecott Broadcast Centre | Chan Kim Teck Canter Chia Goh Djong Hoa Hon Sher Ee Hideaki Koh Koong Chen Liang Addy Lee Sheffie Liang Lim Shiong Chiang Kelvin Soon Peter Tan Tang Yuxuan Tay Lay Tin Theresa Teng Kerlin Teo Jean Toh Wong Eng Hong Winnie Wong | Jeremy Chan Dasmond Koh Shane Pow |
| Round two | 22 June 2014 | Square 2 | Cavin Soh Wong Hong Mok Goh Djong Hoa Wu Jiaming Ken Tay | Jeremy Chan Dasmond Koh Shane Pow |
| Invite-only | 24 June 2014 | Caldecott Broadcast Centre | Wong Hong Mok Lee Ee Wurn Roy Li | Jeremy Chan Dasmond Koh |
| Round three | 5 July 2014 | UE Convention Centre | Roy Li Dawn Yip Eric Ng | Jeremy Chan Dasmond Koh Shane Pow |
Promotions
Auditions
Three recruitment teasers and one recruitment trailer were released to promote for the campus and first round auditions. The third and final recruitment teaser featured a cameo appearance by MediaCorp artiste Desmond Tan. In addition, promotional videos featuring season one and season two semi-finalists Candyce Toh and Kelvin Soon, former Fahrenheit member Wu Chun, Y.E.S. 93.3FM radio personalities Chen Ning and Kenneth Chung, Taiwanese singer-actress Phoebe Huang, singer Alex Lam and MediaCorp artiste Desmond Tan were released to provide singing and audition tips to the auditionees.A print advertisement titled "Make Sweet Dreams Come True" were released in both English and Mandarin version to promote for the recruitment.
Finalists
Profile trailers which introduce the final 12 contestants were released prior to the premiere of the show. The profile trailers were presented in individual and category versions. The final 12 contestants also made appearance in various events or meet-and-greet sessions to promote the show. The details are as follows;| Event | Date | Venue | Host | Performance details | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Top 12 Meet-and-Greet | 19 July 2014 | Junction 10 | Kenneth Chung | ''Youth Collaboration''The Youth Collaboration is an online episodic series that features the finalists of the show, together with four youths who have strong interest in music and performing arts. The series brings the audience through the musical journey of the youths and how it has made a positive influence to their lives. The programme also sees the finalists collaborating with the youths by putting up street performances. The programme, hosted by Chen Ning and Kenneth Chung, is broadcast through Catch-up TV on xinmsn and Toggle Now application.
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