Hay Superstar

Did You Know?

• The jury for season 5 were singer-songwriters André and Leila Saribekyan, presenter Avet Barseghyan and actor, writer, director producer Garik Papoyan.
• Season 5 audition rounds started being broadcast on 16 October 2011.
• The live shows for season 5 were broadcast on Sundays at 20:10 and there were three weekly diary shows on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 16:45.

History

The talent competition Hay Superstar held tryouts in Gyumri, Vanadzor, Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, and Yerevan. Its judging panel featured Michael Poghosyan, Egor Glumov, and Naira Gurjianyan. Shant TV broadcast the first season from March through late July 2006, followed by a second season from November 2006 to early April 2007. Season 3 aired exactly one year later. After a one-year hiatus, the show returned for a fourth season running from November 2009 to March 2010. The fifth and final season aired between October 2011 and April 2012.

Season 1 (2006)

The inaugural Hay Superstar season ran from March through July 2006. Susanna Petrosyan took the title, with Anna Avetyan placing second. Finalist Mihran Tsarukyan left the competition voluntarily on July 23 after allegations of rigging the televote. Other contestants included Lilit Hovhannisyan, Mariam Movsisyan, Narine Davtyan, Emilia Zaqaryan, Tatevik Hayrapetyan, and Lilit Ter-Vardanyan.

Season 2 (2006–2007)

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. Themes included Beatles Songs, Last Decade Hits, Russian Songs, Armenian Patriotism, Love Songs, 70s Hits, Armenian 80s Hits, Pop & Rock Songs, Armenian Classics, and Solos & Duets. Other participants included Jivan Khachatryan, Heghine Shahumyan, Anna Kostanyan, Hayk Martirosyan, Suzanna Ghazaryan, Grigor Kyokchyan, Seda Hoinanyan, Liana Margaryan, Marina Kartashyan, and Tigran Hovhannisyan.

Season 4 (2009–2010)

After a year-long suspension, the fourth season of Hay Superstar began airing in late 2009. The premiere took place on November 9, with elimination rounds starting on December 14, and the season wrapped up in March 2010. Raffi Ohanian emerged as the winner. The other contestants were Raysa Avanesyan, Suren Arustamyan, Gor Harutunyan, Iveta Mukuchyan, Hayk Petrosyan, Mariam Avetisyan, Pareli Amirxanyan, Eva Khazaryan, Yulya Zakarian, Anna Dovlatian, Meline Apoyan, Senik Barseghyan, and Syuzanna Melqonyan. The weekly themes included 80s and 90s hits, songs by Elvis Presley and The Beatles, pop rock, patriotic songs, Armenian rock and pop-rock, Love Day, and Armenian variety art and folk songs. During the competition, after Meline Apoyan and Suren Arustamyan were voted off, Anna Dovlatian quit on her own. Two jury members, Naira Gyurjinyan and Egor Glumov, along with producer Andre Simonyan, decided to bring Suren back. Later, when Mariam Avetisyan was voted out, Pareli Amirxanyan left due to personal issues in Iran, and the producers’ staff decided to reinstate Mariam.