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First Sunday: Down to 40

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“STARSTRUCK,” GMA 7’s ORIGINAL reality-based artista search that made stars out of Jennylyn Mercado, Mark Herras and Katrina Halili, is back.

And if last year Marky Cielo was declared the lone ultimate survivor, “Starstruck, The Next Level” will proclaim four winners: the “Ultimate Hunk,” the “Ultimate Sweetheart,” and a tandem that will comprise the “Ultimate Loveteam.”

The network also extended the age limit from 19 to 21.

….

Out of the more than 10,000 who auditioned all over the country, 80 remain in contention. Only 12 contestants—six males and six females—will take part in a series of grueling tests and activities that will mold them to be the industry’s next gems.

Each of the four ultimate survivors will receive P1 million in cash, a P2-million exclusive management contract from GMA and other prizes. [source]

Eight weeks. Almost 9,500 artista hopefuls aged 16 to 21 nationwide. More than 5,400 rejects in Metro Manila alone. A few more call backs will decide on their fate.

StarStruck season 4 wasn’t called “The Next Level” for nothing. With a wider age range used and tougher standards underway, expect even more drama and excitement that could top the previous seasons of the prestigious competition. After eight grueling weeks of auditions all over the country, StarStruck The Next Level, the fourth wave of GMA Network’s pioneering reality-based artista search, has started the tedious task of trimming down the number of applicants to come up with the select group who will comprise the next batch of GMA stars.

Only 94 applicants were selected from the combined Metro Manila and provincial screenings, and the number was narrowed down to 80 artista wannabes. On December 10, 2006, the top 40 contenders will be announced on national television.

As in the past auditions, all the applicants had to introduce themselves, answer questions, and show their respective talents. But this time, the questions were more intriguing and situational, ultimately drawing out each applicant’s wit and character. The 20-second limit for the talent portion pushed the contestants to think of creative and striking numbers.

While there were a lot of potential talents, a few stood out due to their attitude, appearance, or quirkiness. For instance, some tried to get away with celebrity names such as “Magdangal” while others already had showbiz in their blood, like Charlene Gonzales’s half sister and Jordan Herrera’s brother.

There were also applicants who were not new to the StarStruck tension. Jay-L Dizon, the rosary-ripping boy who was in StarStruck season 3’s Top 16 but did not make it to the Final 14, auditioned again for this season and passed the second screening so far. Other returnees from StarStruck’s third season were Jomar Gonzales (who made it to last year’s Top 20) and Adriane Natividad (Top 60).

Some StarStruck talents from the previous batches even came to the studio to watch the screenings, possibly adding to the applicants’ tension. For instance, Marky Cielo and Gian Carlos stayed the whole day and even participated in some of the talent portions!

StarStruck has become a great vehicle for discovering young talent in the Philippines. And even for those who don’t make the it to the top four slots, the television exposure alone serves as a springboard for better things to come.

A classic example is Katrina Halili’s (StarStruck 1’s Top rising fame in showbiz today. “Advice ko sa inyo, umuwi na lang kayo!” she jokes. “Hindi, joke lang! Magpakatotoo ka lang, hindi mo kailangan magpretend na matapang ka, or astig ka, para (magustuhan) ka ng tao. Kung ano ka, ipakita mo kung ano ka. Tapos kung ano ‘yung mga challenge na pinapagawa sa inyo, kailangan gawin niyo ‘yun, at saka parang workshop na rin kasi ‘yung StarStruck, e. Para kang nag-aaral. Kapag kunwari, may acting workshop, dancing, (or) singing, para ka na nilang in-enroll doon, e, so pagbutihan mo.”

StarStruck The Next Level premieres tonight, December 4 and will still be hosted by Dingdong Dantes and Jolina Magdangal with Raymond Gutierrez, under the direction of Rommel Gacho.

This fourth and most intensified StarStruck season will not only be looking for a pair of Ultimate Survivors but for an Ultimate Hunk and Ultimate Sweetheart as well. Each of the four winners will bag P1 M cash and a P 2 M management contract plus other special prizes. [source]