Celebrity presenters of the show, Saudi hip-hop artist Qusai and Lebanese television presenter Raya Abirached. IN contrast to the version in the West, which only focuses on one nation at a time, “Arabs' Got Talent” is hugely diverse, holding initial auditions in more than 13 countries, including Syria and Morocco, totaling 1,500 contestants showcasing a plethora of unique skills. One of the most remarkable appearances was that of Saudi pianist Ali Al Bouri who dazzled the jury and the audience alike with his performance, more so when he announced on the microphone that he never learnt how to play or read musical notes! It's not just the contestants that are multicultural, either; the broadcast team are from all over Arabia. Producer Lara Nassif hails from Lebanon, as does singer and judge Najwa Karam (one of the best-selling artists in the region). The other judges include news anchor Amr Adeeb from Egypt, and Dubai-based Ali Jaber, the dean and professor in communications at American University. The hosts are likewise, heavyweights in the world of entertainment: Saudi rapper Qusai and Lebanese presenter Raya Abirached. Saudi presence For one 19-year-old Saudi contestant, aspiring rap artist Yasser Alharbi-Alyani, getting to this, amid such intense competition has been a feat in itself. “I didn't think I would get this far, particularly because I was supposed to compete with a group but they couldn't make it, so I participated on my own,” he said. “I have been practicing and training since I was 15. Depending on the level of excitement and concentration, I can complete a song in just four hours.” He thinks it is important to reach out to the audience and send “heart-to-heart messages” to viewers through his performance. Despite having enjoyed some form of recognition in Saudi Arabia, he admits that he has now become even more familiar to people. As a student contestant, he worries about catching up with his studies but claims that the show is “the beginning of a dream about to come true” and doesn't want to miss out on it. Making waves Not only is there an element of national pride when showcasing these skills, the prizes aren't bad either. The winner gets a contract with Sony international, a Chevrolet Camaro car and SR 500,000. Lara Nassif, the show's producer, has been with the MBC for eight years and talks about the sheer popularity of the show: “The show received a positive response from our Pan Arab audience (both Arabic and non-Arabic speaking)... Arabs' Got Talent is very similar to the international format. I also think it is richer in content as it covers an entire region which joins over 13 countries, each bringing a new talent to the show. The show is so interesting precisely because it reflects the different cultures of every Arabic country”. The Got Talent franchise, a concept created by British talent show king Simon Cowell (who appeared as a judge in the original UK and US series), now includes more than 32 shows around the world. Judge Jaber admits he's never done anything like this before; though he's had 20 years of experience putting people in front of cameras, he says the judging process has been hugely fun, yet challenging. A lot of the acts on Arabs' Got Talent follow a similar format, explained Jaber. “We've seen a lot of hip hop and rap acts, which reveals a lot about what's happening on the streets of Arabia,” he said. ‘Most contestants seem to lean towards singing, probably because all the other talent shows concentrate on singing, but the (‘Arabs' Got Talent') format has exposed an underground of beautiful art, redefining the talent show.” The sheer variety of talents on show has made the judges' task harder, especially considering the subjective nature of art. “I particularly like the acts that are creative and different,” remarked Nassif. “For example, an Omani contestant showed some unique skills in sand drawing, and that captured the judges' interest.' She added that the production team may consider adding English subtitles to the show, due to its appeal to non-Arabic speaking viewers. Also in the pipeline for 2011, a new incarnation of the Got Talent franchise will give all nations a chance to compete on a world scale. “World's Got Talent” will see 25 winners from shows across the globe battle it out to win a million-dollar prize purse. The mega-series is rumoured to be presented by “America's Got Talent” judge Piers Morgan, and the six judges, instead of three, will include Sharon Osbourne, Dannii Minogue, Brian McFadden and, of course, Simon Cowell. Let's hope a few talented Arab contestants can do the region proud. “Arabs' Got Talent” screens on Fridays on MBC4. For more information, see www.mbc.net/arabsgottalent.
