On the set of "MBC Star Audition" premiere episode

Singer Lee Eun-mi, producer and songwriter Bang Si-hyuk, rock guitarist Kim Tae-won, rock vocalist Kim Yuna, balladeer Shin Seung-hun and anchorwoman Park Hye-jin take part in the live broadcast "MBC Star Audition" at MBC Dream Center in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea on November 5, 2010. [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]

The premiere episode of public network MBC's singing competition series "MBC Star Audition" which went on air live November 5 was sort of the launching episode to the show introducing its hosts and judges. In a way, a preview aimed at encouraging more participation before the actual competition starts. This was because while contestants have yet to start competing and show how they will grow as the program progresses, there was also a need for explanation on what "MBC Star Audition" is about. And yet its producers are taking their chances too by having created a show they themselves cannot predict the outcome to, to air live for 70 minutes every week.

As fans of four-member group 2PM slowly took to their seats to wait for the group to perform on stage, the brass band playing for anchorwoman Park Hye-jin's opening act tensed up as well. And as the crew finished their countdown to signal the start to "MBC Star Audition" and Park sang her cover of a song by R&B singer Gummy, the judges who will double as mentors on the show appeared in a corner of the set, waiting for their cue to appear on stage. Park's performance came as a surprise but what viewers looked forward to the most that day was who the mentors would be. Who the mentors will be that will not only judge the final ten contestants but also teach them directly.

Just as the curiosity was about to reach a climax, familiar faces appeared. "I will only say what I need to. And it may come off as a mistake at times so I'll leave it to you to make proper judgement," veteran singer Lee Eun-mi said as the vocals specialist of the show who's role could be said to correspond to that of Lee Seung-chul's role on cable music channel Mnet's "Superstar K." Also, Shin Seung-hun and Kim Tae-won would each represent the ballad and rock genre, respectively, while Kim Yuna singer-songwriters and Bang Si-hyuk song composers-producers. But the response to the appearance of these mentors differed depending on the generation. And the young audience which did not cheer greatly at the appearance of the distinguished mentors who were the most influential artists of their time, went wild at the mere sight of 2PM readying to take the stage and Jo Kwon's silhouette. The show will achieve its goal to discover a 'global star' when its contestants outdo their already great mentors. The only way "MBC Star Audition" will be able to become free of the controversy that it was scheduled hastily and has imitated "Superstar K" will be on whether it discovers a real star. The outlook is uncertain and the show has a long way to go but the die has been cast.

Reporter : Lee Seung-Han fourteen@
Photographer : Lee Jin-hyuk eleven@
Editor : Jessica Kim jesskim@, Jang Kyung-Jin three@