The auditions for season 3 started in March 2008, as in auditions for the previous seasons. There was a form to fill in the Latin American Idol official site to try for auditions for 2008.
Auditions dates and cities for season 3 were:
March 29, 2008 – Buenos Aires, Argentina April 11, 2008 – Bogotá, Colombia April 19, 2008 – Caracas, Venezuela April 26, 2008 – Mexico City, Mexico May 3, 2008 – Panama City, Panama
Season 3 premiered on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9 pm in Sony Entertainment Television, with the auditions from Mexico. As American Idol and Canadian Idol, it also start using the new intro sequence. Episodes from Venezuela's and Argentina's auditions were broadcast on June 25 and June 26 respectively. Episodes from Colombia's and Panama's auditions were broadcast on July 2 and July 3 respectively. Theatre Stage episodes were aired on July 9 and July 10, with the Top 30 being announced at the end of July 10 episode. Semifinals Episodes started on July 16. Finals Episodes started on August 13.
Top 12 Finalists Margarita Henríquez – Winner – (10/09/2008) "El Mundo Que Soñé" (Laura Pausini) – First Workshop "Amigos, Simplemente Amigos" (Ana Gabriel) – First Concert "Por Amarte" (Enrique Iglesias) – Second Concert "Decisiones" (Rubén Blades) – Third Concert "Cuídate" (La Oreja de Van Gogh) – Fourth Concert "Yo Sobreviviré" (Gloria Gaynor) – Fifth Concert "Cariño" (Jennifer Lopez) – Sixth Concert "En Mi Corazon Viviras" (Phill Collins) – Sixth Concert "Ojos De Cielo" (El sueño de Morfeo) – Seventh Concert "El Universo Sobre Mí" (Amaral) – Seventh Concert "Un buen perdedor" (Franco de Vita) – Eight Concert "Que será" (José Feliciano) – Eight Concert "Abre tu Corazón" (Written for the show) – Ninth Concert "El Mundo Que Soñé" (Laura Pausini) – Ninth Concert "Vuela" (Written for the show) – Ninth ConcertMaría José Castillo – Runner-up – (10/09/2008) "Sin Ti" (Mariah Carey; Spanish version by Ricardo Montaner) – Third Workshop "Dame Un Beso" (Yuri) – First Concert "Mentiroso" (Enrique Iglesias) – Second Concert "A Puro Dolor" (Son By Four) – Third Concert "Cinco Minutos" (Gloria Trevi) – Fourth Concert "Mamma Mia" (ABBA) – Fifth Concert "Genio Atrapado" (Christina Aguilera) – Sixth Concert "Yo Te Voy a Amar" (N Sync) – Sixth Concert "Hijo De La Luna" (Mecano) – Seventh Concert "Sobreviviré" (Mónica Naranjo) – Seventh Concert "A quien le importa" (Thalía) – Eight Concert "A mi manera" (Paul Anka; Spanish version by María Martha Serra Lima) – Eight Concert "Vuela" (Written for the show) – Ninth Concert "Sobreviviré" (Mónica Naranjo) – Ninth Concert "Abre tu Corazón" (Written for the show) – Ninth ConcertSandra Muente – Eliminated (10/02/2008) "Si Ya Se Acabó" (Jennifer Lopez) – Second Workshop "Yo No Te Pido La Luna" (Daniela Romo) – First Concert "¿Dónde Están Corazón?" (Enrique Iglesias) – Second Concert "Quiero Decirte Que Te Amo" (Laura Pausini) – Third Concert "Cama De Rosas" (Bon Jovi) – Fourth Concert "Si Tu Eres Mi Hombre" (La India) – Fifth Concert "Matandome Suavemente" (Roberta Flack) – Sixth Concert "Imprecindible" (Beyoncé) – Sixth Concert "Desesperada" (Marta Sanchez) – Seventh Concert "Todo Irá Bien" (Chenoa) – Seventh Concert "Si no te hubieras ido" (Marco Antonio Solís) – Eight Concert "Vivir sin aire" (Maná) – Eight ConcertPako Madrid – Eliminated (10/02/2008) "Canta Corazón" (Alejandro Fernández) – Third Workshop "El Alma En Pie" (Chenoa & David Bisbal) – Wildcard Workshop "Fiesta En América" (Chayanne) – First Concert "Si Tú Te Vas" (Enrique Iglesias) – Second Concert "Abriendo Puertas" (Gloria Estefan) – Third Concert "Si Sé Que Te Tengo A Tí" (Nek) – Fourth Concert "Bamboleiro" (Julio Iglesias) – Fifth Concert "Ser Mejor" (Robbie Williams) – Sixth Concert "Corazon Destrozado" (Bonnie Tyler) – Sixth Concert "Aunque No Te Pueda Ver" (Alex Ubago) – Seventh Concert "Ave María" (David Bisbal) – Seventh Concert "Mi bando toca el rock" (Menudo) – Eight Concert "América" (Nino Bravo) – Eight ConcertManuel Arauz – Eliminated (09/18/2008) "Si Tú Supieras" (Alejandro Fernández) – Second Workshop "La Incondicional" (Luis Miguel) – First Concert "Nunca Te Olvidaré" (Enrique Iglesias) – Second Concert "Como Me Mira" (Fonseca) – Third Concert "Perfidia" (Los Rabanes) – Fourth Concert "Torre De Babel" (David Bisbal ft. Wisin & Yandel) – Fifth Concert "Todo Lo Que Hago, Lo Hago Por Ti" (Bryan Adams) – Sixth Concert "Solo Rock And Roll" (Los Piojos) – Sixth ConcertJosé Manuel Espinoza – Eliminated (09/11/2008) "Vuelve" (Reik) – First Workshop "Perdóname" (Camilo Sesto) – First Concert "Alguien Soy Yo" (Enrique Iglesias) – Second Concert "Que Alguien Me Diga" (Gilberto Santa Rosa) – Third Concert "Si Estamos Juntos" (Sting) – Fourth Concert "La Cosa Del Sol Naciente" (The Animals) – Fifth ConcertNicole Pillman – Eliminated (09/04/2008) "Escucha A Tu Corazón" (Laura Pausini) – Third Workshop "Aquellas Pequeñas Cosas" – (Joan Manuel Serrat) – First Concert "Héroe" – (Enrique Iglesias) – Second Concert "No Llores" (Gloria Estefan) – Third Concert "Como Tú" (Jaguares) – Fourth ConcertManuel Salas – Eliminated (08/28/2008) "Dime Si Él" (Ricardo Arjona) – Third Workshop "¿Por Qué Es Tan Cruel El Amor?" (Ricardo Arjona) – First Concert "Esperanza" (Enrique Iglesias) – Second Concert "La Ventanita" (Sergio Vargas) – Third ConcertRaquel Bustamante – Eliminated (08/21/2008) "Me Va A Extrañar" (Ricardo Montaner) – Second Workshop "Tú" (Shakira) – Wildcard Workshop "A Punto De Caramelo" (Melissa) – First Concert "Ruleta Rusa" (Enrique Iglesias) – Second ConcertFrancisca Silva- Eliminated (08/14/2008) "La Paz De Tus Ojos" (La Oreja de Van Gogh) – Third Workshop "Ahora Quién" (Marc Anthony) – Wildcard Workshop "Atado A Un Sentimiento" (Miguel Mateos) – First ConcertAnne Lorain Lanier – Eliminated (08/14/2008) "Amor A Medias" (Ha*Ash) – Second Workshop "Rayando El Sol" (Maná) – First ConcertJesús Pardo – Eliminated (08/14/2008) "Qué Lástima" (Alejandro Fernández) – First Workshop "Marta Tiene Un Marcapasos" (Hombres G) – First Concert
Weekly Themes Week 1 (August 13) – Songs from the 80s Week 2 (August 20) – Songs by Enrique Iglesias Week 3 (August 27) – Tropical Songs Week 4 (September 3) – Rock with Pop influences Week 5 (September 10) – Disco Songs Week 6 (September 17) – Spanish Versions of American Songs Week 7 (September 24) – Spanish Songs Week 8 (October 1) – Remakes Week 9 (October 8) – Songs Written for the Show
Performers on results shows Week 1 (August 14) – Alejandra Guzmán Week 2 (August 21) – Enrique Iglesias Week 3 (August 28) – Cabas Week 4 (September 4) – Aleks Syntek Week 5 (September 11) – Kudai Week 6 (September 18) – Fonseca Week 7 (September 25) – Axel Week 8 (October 2) – Luis Fonsi Week 9 (October 9) – David Bisbal, Belanova, Beto Cuevas, and Carlos Peña.
Elimination chart
Stage:Semi-finalsFinalsWeek: 7/16 7/23 7/30 8/6 8/13 8/20 8/27 9/4 9/11 9/18 9/25 10/2 10/9PlaceContestantResult1Margarita HenriquezWinner2Maria José CastilloTop 123–4Sandra Muente ElimPako MadridElimBtm 35Manuel Arauz Elim6José Manuel Espinoza Btm 3Elim7Nicole PillmanElim8Manuel SalasTop 12Elim9Raquel BustamanteElimTop 12Elim10–12Francisca SilvaElimTop 12ElimAnne Lorain LanierTop 12Jesús PardoTop 12WildCardLicetty AlfaroElimElimEliana BerretaElimKarina CatalánElimAriana Dao BolivarElimMonserrath FrancoElimYina GallegoElimSemi-Final 3Rodrigo ArizpeElimDaniela CevallosVanessa LeiroCarlos QuezadaSemi-Final 2Juan David BecerraElimOsvaldo CondeAndrea PonceIván TorcatesSemi-Final 1Sinahí MéndezElimKelly OjedaRicardo RosasRodrigo Tapia
As of the first three concerts, the "Bottom" contestants were not directly mentioned. Instead, this chart shows the contestants who weren't called "Saved" at the moment of declaring the eliminated contestant(s) on each concert. The contestants that don't appear as "Bottom" on a specific date were announced as "Safe" before another contestant(s) was/were announced "Eliminated". On the seventh concert results show, the producers decided to send the four remaining finalists to their respective countries without making the ordinary elimination. Host Monchi Balestra announced that the votes of the seventh and eighth concerts would be merged, so the bottom two contestants would be eliminated on October 2 and the other two would pass to the final week.
Workshops First Workshop
Sinahi Mendez – "Volveré" (Jesse & Joy) Ariana Dao Bolivar – "El Tiempo Que Duró Nuestro Amor" (Cristian Castro) (Wildcard) Rodrigo Tapia – "Dejame Ser Yo" (Luis Fonsi) Kelly Ojeda – "Un Día Sin Ti" (Roxette) José Manuel Espinoza – "Vuelve" (Reik) (Finalist) Margarita Henriquez – "El Mundo Que Soñé" (Laura Pausini) (Finalist) Licetty Alfaro – "No Hay Forma De Pedir Perdón" (Pedro Aznar) (Wildcard) Jesús Pardo – "Que Lástima" (Alejandro Fernández) (Finalist) Monserrath Franco – "Perdición" (La Quinta Estación) (Wildcard) Ricardo Rosas – "No Importa La Distancia" (Ricky Martin)
Second Workshop Osvaldo Conde – "Que no me Pierda" (Diego Torres) Eliana Berreta – "Lo Que Son Las Cosas" (Ednita Nazario) (Wildcard) Iván Torcartés – "Antes" (Obie Bermúdez) Anne Lorain Lanier – "Amor A Medias" (Ha-Ash) (Finalist) Juan David Becerra – "Regresa A Mi" (Yuridia) Andrea Ponce – "Me Entrego A Ti" (Ha-Ash) Karina Catalán – "¿Quién Eres Tú?" (Yuri) (Wildcard) Manuel Arauz – "Si Tu Supieras" (Alejandro Fernández) (Finalist) Sandra Muente – "Si Ya Se Acabó" (Jennifer Lopez) (Finalist) Raquel Bustamante – "Me Va A Extrañar" (Ricardo Montaner) (Wildcard)
Third Workshop Vanesa Leiro – "Atrévete" (Chenoa) María José Castillo – "Sin Ti" (Mariah Carey) (Finalist) Rodrigo Arizpe – "Sueña" (Luis Miguel) Francisca Silva – "La Paz De Tus Ojos" (La Oreja De Van Gogh) (Wildcard) Nicole Pillman – "Escucha A Tu Corazón" (Laura Pausini) (Finalist) Daniela Cevallos – "Él Me Mintió" (Amanda Miguel) Manuel Salas – "Dime Si Él" (Ricardo Arjona) (Finalist) Yina Gallego – "Te Busco" (Celia Cruz) (Wildcard) Carlos Quezada – "El Amor Que Soñé" (Mariah Carey) Pako Madrid – "Canta Corazón" (Alejandro Fernández) (Wildcard)
Wildcard Workshop Raquel Bustamante – "Tú" (Shakira) (Finalist) Monserrath Franco – "El Sol No Regresa" (La Quinta Estación) Ariana Dao Bolivar – "Reloj" (Luis Miguel) Francisca Silva – "Ahora Quien" (Marc Anthony) (Finalist) Eliana Berreta – "Sola Otra Vez" (Celine Dion) Licetty Alfaro – "Miénteme" (Bárbara Muñoz) Karina Catalán – "Pienso En Ti" (Adrianna Foster) Yina Gallego – "Malo" (Bebe) Pako Madrid – "El Alma En Pie" (Chenoa & David Bisbal) (Finalist)
Top 95 (Golden Tickets) All the winners of Golden Tickets went to the Theatre Stage on Buenos Aires, Argentina. Episodes of this stage were broadcast on July 9 and July 10. On July 10 with the final cuts made, the group of semifinalists for this season was revealed.
Mexico The contestants left out of the semi-finals from Mexico's auditions were: Grethel Jiménez Zavaleta, 19, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico Yareli Lizette Ortega Herrera, 22, Mexico City, Mexico Ildelfonso Acuña Ruiz, 26, Hermosillo, Mexico Ari Benedicto Castro, 22, Puebla, Mexico Miriam Jackeline Solis Sierra, 25, Guadalajara, Mexico Paulina Cerda Manzo, 15, San Luis Potosí, Mexico Patricia Castillo Muñoz, 25, Aguascalientes, Mexico Víctor Manuel Gonzalez Velásquez, 26, Mexicali, Mexico Claudia Lizbeth Fuentes Nevarez, 25, Chihuahua, Mexico Rodolfo Alejandro Escalera, 20, Torreón, Mexico Karina Guadalupe Esparza Rodriguez, 17, Culiacán, Mexico Martín Vaca Vea, 23, Morelia, Mexico – (Former La Academia Series 3 contestant) Jairo Wilmont, 25, (Dominican Republic) Amid Guadalupe Origen, 24, Guadalajara, Mexico
Venezuela The contestants left out of the semi-finals from Venezuela's auditions were: Maria Elena Rodríguez López, 16, Miranda, Venezuela Oscar León Oropeza, 18, Caracas, Venezuela Juliana Douaihy Viso, 21, Valencia, Venezuela Dervis Pérez Rojas, 20, Carora, Venezuela Gabriela Puche Parra, 22, Valencia, Venezuela