Stars in Their Eyes is a TVNZ talent show, based on the original British version which in turn was based on Joop van den Ende's Dutch format called Soundmixshow. It was hosted by Simon Barnett.
2008 season The finalists were:
Episode Name of contestant Appeared on the show as... 1 (22 April) Caroline Lekstrom Shakira 2 (29 April) Lili Latham Debbie Harry 3 (6 May) Brendon Chase Elvis Presley 4 (13 May) Deryn Trainer Billy Joel 5 (20 May) Ellen Kuiper Anastacia 6 (27 May) Emmeline Pitcher Cher 7 (3 June) Paul Madsen George Michael 8 (10 June) Cindy Filo Tina Turner 9 (17 June) Tony Wellington Roy Orbison Grand Final (24 June) Deryn Trainer Billy Joel
Episode 1 (22 April 2008) ContestantAppeared on the show as...Performing the song...Andy GilmourMeat LoafYou Took the Words Right Out of My MouthCaroline LekstromShakiraWhenever, WhereverDavid SuttonRobbie WilliamsAngelsKaren DavyDolly PartonHere You Come AgainSteve LarkinsFreddie MercuryBohemian Rhapsody
Episode 2 (29 April 2008) ContestantAppeared on the show as...Performing the song...Emilie HarwoodCeline DionMy Heart Will Go OnJason TappJohnny CashRing of FireLili LathamDebbie HarryOne Way or AnotherPeter MorganStevie WonderSuperstitionVince GambinoTom JonesDelilah
Episode 3 (6 May 2008) ContestantAppeared on the show as...Performing the song...Brendon ChaseElvis PresleySuspicious MindsMani FagundesLenny KravitzFly AwayPete MadsenBarry GibbNight FeverRenee PetersenAmy LeeCall Me When You're SoberSarah Hannaford-HillMadonnaDon't Tell Me
Episode 4 (13 May 2008) ContestantAppeared on the show as...Performing the song...Deryn TrainerBilly JoelPiano ManLisa JimmiesonChristine McVieYou Make Loving FunMitch GolnerNeil YoungHeart of GoldSarah McBrideKylie MinogueCan't Get You Out of My HeadVanessa AbernethyMelissa EtheridgeLike the Way I Do
Episode 5 (20 May 2008) ContestantAppeared on the show as...Performing the song...Brett WallaceNeil DiamondSweet CarolineEllen KuiperAnastaciaI'm Outta LoveGordon FletcherDon HenleyHotel CaliforniaJason CarloRonan KeatingIf Tomorrow Never ComesShaan AntunovichShania TwainMan! I Feel Like A Woman!
Episode 6 (27 May 2008) ContestantAppeared on the show as...Performing the song...Anna HawkinsSarah BrightmanMemoryCatherine ShortLuluTo Sir, With LoveEmmeline PitcherCherIf I Could Turn Back TimeMalcolm McCallumJames TaylorFire and RainTami NelsonAmy WinehouseRehab
Episode 7 (3 June 2008) ContestantAppeared on the show as...Performing the song...Jared CuffEngelbert HumperdinckThere Goes My EverythingPaul MadsenGeorge MichaelFaithPauline BerryMarilyn MonroeDiamonds Are a Girl's Best FriendSara Jane ElikaBeyoncé KnowlesCrazy in LoveTruda ChadwickChrissie HyndeBack on the Chain Gang
Episode 8 (10 June 2008) ContestantAppeared on the show as...Performing the song...Amy AltmanAlicia KeysIf I Ain't Got YouCindy FiloTina TurnerProud MaryMaz PhebyFergieBig Girls Don't CryMichelle HopkirkBonnie TylerIt's a HeartacheRichard GregoryPaul McCartneySilly Love Songs
Episode 9 (17 June 2008) ContestantAppeared on the show as...Performing the song...Eddie SimonLeo SayerYou Make Me Feel Like DancingGillian ForbesAlanis MorissetteIronicGreg WardElton JohnI'm Still StandingMareya WatlingDidoThank YouTony WellingtonRoy OrbisonOh, Pretty Woman
2009 season The finalists were:
Episode Name of contestant Appeared on the show as... 1 (28 April) Mike Henderson Scott Stapp 2 (5 May) Lisa Crawley Norah Jones 3 (12 May) Nigel McCutcheon Billy Idol 4 (19 May) Chris Mears Boy George 5 (26 May) Dan Kendrick David Lee Roth 6 (2 June) Thomas Stowers Barry White 7 (9 June) Mandy Pickering Sarah McLachlan 8 (16 June) Mark Jensen Bobby Darin 9 (23 June) Jessie Matthews Aretha Franklin Grand Final (30 June) Mandy Pickering Sarah McLachlan
Episode 1 (28 April 2009) ContestantAppeared on the show as...Performing the song...Eliza MacklePat BenatarHit Me with Your Best ShotColin JonesJoe CockerUnchain My HeartCourtney JanssenMiley CyrusSee You AgainMike HendersonScott StappWith Arms Wide OpenKelvin CummingsJerry Lee LewisGreat Balls of Fire
Episode 2 (5 May 2009) ContestantAppeared on the show as...Performing the song...Dave WoodsRod StewartMaggie MayLisa CrawleyNorah JonesDon't Know WhyJordan DavisonRobert PlantBlack DogKaren DeGraafBonnie RaittSomething to Talk AboutJon PalmerGene Pitney24 Hours from Tulsa
Episode 3 (12 May 2009) ContestantAppeared on the show as...Performing the song...Brandt McRichieTom JonesIf I Only KnewClarinda KweeBic RungaSwayMarc HamiltonRob ThomasHow Far We've ComeNigel McCutcheonBilly IdolRebel YellRachael TolhopfGwen StefaniJust a Girl
Episode 4 (19 May 2009) ContestantAppeared on the show as...Performing the song...Chris MearsBoy GeorgeKarma ChameleonJames CrosbyGary LightbodyChasing CarsMarcia MiddlemissKaren CarpenterTop of the WorldLou RixGrace JonesPull Up to the BumperJohnny AngelTony OrlandoKnock Three Times
Episode 5 (26 May 2009) ContestantAppeared on the show as...Performing the song...Corin HainesPhil CollinsAgainst All OddsSharon CunninghamDiana RossChain ReactionDeb JardinBrooke FraserShadowfeetDan KendrickDavid Lee RothJumpTalia CameronBritney SpearsToxic
Episode 6 (2 June 2009) ContestantAppeared on the show as...Performing the song...Thomas StowersBarry WhiteCan't Get Enough of Your Love, BabeVicki EatonAlicia KeysNo OneSarah LinaNicole ScherzingerDon't ChaRichard HannaDean MartinThat's AmoreKylie GarusStevie NicksDreams
Episode 7 (9 June 2009) ContestantAppeared on the show as...Performing the song...Richard LeithBuddy HollyPeggy SueMandy PickeringSarah McLachlanAngelKathy PhillipsWhitney HoustonI Wanna Dance with SomebodyMegan KaneAvril LavigneSk8er BoiSteve HamlinSteve EarleCopperhead Road
Episode 8 (16 June 2009) ContestantAppeared on the show as...Performing the song...Nieka MatekinoTina TurnerNutbush City LimitsGeorge SmithCat StevensFather and SonDanny CottrellBilly GibbonsSharp Dressed ManMark JensenBobby DarinBeyond the SeaKatherine TuentVanessa CarltonA Thousand Miles
Episode 9 (23 June 2009) ContestantAppeared on the show as...Performing the song...Jessie MatthewsAretha FranklinThinkJohn SchaefferJon Bon JoviWanted Dead Or AliveCarleen MurphyJennifer LopezIf You Had My LoveScott TophamGarth BrooksThe Thunder RollsOdette MearesJudith DurhamGeorgy Girl
Reception Taranaki Daily News television critic Gordon Brown wrote, "Unusually, Mrs Brown and I agreed on several key findings. We both thought Simon was an excellent host. We both thought that generally the singers were somewhat less than excellent and, most significantly, we felt the wrong person won." The New Zealand Herald criticised the show, stating, "Aside from the cheap set, the naff format, the wince-making band, the unconvincing impersonations, the boring songs, there's nothing much else wrong - except Barnett. He needs to broaden his vocab, which ranges from the afore-mentioned brilliant to stunning, legendary, unreal, unbelievable. Those words do not match the reality."
In a negative review, Nick Ward of The Nelson Mail said, "Perhaps naively, I keep expecting this show to unearth a few potential Susan Boyles - ordinary Kiwis who've had a good night or two at karaoke and let their friends and workmates talk them into going on TV. Instead, a parade of professional and semi-professional musicians belt out their favourites after a quick dash through TVNZ's makeup department. ... Host Simon Barnett's gushingly positive assessments ('Stunning!', 'Extraordinary!', 'You took me back to my form two social!') are as unconvincing as his arguments in favour of the divinely-sanctioned clouting of children."
References
Link Official Website