• reality shows
  • reality TV reviews
  • about
  • contact
  • reality TV schedule
  • best reality TV
  • send tips or feedback
  • support
  • subscribe
international Idols

China’s Idol draws more than 400 million viewers even as its democratic voting raises questions

by Andy Dehnart 1 Sep. 2005 | 9:40 am

China’s version of Pop Idol, known as Super Girl 2005, concluded last Friday with a three hour finale. 21-year-old Li Yuchun won the contest, and that was watched by “an audience bigger even than the estimated 400 million who watched the Chinese New Year Festival Gala on China Central Television, state media said. No specific figures were available,” The Times reports.

Li Yuchun received 3.5 million votes via text messaging, while runner-up Zhou Bichang received 3.2 million votes. However, “censors were concerned that the democratic methods used to select the winner from 120,000 entrants could stir trouble,” according to The Times. “For weeks fans have been crowding shopping centres across the country, carrying posters of their favorite contestants in an attempt to rally votes for them. On Friday the streets of Changsha, the capital of Hunan, were swamped with thousands of fans who celebrated until dawn. Security guards were called in last week at two shopping centres after Super Girl fans became unruly.”

The China Daily realized that voting doesn’t always result in the best candidate winning: “How come an imitation of a democratic system ends up selecting the singer who has the least ability to carry a tune?”

TV talent contest ‘too democratic’ for China’s censors [The Times]

discuss this story

more great reality blurred stories

  • Recommended reality TV: Tidying Up with Marie Kondo and America to Me
  • The best reality TV shows of 2018
  • The Survivor rule book and Survivor cast contract
  • Go behind-the-scenes at the Big Brother house
  • Behind the scenes of The Last Alaskans
  • Interviews with reality TV producers and cast members

most-popular stories on reality blurred

Hunted, Emiley Cox, David Windecher

A few of Hunted’s absurd rules have been revealed

Hunted team David and Emiley revealed several of the show's rules on a radio show this morning—including one ridiculous rule that benefits the production.

Life Below Zero season 11, Sue Aikens

When Life Below Zero will return for season 11, and who it will follow

Exclusive: Life Below Zero is returning to National Geographic for season 11 this fall, with a cast that includes one new person.

Salim, Gurki, Dating Around

Netflix’s Dating Around has romance, clever editing, and more than just straight white guys

One person has five first dates on Dating Around, which gives us multiple episodes with queer people of color dating other queer people of color. That shouldn't be remarkable, but it is.

Marriage Boot Camp: Hip Hop Edition

The cast of Marriage Boot Camp: Hip Hop Edition, and a preview of the season

Marriage Boot Camp season 14 is changing things up: instead of casting reality TV stars, the show has cast hip hop stars who've appeared on reality TV shows.

Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik, Method Man, Drop the Mic

How Drop the Mic’s celebrity rap battles are written

The new TBS series Drop the Mic features rap battles between celebrities, and one of its writers detailed how those are scripted by the show's writers.

Jeff Probst, Survivor David vs. Goliath episode 10

Survivor Edge of Extinction: What we know so far about Survivor season 38

Survivor season 38 will feature returning players and a huge twist that could effect how the game is played and who wins.

Atlanta, Jackson Street Bridge

Real World season 33 will film in Atlanta, with an older cast

Facebook's Real World has a city, and it's a first for the franchise: Atlanta, Georgia.

Winter 2019 reality TV show debut schedule and guide

Winter 2019 reality TV schedule and guide

This winter reality show 2019 schedule is a frequently updated list of premieres for broadcast, cable, and streaming reality TV shows, documentary series, game shows, and other prime-time nonfiction TV.

Hoarders, Matt Paxton, Dr. Robin Zasio

Why Matt Paxton is leaving Hoarders, which is again on the bubble

Hoarders airs its season, maybe series, finale on Sunday, with what will be Matt Paxton's final episode. Why it's "the most difficult hoard I've ever seen."

The best reality TV of 2012

This year brought us a lot of unexpected reality in our television, from the debut of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo to the end of Jersey Shore. While people love to focus on those kinds of trainwreck shows, and lump all reality TV into one category so it's easier to ...

behind the scenes of reality TV

Trading Spaces behind the scenes Amy Wynn Pastor Doug Wilson

Behind the scenes of Trading Spaces

The groundbreaking home decorating reality show Trading Spaces is returning. Go behind the scenes to find out exactly how it was produced when it was a hit series.

Big Brother 19 house, Summer of Temptation, living room

Big Brother 12 house: inside the soundstage

After touring Big Brother house Saturday, I was left with new respect for the people who both run it and live there. Although perhaps “respect” is a little much for the houseguests; actually, I just now appreciate how easy it is for already insane people to go crazy in there. Here are my observations from… continue reading

Interview: John Cena on American Grit season two’s major changes

An interview with John Cena about American Grit season two, which changes the Fox show in significant ways, starting with the contestants themselves.

older

Canadian Idol 3 auditions begin; the show “opts for a more gentle approach.”

newer >

Melissa O’Neil wins third Canadian Idol

more stories about international Idols

reality TV news and reviews, in your inbox

One hand-crafted message sent every Friday. Free. Subscribe now:

about Andy Dehnart

Andy Dehnart’s writing and criticism about television, culture, and media has appeared on NPR and in Vulture, Pacific Standard, The Los Angeles Times, and other publications. He has covered reality television for more than 18 years, and created reality blurred in 2000.

A member of the Television Critics Association who serves on its board of directors, Andy, 41, also directs the journalism program at Stetson University in Florida, where he teaches creative nonfiction and journalism. He has an M.F.A. in nonfiction writing and literature from Bennington College. Learn more about reality blurred and Andy.

stay connected with reality TV

Get advice about what to watch and keep up with the latest in reality television with reality blurred's e-mail newsletter. Just enter your e-mail address:

about reality blurred

reality blurred is your guide to the world of reality TV and unscripted entertainment, with reality show reviews, news, and analysis. It was created in 2000 by Andy Dehnart. He's still writing and publishing it today.

reality blurred is regularly updated with highlights from the world of reality TV: news and analysis; behind-the-scenes reports; interviews with reality TV show cast members and producers; and recaps and reviews of these reality TV shows, including Survivor, Big Brother, The Great British Baking Show, Shark Tank, The Amazing Race, The Bachelor, Project Runway, Dancing with the Stars, Top Chef, and many more.

explore

  • recent news
  • reviews of reality TV shows
  • behind the scenes reports
  • interviews with producers and reality stars
  • archives
  • send tips
  • search
  • advertise on reality blurred
  • about reality blurred
  • newsletter
  • RSS and social media
  • contact reality blurred
  • send tips & contribute
  • privacy policy
  • terms of service
Copyright © 2000 to 2019 Andy Dehnart and individual contributors.