Ambolley Will Be Back

After three weeks of rigorous search and screening of 800 talented youth from around the country, Charter House?s Stars of the future reality show entered its semi final stage with a selection of 21 contestants out of the lot who were presented to the press and public in a programme at the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel last Friday.

The 21 semi finalists, made up of 15 singers and six comedians, exhibited their talents to the audience who included members of the press and families of some of the participants.

According to some workers of Charter House whom Graphic Showbiz interviewed, the selected contestants would further be scrutinised and reduced to six finalists who would compete in the Grande finale to be held in April at the International Conference Centre.

The ultimate goal is to come out with ?one comedy icon and one music superstar? as winners.

For their prizes, the music superstar and comedy icon will win $5000 and $2000 respectively, international contracts and home theatre sets from LG Electronics among others.

In his address, Mr. Yaw Owusu Addo, Acting Managing Director of GTV said that the station was proud to be part of a programme meant to unearth hidden talents among the youth.

He further said that his hope was to see the programme achieve its objective of discovering potential international stars to combat the mediocrity which was killing the Ghanaian entertainment industry.

The 15 singers are Jemima Annor Yeboah, Anthony Simpson, Raymond Osei Sarfo, William Prince Antwi, Derrick D., Emmanuel Asamoah, Seth Adams, Victoria Stokes, Ruby Asamoah, Jane Awindor, Frederica Sarfo Asante, Irene Logan, Salimi Akill, Crystal Prempeh and Scholastica Naa.

Francis Osei Bonsu, Kojo Addison, David Oscar, Calvin Kwesi Odame, Herbert Korley and Foster Owusu Amponsah contested for the comedy icon.

The singers individually performed songs of some foreign stars like R. Kelly?s Storm is Over, Whitney Houston?s I Will Always Love You among others.

To prove their versatility, the six comedians treated the audience to a good laugh of about three minutes each of unrehearsed jokes.

Unfortunately, one of the comedians, Calvin Kwesi Odame, a Graphic Designer, was instantly disqualified for sarcastically imitating Mr. Shamar, the Managing Director of LG Electronics after the latter gave a speech during the programme.

The audience was not amused either by his performance which was in bad taste.

?I did not mean to offend anybody with my joke. Infact, I had not prepared for this performance because we were only told this was a presentation and not a performing night.? Calvin told Showbiz.

Mr. Shamar said he was not offended by the joke but felt sorry for the young man who had the opportunity of becoming a star and decided to waste it by giving a joke not meant for his level as a beginner.