Lebanon: young stars turned to smoke.

Arab Star Academy is a popular Arabic adaptation of a French TV reality show that has been broadcast on the Lebanese Broadcasting Cooperation (LBC) and on its satellite, LBC International (LBCI), since 2003. The programme hosts a group of potential youth performers from all over the Arab world for four months where they take singing, dancing and acting lessons under the supervision and guidance of experts. Candidates are voted out regularly over the course of the series by viewers’ telephone calls, or through a website, and results are announced in weekly prime time programmes. This year’s Arab Star Academy is aired daily on LBCI from about 6.45–7.45 …