ABC's 'Rising Star' premieres tonight
The traditional live singing competition is being turned on its ear. Tonight, "Rising Star" premieres on ABC7.
Unlike other singing competitions on TV, "Rising Star" doesn't make you wait days to see how your favorite singers stacked up. In fact, the show's unique app lets you be the judge in real time.
Here's how it works: You vote on a singer's performance by swiping yes or no on the free "Rising Star" app. Votes are immediately tallied on the screen and you can see the results instantly, and also see how other viewers around the country are voting.
"That decision will be instantly shown on the wall. They might see their picture, they might see a decision up there, but every vote is counted in absolute real time," said show host, singer Josh Groban.
If the performer gets enough votes to raise the 2-ton, 3-story wall of video monitors, he or she moves on in the competition. If the wall stays down, the singer immediately goes home.
"The wall is a huge metaphor for many of these people competing. There have been these walls in their lives. This is a wall that stands in their way from moving on," Groban said.
How West Coast voting works
By following along on the Rising Star app, everyone from coast to coast can vote LIVE during every airing. If a singer gets a 70 percent on either coast, they make it through.
Viewers in the Eastern (9 p.m. - 11 p.m.), Central (8 p.m. - 10 p.m. ) and Mountain (7 p.m. - 9 p.m.) time zones, and the state of Arizona (6 p.m. - 8 p.m.), can vote and watch live with the East Coast feed.
The West Coast will be able to save performers who didn't raise the wall on the East Coast. West Coast viewers can vote on every performer the same way the East, Central and Mountain viewers will be able to -- live while they watch the show.
We will reveal who the West Coast puts through, live on the West Coast. The show will air live on the East Coast from 9 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Star judges include rapper Ludacris, pop star Kesha and country star Brad Paisley.
"Rising Star" premieres on ABC7 at 9 p.m. tonight.
In the meantime, get to know your Southern California contestants.
Maneepat Myra Molloy, 16, Los Angeles
Daniel Wolfe, 24, San Gabriel Valley
