"Is this Star Academy?"
asks a passer-by.
This Saturday afternoon, the Lendit studios, in Saint-Denis (Seine-Saint-Denis), are experiencing the excitement of the big days.
Inside the L5 building, the TF 1 staff attends the last rehearsals for the great return of the cult telecrochet of the 2000s. Stressed, front page executives and producers?
"No no, at all", promises the smile on the lips Mathieu Vergne, who produces the show for DMLSTV, with Endemol.
During her rehearsal, Jenifer, winner of the first edition, is very moved by discovering, more than twenty years later, images of the time.
On the black lacquered star-shaped stage, the 13 students of the class of 2022 take turns to perform their songs, in duets for some, solo for others.
Accompanied for the first time by an orchestra in which stands out Édouard Algayon, long curly hair and former candidate.
Even if some small technical hazards punctuate part of the rehearsals.
“I can't get along on the verses,” regrets Cenzo, 22, very stressed by his interpretation of “As It Was” by Harry Styles, glancing around the room.
A studio in which 700 people will gather a few hours later.
Some in the high stands, others in a small pit provided for this purpose.
As in this report from TF 1, everything was done to hide the faces of the candidates before the live.
Document TF1
And apprentice singers have enough to be nervous.
Everything is done not to reveal the identity of the first or the first to appear to viewers.
The same teaser video from the season's godfather, British singer Robbie Williams, introduces each rehearsal.
What give them a little pressure before making their thirteen (beautiful) voices heard.
However, they can count on the support of Karima Charni, co-host of the second part of the evening, applauding each of her new little foals.
Among the people on stage, one of them is less impressed than the others.
Accompanied by a dozen dancers, the choreographer Yanis Marshall, dance teacher of this version 2.0, is entitled to his own performance to introduce himself.
However, with one constraint: known for dancing in stiletto heels, the successor of Kamel Ouali must run a short sprint live to exchange his sneakers for a pair of boots.
Risky, tense, but successful.
With immediate effect.
All applauded by Michael Goldman, director of the Academy, all smiles.
The production also has something to celebrate.
A few hours from the live, and even if the rehearsals have been delayed, everything is going well.
Still to be confirmed during the evening.