The fourth season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar was aired on German channel RTL from February to May 2007. Mark Medlock, the season's winner, was awarded a contract with Sony BMG. The judges in this season were Dieter Bohlen, Heinz Henn, Anja Lukaseder. It was hosted by Marco Schreyl and Tooske Ragas. The viewers chose the contestant's fates as they were able to call for their favorite contestant. The voting results were published on 7 May. The winner got a 10-year contract and €100,000. Twenty percent went to the winner's manager who was chosen by the creators.
Finalists (Ages stated at time of contest)
Contestant Age Hometown Voted off Liveshow theme Mark Medlock 28 Offenbach Winner Grand Finale Martin Stosch 16 Postau 21 April 2007/5 May 2007 Hits of the 70s/Dedicated to...Grand Finale Lisa Bund 18 Hattersheim am Main 28 April 2007 Judge's Choice Max Buskohl 18 BerlinWithdrew Lauren Talbot 16 Winsen 14 April 2007 The Greatest Divas and Heroes of Music Thomas Enns 24 Cologne 7 April 2007 Big Band Francisca Urio 25 Berlin 31 March 2007 Today's Hits Julia Falke 18 Fürstenzell 17 March 2007 Power of Love Jonathan Enns 19 Cologne 10 March 2007 The Greatest Hits of the 80s and 90s Laura Martin 27 Neu-Isenburg 24 February 2007 The Greatest Hits of All Time
Controversies Contestant Lisa Bund caused a controversy on 10 March when the headline of the German tabloid newspaper Bild read that she fought with bullying, and harassment by some of the other contestants. On 14 March, Bild Online reportedBild Online article about a loud argument between Bund and former contestant Tristan Iser, which happened to have also been filmed by a mobile phone camera.Video Bund stated in an online diary entryLisa Bunds online diary that she felt the video was "like a bad horror movie".
On 22 April, Bild announced that contestant Max Buskohl quit the competition due to RTL's rejection of his request to let his school band Empty Trash get a recording contract alongside him. Viewers had wondered about judge Dieter Bohlen's uncharacteristic behavior when he gave an extremely critical review of Buskohl's performance on 21 April. Buskohl is alleged to have said that Bohlen was antisocial, which explains Bohlen's negative reaction.
Contestant Martin Stosch, who was eliminated on 21 April, remained as a contestant despite being voted off the week prior, replacing Buskohl.Bild Online: "RTL wirft Superstar Max raus!" However, Buskohl's father Carl Carlton told Spiegel Online that his son already made his decision to leave on 19 April but waited until Sunday to make his announcement at request of RTL.
Judges Dieter Bohlen and Heinz Henn had started a quarrel with each other during the show. On 14 April's show, Henn made it clear that he did not agree with contestant Mark Medlock's song choices. Bohlen, a staunch supporter of Medlock, began imitating Henn during his review of Lisa Bund's performance. Henn later stated that he thought it was "in bad taste, in bad style and disrespectful towards the contestants".Bild Online: "Fans toben: Bohlen hat ihn rausgemobbt!" / Extra – Das RTL-Magazin on 23 April 2007
On 24 April, German entertainer Stefan Raab announced a performance by Buskohl set for 25 April at his show TV total which at that time aired on RTL's rival television channel ProSieben. RTL pronounced against a performance by Buskohl and his band Empty Trash on TV total the next day. So during his show on 25 and 26 April, Raab publicly instigated a protest demonstration set for Saturday's Deutschland sucht den Superstar show and was said to have obtained about 120 tickets.Bild article about Stefan Raab and Max Buskohl However the show eventually went off without any disturbance.
Top 20
1st Top 20 Show (Boys) Original airdate: 7 February 2007
Contestant Song (Artist) Percentage/callsDennis HaberlachWhen You Say Nothing at All (Ronan Keating) 12,81% (3/9)Arcangelo VigneriI Believe I Can Fly (R. Kelly) 3,01% (7/9)Lindsay StebeFather And Son (Cat Stevens) 2,35% (8/9)Martin StoschHome (Michael Bublé) 12,11% (4/9)Aleksan CetinkayaNow and Forever (Richard Marx) 1,78% (9/9)Max BuskohlBad Day (Daniel Powter) 7,94% (5/9)Jonathan Enns Hero (Enrique Iglesias) 5,86% (6/9)Thomas Enns Circle of Life (Elton John) 12,89% (2/9)Mark Medlock Easy (Lionel Richie) 41,25% (1/9)Roman Lob ordered by medical professionals to not perform 0,0%
Bottom four: Jonathan Enns, Aleksan Cetinkaya, Arcangelo Vigneri, Lindsay Stebe Eliminated: Aleksan Cetinkaya and Lindsay Stebe Judges' forecasts: Aleksan Cetinkaya and Lindsay Stebe (Bohlen, Lukaseder, Henn)
2nd Top 20 Show (Girls) Original airdate: 10 February 2007
Contestant Song (Artist) Percentage/callsLaura MartinAgainst All Odds (Mariah Carey) 4,85% (6/10)Nebiha CelenlerDurch die Nacht (Silbermond) 2,24% (9/10)Prisilla HarrisAin't Nobody (Chaka Khan) 3,65% (7/10)Sarah JahnckeGlaub an mich (Yvonne Catterfeld) 6,66% (5/10)Madeleine BolyUnfaithful (Rihanna) 0,96% (10/10)Julia FalkeFamily Portrait (Pink) 7,40% (4/10)Dominika Mrugala Dieses Leben (Juli) 3,39% (8/10)Lauren Talbot Don't Speak (No Doubt) 12,87% (3/10)Francisca Urio Without You (Mariah Carey) 19,46% (2/10)Lisa Bund Hurt (Christina Aguilera) 38,52% (1/10) Bottom five: Julia Falke, Dominika Mrugala, Madeleine Boly, Sarah Jahncke, Nebiha Celenler Eliminated: Nebiha Celenler, Madeleine Boly, Dominika Mrugala Judges' forecasts: Nebiha Celenler, Madeleine Boly, Dominika Mrugala (Bohlen, Lukaseder, Henn)
3rd Top 20 Show (Boys) Original airdate: 15 February 2007
Tristan Iser is there for Roman Lob, who withdrew due to illness. Eventually, Lob was asked back for the season 5 theme shows, but declined due to his studies.
Contestant Song (Artist) Percentage/callsMax BuskohlSweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd) 9,24% (5/8)Dennis HaberlachEvery Breath You Take (The Police) 8,59% (6/8)Arcangelo VigneriSenza una donna (Zucchero) 7,26% (7/8)Thomas EnnsStill Got the Blues (Gary Moore) 9,66% (4/8)Tristan IserCan't Wait Until Tonight (Max Mutzke) 0,93% (8/8)Jonathan EnnsBreathe Easy (Blue) 10,69% (3/8)Mark Medlock Ain't No Sunshine (Bill Withers) 33,23% (1/8)Martin StoschMandy (Westlife) 20,40% (2/8) Bottom five: Jonathan Enns, Arcangelo Vigneri, Tristan Iser, Martin Stosch, Dennis Haberlach Eliminated: Dennis Haberlash, Arcangelo Vigneri, Tristan Iser Judges' forecasts: Jonathan Enns, Martin Stosch, Tristan Iser (Bohlen, Lukaseder, Henn)
4th Top 20 Show (Girls) Original airdate: 17 February 2007
Contestant Song (Artist) Percentage/callsJulia FalkeLike The Way I Do (Melissa Etheridge) 7,53% (4/7)Laura MartinHave I Told You Lately (Rod Stewart) 4,06% (5/7)Lauren TalbotDon't Know Why (Norah Jones) 20,87% (3/7)Priscilla HarrisWhat's Love Got to Do With It (Tina Turner) 2,32% (7/7)Sarah JahnckeI Turn to You (Christina Aguilera) 3,84% (6/7)Lisa BundA Woman's Worth (Alicia Keys) 31,33% (1/7)Francisca Urio Get Here (Oleta Adams) 30,05% (2/7) Bottom four: Sarah Jahncke, Laura Martin, Priscilla Harris, Julia Falke Eliminated: Sarah Jahncke and Priscilla Harris Judges' forecasts: Sarah Jahncke and Priscilla Harris (Bohlen, Lukaseder, Henn)
Finals
1st Theme Show: "Die größten Hits aller Zeiten" (Greatest Hits of All Time) Original airdate: 24 February 2007
Contestant Song (Artist) Percentage/calls Martin StoschTears in Heaven (Eric Clapton) 7,59% (5/10) Julia FalkeWhat's Up (4 Non Blondes) 3,90% (9/10) Thomas EnnsIris (Goo Goo Dolls) 6,20% (6/10) Laura MartinDon't Wanna Lose You (Gloria Estefan) 2,45% (10/10) Max BuskohlFly Away (Lenny Kravitz) 6,00% (7/10) Lauren TalbotI'm Like a Bird (Nelly Furtado) 7,62% (4/10)Jonathan Enns Angels (Robbie Williams) 4,16% (8/10)Francisca Urio Lady Marmalade (Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mýa, Lil' Kim) 15,00% (3/10)Mark Medlock Hello (Lionel Richie) 25,85% (1/10)Lisa Bund Because of You (Kelly Clarkson) 21,24% (2/10)
Bottom four: Laura Martin, Julia Falke, Jonathan Enns, Martin Stosch Eliminated: Laura Martin Judges' forecasts: Laura Martin (Bohlen), Jonathan Enns (Henn, Lukaseder)
2nd Theme Show: "Die größten Hits der 80er und 90er" (Greatest Hits of the 80s and 90s) Original airdate: 10 March 2007
Contestant Song (Artist) Percentage/calls Thomas EnnsDied in Your Arms Tonight (Cutting Crew) 5,96% (8/9) Martin Stosch Love Is All Around (Wet Wet Wet) 7,69% (7/9) Francisca UrioLicence to Kill (Gladys Knight) 10,51% (4/9) Jonathan Enns Truly Madly Deeply (Savage Garden) 4,03% (9/9) Max Buskohl Gimme All Your Lovin (ZZ Top) 8,92% (5/9) Lisa BundGreatest Love of All (Whitney Houston) 11,79% (3/9)Julia Falke Total Eclipse of the Heart (Bonnie Tyler) 8,52% (6/9)Lauren Talbot Nothing Compares 2 U (Sinéad O'Connor) 11,80% (2/9)Mark Medlock Unchain My Heart (Joe Cocker) 30,77% (1/9)
Bottom four: Thomas Enns, Martin Stosch, Max Buskohl, Jonathan Enns Eliminated: Jonathan Enns Judges' forecasts: Julia Falke (Lukaseder, Bohlen), Jonathan Enns (Henn)
3rd Theme Show: "Power of Love" Original airdate: 17 March
On 19 March 2007 a CD featuring all of the songs from the show and an additional version of If You Don't Know Me By Now by Simply Red sung by all contestants was released.
Contestant Song (Artist) Percentage/calls Martin StoschIf Tomorrow Never Comes (Ronan Keating) 9,24% (6/8) Lauren TalbotTrue Colors (Cyndi Lauper) 6,83% (7/8) Julia FalkeAngel (Sarah McLachlan) 5,24% (8/8) Max Buskohl Here Without You (3 Doors Down) 14,33% (3/8) Mark Medlock Endless Love (Lionel Richie) 30,43% (1/8) Thomas EnnsI Want to Know What Love Is (Foreigner) 9,34% (5/8)Francisca UrioIf I Ain't Got You (Alicia Keys) 9,59% (4/8)Lisa Bund(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin) 14,99% (2/8)
Bottom four: Lauren Talbot, Julia Falke, Martin Stosch, Thomas Enns Eliminated: Julia Falke Judges' forecasts: Julia Falke (Bohlen, Henn, Lukaseder)
4th Theme Show: "Hits von heute" (Today's Hits) Original airdate: 31 March 2007
For the first time in the history of Deutschland sucht den Superstar the show aired at the same time as "Wetten, dass..?" (one of the most successful TV shows in Europe) on the public channel ZDF.
Contestant Song (Artist) Percentage/calls Max BuskohlThis Love (Maroon 5) 11,75% (3/7) Lisa BundNobody Knows (Pink) 11,74% (4/7) Martin StoschUpside Down (Jack Johnson) 10,61% (6/7) Lauren Talbot Too Lost in You (Sugababes) 12,38% (2/7) Thomas Enns Hero (Chad Kroeger) 11,42% (5/7) Francisca Urio Beautiful (Christina Aguilera) 10,46% (7/7)Mark MedlockYou Give Me Something (James Morrison) 31,64% (1/7)
Bottom four: Martin Stosch, Lauren Talbot, Thomas Enns, Francisca Urio Eliminated: Francisca Urio Judges' forecasts: Lauren Talbot (Bohlen, Henn, Lukaseder)
Beside the show's contestants another casting candidate was eventually given the chance to perform on stage namely Menderes Bagcı who had come to every season's casting audition never getting an admission ticket for the casting call-back. He performed Beat It by Michael Jackson on stage.
The viewers' decision in this episode came as a complete surprise,Bild Online (in German) Berliner Morgenpost (in German) as Urio, who was eliminated this time, ranked among this season's best and most favored contestants. Before the decision, jury member Dieter Bohlen ironically predicted Urio's elimination in what he thought was an April fool hoax. Subsequently, he and his co-judges watched the decision with dismay and shock written all over their faces.RTL video
5th Theme Show: "Big Band" Original airdate: 7 April 2007
This was the first theme show to be co-hosted by female host Tooske Ragas along with Marco Schreyl in this season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar. Ragas gave birth to her daughter and was not able to present the first four theme shows.