It's crazy Sunday in Israel - Mossad and Reality TV join together?

Based on an Israeli show by the same name, "Rising Star" will be a live show where contestants audition in front of an audience. No change there then, you may well say in the UK. It sounds like the X Factor!! But....

Singers will perform on a stage separated from the audience by a huge video wall (you can see the video wall in the photo from the Israeli show above). Voters will weigh in on the singers' performances while they're happening, and the contestants will be able to see the votes tallied live as they perform onstage. When the singer reaches a certain level of votes, his or her identity is revealed to the audience. Talk about pressure!

According to ABC president Paul Lee, former agents from Israel's Mossad intelligence agency designed the voting app for the Israeli show, if that is to be believed!

At the Televisions Critics Association winter press tour, Lee said, "I think this changes the rules. In Israel it clearly changed the rules, because it came out gangbusters. It’s sort of a combination of a massive talent show and, to some degree, 'The Gong Show.' You are literally voting live."

The original Israeli version of the show wrapped up its first season in December 2013 with more than 1 million viewers. Keshet Broadcasting reported that over 10 million votes were cast during the first season. Before the finale, the network was already focused on selling the show and its technology to international markets.

Whether this will take off in the UK, who knows. Another singing competition to add to all the others?

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Thanks to the Huffington Post for this story.

Photo:Kheset  How 'Rising Star' And Israeli Mossad Might Change The Future Of Reality Singing Shows