The series began on 2006 as an Idol spin-off, but it is only in its third season in 2008 that it has enable to acquire a license from FremantleMedia, owner of the Idol franchise which resulted in a change of the rules following the same format as other Idol shows were only the viewers decide upon the verdict of the contestants. Former seasons have seen the judges saving one of the bottom two contestants with their Power of Veto at the end of each episode.[1]
The sixth season started in October 2010 and ended 31 December 2011. After six seasons known as Geostari, the program was to be redeveloped in 2012 by Rustavi 2 to the new title of საქართველოს ვარსკვლავი or Sakartvelos Varskvlavi (Georgian Idol) was to premiere in September however was delayed due to the 2012 Georgian protests. The program eventually returned in 2019 and was used to select the Georgian representative for the Eurovision Song Contest.[2]
Contestants
Giorgi Sukhitashvili won the third season making him the first male contestant to win the show following the two women Tiko Chulukhadze and Ani Kekua. It is therefore also the first former Soviet country which saw victory for both genders in its Idol adaptation whereas Narodniy Artist (Russia) and SuperStar KZ (Kazakhstan) only had male winners and Hay Superstar (Armenia) and Eesti otsib superstaari (Estonia) only had females.[citation needed]
Levan Kbilashvili quit the show after a car accident. Therefore, Indira Gerenaia, who was voted off the last in the competition, was brought back as the replacement. The producers decided to give a second chance to Levan in the next season
Ani Siradze quit the show by her own decision. Therefore, Natia Dumadze, who was voted off the last in the competition, was brought back as the replacement.
