Azteca America sets celebs singing

Reality series adds karaoke twist

By JAMES YOUNG

MEXICO CITY -- Spanish-language web Azteca America will bow a singing-with-the-stars reality show with a karaoke twist Sunday. "Te la sabes? Cántala con famosos" (Know This One? Sing It With the Stars), hosted by Chick Pereda, is an adaptation of a show produced last year in Mexico by TV Azteca, where luminaries take a stab at the most popular Latin tunes around.

"We bring a new property 'Made in Mexico' but custom-made specifically for our audience and clients here in the U.S.," said Harry Abraham-Castillo, executive VP of programming and production. "We are convinced that this new musical show will resonate with U.S. Hispanics."

The main difference for U.S. auds is that "it pits celeb against celeb in a fast-paced karaoke-style showdown."

The various games played each week require contestants to sing songs off the top of their head or struggle along with a karaoke machine, guaranteeing some of Latin America's most famous faces stuttering and stammering along on national TV.

Ten celebrities will begin the season, with weekly eliminations until the final two compete in a grand finale.