La Academia (The Academy) is a Mexican reality musical talent television series shown on TV Azteca, that premiered in June 2002 and is currently in its thirteenth installment. Although the show itself is not affiliated with the Endemol franchise, which includes the "Star Academy" shows, it does share the competition format of many of the variants of the global franchise.
Over the first seasons, the show was a reliable dominator of its time-slot, which was shown by its triumph over Televisa's Operación Triunfo Mexico, in several countries including Chile, Peru and Venezuela. The rival show was only produced for one season, and was in fact the official Endemol entry in Mexico. The last seasons of La Academia had declining ratings, being aired against the Mexican version of The Voice, produced by Televisa, and it eventually ceased production in 2012. However, in 2018, Azteca rebooted the franchise and it aired a new generation of La Academia which received positive reviews from critics and saw an impressive increase in total viewership.
The show has been franchised to other countries: Azerbaijan (Akademiya), Malaysia (Akademi Fantasia), Indonesia (Akademi Fantasi Indosiar), United States (La Academia USA), Paraguay (La Academia Paraguay), Singapore (Sunsilk Academy Fantasia), Thailand (True Academy Fantasia), Central America (La Academia Centroamérica) and Greece (House of Fame).
Overview
Format Each year, 14–49 people are selected to live together in a house isolated from the rest of the world, spending their days taking classes in singing, dancing, acting, and related fields, each preparing one or two songs for a 3-hour concert which they give each Sunday evening for TV viewers and a live studio audience. Each week, one of the contestants is eliminated based on the number of votes each one receives, until 4 to 10 students become the finalists and compete for the top prize. Viewers can vote by telephone, text or online. Camino a la Fama aired during weekday afternoons, but it was cancelled after The Ninth Generation. This show taped what the students' lives within the La Academia house. It also demonstrated the singing, dancing, and acting classes.
Judges and hosts The longest serving judge has been Arturo López Gavito with ten seasons on the panel, followed by Lolita Cortés five seasons as judge plus two as the academy's director. Óscar Sarquiz, Chacho Gaytán and Horacio Villalobos remain in third place, having been part of the judging panel three seasons each.
Whereas for hosts, Alan Tacher and Rafael Araneda both were part of the show for four seasons each, with Ingrid Coronado hosting three seasons. Judge and host Yahir, and two-time host Cynthia Rodríguez are two of the academy's students who have been part of the panel.
+ Color key Cast Member Seasons 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Herbe Popeyo colspan="11" Amparo Rubín colspan="12" Pancho Ruiz colspan="12" Óscar López colspan="11" Alan Tacher colspan="9" Juan Carlos Alonso colspan="1" colspan="9" Jose Luis Cornejo colspan="1" colspan="11" Óscar Sarquiz colspan="2" colspan="8" Mónica Garza colspan="4" colspan="8" Mimí colspan="2" colspan="10" Lolita Cortés colspan="2" colspan="1" colspan="3" Arturo López Gavito colspan="2" colspan="1" Rafael Araneda colspan="5" colspan="4" Enrique Guzmán colspan="5" colspan="7" Raúl Quintanilla colspan="5" colspan="7" Lisset colspan="5" colspan="7" Chacho Gaytán colspan="6" colspan="3" Olga Tañón colspan="6" colspan="5" Ingrid Coronado colspan="6" colspan="1" colspan="3" Bibi Gaytán colspan="8" colspan="4" Julio Preciado colspan="9" colspan="3" Marta Sánchez colspan="9" colspan="3" Cruz Martínez colspan="9" colspan="3" Yahir colspan="9" colspan="2" Fernando Del Solar colspan="9" colspan="3" Horacio Villalobos colspan="10" Edith Márquez colspan="10" colspan="2" Edwin Luna colspan="10" colspan="2" Adal Ramones colspan="10" colspan="1" Cynthia Rodríguez colspan="10" colspan="1" Danna Paola colspan="11" colspan="1" Alexander Acha colspan="11" Ana Bárbara colspan="12" Vanessa Claudio colspan="12"
Series overview
Aired Winner Runner-up Third place Other Finalists Main Judges Presenter(s) Principal 1 2 3 4 1 MyriamVíctorMiguelÁngelYahir & NadiaHerbePompeyo AmparoRubínPanchoRuizÓscarLópezAlanTacherHéctorMartínez 2 ÉrikaMarcoManuelFreddy & RosalíaJuanCarlosAlonsoJoseLuisCornejoWillyGutiérrez 3 CarlosDulceMelissaLeticia, Israel& CésarÓscarSarquizMimíLolitaCortésArturoLópezGavitoJuanCarlosAlonso 4 ErasmoYuridiaAdriánCynthia, Edgar& SylviaIlse 5 SamuelColetteMarbellaRenataReginaOrozcoMónicaGarzaJesseCervantes 6 MaríaFernandaFabiolaLuisArmandoValeria & PerlaEnriqueGuzmánRaúlQuintanillaLissetRafaelAranedaHéctorMartínez 7 GiovannaNapoleon & SebastiánAgustín, Menny,Oscar & FabiolaChachoGaytánOlgaTañónRafaelAranedaIngridCoronadoLolitaCortés 8 EsmeraldaCarolinaEdgarPaolo, Luis, EduJohnny, DanielGerardo & Eri 9 ErickPabloCarmenGil, Ronald, GustavoEmanuel, CeciYanilen & HancerLolitaCortésBibiGaytánEduardoCapetillo 10 AlexisChuchoSeleneSantana, Manuel& RubiJulioPreciadoMartaSánchezCruzMartínezYahirFernandodel SolarIngridCoronadoChachoGaytán 11 PaolaAlexisKatherynDalia & SilviaHoracioVillalobosEdithMárquezEdwinLunaArturoLópezGavitoAdalRamonesCynthiaRodríguezHéctorMartínez 12 DalúAngieCarlosDennis & CharlyDannaPaolaAlexanderAcha 13 CesiaAndrésMarNelson & RubíAnaBárbaraLolitaCortésYahirVanessaClaudioAlexanderAcha 14 Mario Carolina Julio Isaveli, Mar, Brisa & Edith Espinoza Paz Chiquis Rivera Jaime Camil Héctor Martínez
Notes
In the first and second series, the judges' panel rotated between different music experts every week, regular guests are listed. During the eighth series, several guest judges served as temporary replacement for Olga Tañón, such as: Marta Sánchez, Mónica Naranjo, María Conchita Alonso, Elvis Crespo, Tatiana, Dulce, Los Horóscopos de Durango, Gabriela Spanic, Eduardo Capetillo, and Bibi Gaytán Paolo is considered the winner of the Judges' International Prize. Myriam joined the judges' panel on Concert 5.
Main Generations
Season 1: The First Generation (2002)
La Academia began on 7 July 2002. Fourteen were selected to be part of The First Generation, and Alan Tacher was selected to host. The National Auditorium in Mexico City served as the setting for the final concert, where the winner received a Coca-Cola touring contract, a worldwide trip, a brand new Chevrolet TrailBlazer and the top prize: MX$2.5 million and a recording contract.
Miguel Ángel, Myriam, Nadia, Víctor and Yahir reached the finale held on 1 December 2002. Myriam Montemayor Cruz was declared the winner of La Academia.
PlaceContestantsAgeCity 01 Myriam Montemayor Cruz 21 Monterrey, Nuevo León 02 Víctor Garcia Perez 26 Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas 03 Miguel Ángel Rodriguez Chapital 18 Puebla, Puebla 04 Yahir Othon Parra 23 Hermosillo, Sonora 05 Nadia Lopez Ayuso 19 Oaxaca, Oaxaca 06 Toñita Salazar Zamora 22 Tantoyuca, Veracruz 07 Raul Sandoval 23 Mexicali, Baja California 08 Estrella Veloz Llamas 23 Monterrey, Nuevo León 09 Laura Caro 18 Tijuana, Baja California 10 María Inés Guerra Núñez 19 Guadalajara, Jalisco 11 José Antonio de la O 24 Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas 12 Wendolee Ayala 23 Torreón, Coahuila 13 Alejandro Danel 20 Taxco, Guerrero 14 Héctor Zamorano 23 Veracruz, Veracruz
ConcertsRankContestant07/07/0207/14/0207/21/0207/28/0208/04/0208/11/0208/18/0208/25/0209/01/0209/08/0209/15/0209/22/0209/29/0210/06/0210/13/0210/20/0210/27/0211/03/0211/10/02 11/17/02 11/24/02 12/01/0212/08/02 Takeover1MyriamBelieve with WendoleeSuavemente with Nadia¿Quién como tú?A Dios le pido with VíctorComo la florMírameUna noche másLluviaMudanzasEl último adiósNo me enseñasteÉl me mintióSuerteDe mí enamórateTe amaré¿Como te va mi amor?La locaTe quedó grande la yegua ¿Dónde están?No huyas de mí Sombras nada másComo la flor The roseLadronzuelo with Ana Lucia2VíctorA fuego lento with EstrellaSirena with Miguel AngelVuelveA Dios le pido with MyriamDímeloNunca voy a olvidarteDesveladoA puro dolorSuaveUsted se me llevó la vidaProcuraLaura no estáDéjenme si estoy llorandoSecreto de amorLo dejaría todoVenenoTu cárcelPalabras tristes La chica del bikini azulEs por amorComo quien pierde una estrellaDesvelado Unchained melodyKilómetros with Adrián & Marvin3Miguel ÁngelY tu te vas with NadiaSirena with VíctorEscapar with Raúl & AlejandroLa incondicionalLloviendo estrellasTruly, madly, deeplyCieloCosa más bellaAzulComo te voy a olvidarEllaY nos dieron las diezÓdiameNada personalPaso la vida pensandoMis impulsos sobre tiTu infame engañoPor ti volaré, Y llegaste tú SoledadNo dejes que Mujeres divinasLloviendo estrellas New York, New YorkEl duelo with Mauricio4YahirAmante bandido with AlejandroAsí es la vida with Ma. Ines & HectorPersiana americanaEs por ti with NadiaCorazón partíoPrincesa tibetanaLet it beLa gloria eres túDe qué manera te olvidoExperiencia religiosaEl abandonaoQuiero dormir cansadoFruta frescaSanta LucíaEl finalPenélopePara amarnos másToda la vida DespreciadoEntre dos tierras De un mundo raroPersiana americana When a man loves a womanHotel California with Manuel5NadiaY tú te vas with Miguel AngelSuavemente with MyriamKilling me softlyEs por ti with YahirCucurrucucú palomaLa gota fríaCostumbresEntre el mar y una estrellaTe aprovechasMéxico lindo y queridoCielo rojoTe sigo amandoSola con mi soledadNo me queda másLlorarEn carne viva Amor a la mexicanaLa diferencia Bolero falazCucurrucucú paloma Unbreak my heartMío with Elisa6ToñitaLa vida es un carnaval with HectirSi no te hubieras ido with RaúlDetrás de mi ventanaMi forma de sentir with WendoleeMi tierraEntra en mi vidaPiensa en míAbusadoraPedro NavajaLa bilirrubinaCheque en blancoUna noche de copasQuítame ese hombreAmiga míaMi error, mi fantasíaTu voz¿Qué te pasa?Amor ProhibidoAhí te dejo Madrid with Karla & Laura7RaúlOtro día más sin verte with LauraSi no te hubieras ido with ToñitaEscapar with Miguel Angel & AlejandroTristes recuerdosJamásLa cima del cieloÁngelQue no quede huellaYo no fuiEl ausenteEl tristeNecesito una compañeraSeñoraPor mujeres como túEl Amar y quererGranadaLa ley del monte with Víctor Javier8EstrellaA fuego lento with VíctorI will survive with LauraTe quiero tanto, tanto, tanto with J. AntonioAlfonsina y el marSolo le pido a DiosOjalá que llueva caféComo hemos cambiadoOjaláLucha de gigantesEl Breve espacioDe repenteSolo pienso en tiSobreviviréHoy necesitoAntologíaNo me importa nada with Erika9LauraOtro día más sin verte with RaúlI will survive with EstrellaQue bello with Wendolee El Amor ColocaEstoy aquíMy heart will go onFalsas esperanzasHéroeAhí te dejo Madrid with Karla & Toñita10María InésMe nace del corazón with J. AntonioAsí es la vida with Yahir & HectorHijo de la lunaI want it that way with J. AntonioSoledadYo no soy esa mujerSe fueTe quieroMírameAy amorRueda mi menteCuéntameNo llores por mi ArgentinaMi problema with Azeneth & Gisela11José AntonioMe nace del corazón with Ma. InesRayando el solTe quiero tanto, tanto, tanto with EstrellaI want it that way with Ma. InesMi historia entre tus dedosTe amoLa flacaMaríaPrimera vezPerdido en un barcoMentiraHoy tengo ganas de tíMi bombón with Freddy & Alejandro12WendoleeBelieve with MyriamEternamente bellaQue bello with LauraMi forma de sentir with ToñitaLike a virginHacer el amor con otroCan't get you out of my head with Rosalía & Alejandra13AlejandroAmante bandido with YahirSabor a míEscapar with Raúl & Miguel AngelSoy un desastreSueñaMi bombón with Freddy & J. Antonio14HéctorLa vida es un carnavalAsí es la vida with Ma.Ines & YahirLivin' la vida locaTodo a pulmónVolverte a ver with Enrique & Marco
Season 2: The Second Generation (2002–03)
The Second Generation was presented at the final concert of The First Generation on 1 December 2002. Once again, the National Auditorium in Mexico City served as the setting for the final concert, where the winner received the top prize of MX$2.5 million, a brand new Chevrolet Cavalier and a recording contract.