Saturday's episode of
Popstars began with the meltdown of the Top 30 finalists, who quickly became a Top 20 after being divided into three rooms.
Two rooms got to "yay-we-stay" while one room collapsed into silence and tears, as the 20 whooped around them.
Their whoop'dom was shortlived though.
First thing the following morning they were faced with a new challenge that held no song-factor: the press. Who put them to the test as if they'd already won the show.
The 20 divided themselves into imaginary groups and journalists from publications round the country gathered in a press conference to grill them. Newspapers, tabloids, bloggers and magazines were all in the thick of the action, including TVSA.
Here's a vid. of what went down and how things unfolded as the 20 faced the onslaught:
Once they'd made it out half-alive, they headed off to Zwai who "coached" them in duets - while actually spending his time lounging around on a huge circular couch thing.
Everyone partnered up, performed their duets while Zwai chillaxed and then they faced the second challenge of the day: the whacking of five more.
The elimination became most important to everyone as the 20 had to walk a Green Mile to hear their fate. While TVSA was on location with the show, we saw it and walked it and it's as long as the name suggests. It goes up staircases, through various rooms and doorways, to Sandton, down a concrete path and back to Durbs.
It delivered the necessary results. By the time the hopefuls reached the judges for their verdict they were suitably wrecked. Most sobbed uncontrollably - both those who got a "yes" and a "no" - while others clung to each other as if they were on the Titanic.
Only one contestant - Masego Moticoe - seemed very pleased to be given the whack and trotted off without a care in the world. Once she'd disappeared the remaining 15 joined Azania for a psycho-therapy session involving Miley Cyrus.
They had to sing The Climb and did a visualisation to the words, to find the inner meaning for themselves. Most affected by it was Busisiwe Thwala, who broke down listening to Azania speaking the words.
She said that the biggest climb she's faced is returning to singing after her father died. After he died she didn't want to sing anymore because singing reminded her of him and the memory was too painful. She stopped for three years.
Busisiwe "...but then I remembered that he would be so proud of me if I stood up and I chased my dream because it's our dreams that keep us alive."
The 15 closing in on their dreams are:
 |
 |
 |
| Anele Gazide |
Bongiwe Silinda |
Busisiwe Thwala |
| 19, Durban |
20, Durban |
23, Johannesburg |
 |
 |
 |
| Chrystal Worship |
Co-B Wyngaard |
Kahludi Malele |
| 22, Cape Town |
24, Cape Town |
28, Pretoria |
 |
 |
 |
| Khanyisa Bukubukwana |
Lebogang Katane |
Lefa Pike |
| 21, Johannesburg |
26, Pretoria |
28, Pretoria |
 |
 |
 |
| Lihle Ngongoma |
Lyle Volkwyn |
Nondumiso (Ndu) Shezi |
| 21, Durban |
23, Johannesburg |
21, Durban |
 |
 |
 |
| Nomandla Mfecane |
Oscar Toorn |
Zinhle Dube |
| 19, Cape Town |
22, Johannesburg |
24, Durban |
Next week: the judges eliminate another five. Then, they make their final judgement.
The
winning group will be announced the week after.