# Deutschland sucht den Superstar season 5

The fifth season of Deutschland sucht den Superstar live shows began 8 March 2008. It is currently hosted by Marco Schreyl and jury panel, Dieter Bohlen, Anja Lukaseder, and Andreas "Bär" Läsker also star. This season, instead of making top 20 shows (where the boys and girls are split up in two groups of 10 and the viewing public voting for their favorite), the producers decided to make the top 15 live show "Now or Never" and chose the top 10 live to premier in the "Mottoshows" (theme shows) for the upcoming season.

## Finalists

(Ages stated at time of contest)
| Contestant | Age | Hometown | Voted off | Liveshow theme |
| Thomas Godoj | 29 | Recklinghausen | Winner | Grand Finale |
| Fady Maalouf | 28 | Hamburg | 17 May 2008 | Grand Finale |
| Linda Teodosiu | 16 | Cologne | 10 May 2008 | Number 1 Hits/The Beatles/Dedicated to... |
| Monika Ivkic | 18 | Stuttgart | 3 May 2008 | Hits in Germany and England |
| Rania Zeriri | 22 | Gronau-Epe | 26 April 2008 | Party Music & Ballads |
| Benjamin Herd | 16 | Worms | 19 April 2008 | Judge's Choice |
| Collins Owusu | 25 | Düsseldorf | 12 April 2008 | Greatest Hits |
| Stella Salato | 22 | Bad Homburg | 5 April 2008 | Mariah Carey & Take That |
| Sahra Drone | 18 | Werl | 22 March 2008 | Film Hits |
| Jermaine Alford | 20 | Langenselbold | 15 March 2008 | Greatest Current Hits |

## Episode summaries
### Top 15 – "Jetzt oder nie" (Now or Never) (contestants not in order)

    Original airdate: 8 March 2008
| Contestant | Song (Artist) | Audience Vote/ Jury Vote |
| Benjamin Herd | Let Me Love You (Mario) | 4,65% (7/15) |
| Collins Owusu | Amazing (Seal) | 2,5% (9/15) |
| Felix Gaisberger | Hero (Enrique Iglesias) | 1,1% (13/15) (elim) |
| Simon Gincberg | Right Here Waiting (Richard Marx) | 0,96% (15/15) (elim) |
| Christopher Schnell | Mandy (Westlife) | 3,73% (8/15) (elim) |
| Fady Maalouf | Home (Michael Bublé) | 8,55% (2/15) |
| Jermaine Alford | I Swear (All-4-One) | 2,06% (12/15) |
| Thomas Godoj | Chasing Cars (Snow Patrol) | 47,5% (1/15) |
| Juna Manaj | Come On Over Baby (All I Want Is You) (Christina Aguilera) | 2,08% (11/15) (elim) |
| Monika Ivkic | Hurt (Christina Aguilera) | 7,25% (3/15) |
| Sahra Drone | Bleeding Love (Leona Lewis) | 5,54% (5/15) |
| Viviana Stengel | Bubbly (Colbie Caillat) | 1,06% (14/15) (elim) |
| Linda Teodosiu | Soulmate (Natasha Bedingfield) | 6,03% (4/15) |
| Rania Zeriri | Get Here (Oleta Adams) | 4,82% (6/15) |
| Stella Salato | Unbreak My Heart (Toni Braxton) | 2,17% (10/15) |
Advancing to Top 10 (Public votes): Monika, Linda, Fady, Sahra, Thomas
Advancing to Top 10 (Jury selection): Jermaine, Rania, Stella, Collins, Benjamin

### Finals
#### Contestants

Rania Zeriri, born on 6 January 1986, in Enschede, is of Algerian-Dutch ethnicity. Zeriri was born with holes in her vocal cords. In spite of this vocal handicap, she reached a high position.
Benjamin Herd was born in Worms and is the youngest male contestant of this season. He was early disputed, due to both his extravagant behavior and his enduring back-talking disrespect especially to the jury, which eventually led to his voluntary leaving. Jury member Dieter Bohlen then talked Herd back into the competition, where he was finally voted off by the audience on 19 April 2008, just reaching the 6th show.
Thomas Godoj was the winner of the fifth season. He was born in southern Poland, but raised in Recklinghausen.
Fady Maalouf was runner-up of the season. He was born in Zahlé, Lebanon. His song in the finals entitled "Blessed" went straight to number 2 in the German charts upon release, followed by Blessed that also charted at number 2 in the German albums chart.

#### Top 10 – "Aktuelle Hits" (Greatest Current Hits)

    Original airdate: 15 March, 2008ds
| Contestant | Song (Artist) | Percentage of calls |
| Fady Maalouf | Helpless When She Smiles (Backstreet Boys) | 7,08% (4/10) |
| Benjamin Herd | LoveStoned (Justin Timberlake) | 5,88% (5/10) |
| Jermaine Alford | Apologize (OneRepublic) | 2,37% (10/10) |
| Rania Zeriri | Rehab (Amy Winehouse) | 4,67% (6/10) |
| Linda Teodosiu | Oh Mother (Christina Aguilera) | 8,9% (3/10) |
| Stella Salato | Big Girls Don't Cry (Fergie) | 2,78% (9/10) |
| Collins Owusu | I'll Be Waiting (Lenny Kravitz) | 3,7% (7/10) |
| Sahra Drone | Listen (Beyoncé Knowles) | 2,85% (8/10) |
| Thomas Godoj | Stark (Ich & Ich) | 52,75% (1/10) |
| Monika Ivkic | Nobody Knows (Pink) | 9,02% (2/10) |
Bottom 5: Linda, Fady, Jermaine, Collins, Benjamin
Jury Elimination Forecast: Jermaine, Collins
Jury Best Performance Forecast: Monika or Sahra or Thomas (All)
Eliminated: Jermaine

#### Top 9 – "Die grössten Filmhits" (Greatest Film Hits)

    Original airdate: 22 March 2008
| Contestant | Song (Artist) | Percentage of calls |
| Collins Owusu | Everybody Needs Somebody (Blues Brothers) | 3,15% (7/9) |
| Sahra Drone | Too Lost In You (Sugababes) | 1,24% (9/9) |
| Benjamin Herd | Stand By Me (Ben E. King) | 7,08% (6/9) |
| Stella Salato | Run to You (Whitney Houston) | 3,01% (8/9) |
| Monika Ivkic | I'm Every Woman (Whitney Houston) | 7,28% (5/9) |
| Rania Zeriri | Colors of the Wind (Vanessa L. Williams) | 7,69% (4/9) |
| Thomas Godoj | Same Mistake (James Blunt) | 39,88% (1/9) |
| Linda Teodosiu | GoldenEye (Tina Turner) | 9,58% (3/9) |
| Fady Maalouf | She's Like The Wind (Patrick Swayze) | 21,09% (2/9) |
Bottom 5: Linda, Collins, Benjamin, Rania, Sahra
Jury Elimination Forecast: Benjamin, Collins (Dieter), Collins, Rania (Anja), Benjamin (Bär)
Jury Best Performance Forecast: Fady (Dieter, Anja), Monika, Fady (Bär)
Eliminated: Sahra

#### Top 8 – "Mariah Carey / Take That"

    Original airdate: 5 April 2008
| Contestant | Song (Artist) | Percentage of calls |
| Linda Teodosiu | Hero (Mariah Carey) | 9,21% (2/8) |
| Benjamin Herd | Relight My Fire (Take That) | 5,82% (7/8) |
| Rania Zeriri | Against All Odds (Mariah Carey) | 7,27% (4/8) |
| Collins Owusu | Love Ain't Here Anymore (Take That) | 5,91% (6/8) |
| Monika Ivkic | Without You (Mariah Carey) | 6,12% (5/8) |
| Stella Salato | Dreamlover (Mariah Carey) | 5,03% (8/8) |
| Fady Maalouf | Back for Good (Take That) | 8,54% (3/8) |
| Thomas Godoj | Rule the World (Take That) | 52,1% (1/8) |
Bottom 4: Monika, Benjamin, Rania, Stella
Jury Elimination Forecast: Benjamin (All)
Jury Best Performance Forecast: Thomas (All)
Eliminated: Stella
Guest star Mariah Carey performed her new hit single "Touch My Body" and worked with the contestants backstage. This is the first time that the host spoke English and had an English interview live on the show. As well, casting contestant Mario Teusch sang "Supermario", a techno song of his experience at his audition with the jury.

#### Top 7 – "Greatest Hits"

    Original airdate: 12 April 2008
| Contestant | Song (Artist) | Percentage of calls |
| Monika Ivkic | What a Feeling (Irene Cara) | 5,94% (6/7) |
| Collins Owusu | End of the Road (Boyz II Men) | 4,45% (7/7) |
| Rania Zeriri | Smooth Operator (Sade) | 10,4% (4/7) |
| Thomas Godoj | I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (U2) | 40,81% (1/7) |
| Benjamin Herd | Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (Wham!) | 6,54% (5/7) |
| Fady Maalouf | Your Song (Elton John) | 13,91% (3/7) |
| Linda Teodosiu | One Day in Your Life (Anastacia) | 17,95% (2/7) |
Bottom 4: Collins, Rania, Benjamin, Thomas
Jury Elimination Forecast: Rania (Dieter), Benjamin or Rania (Anja and Bär)
Jury Best Performance Forecast: Fady or Linda
Eliminated: Collins

#### Top 6 – "Judges' Choice"

    Original airdate: 19 April 2008
| Contestant | Song (Artist) | Percentage of calls |
| Fady Maalouf | We Have a Dream (Deutschland sucht den Superstar (Season 1)) (chosen by Dieter Bohlen) | 12,98% (3/6) |
| Rania Zeriri | Valerie (Amy Winehouse) (chosen by "Bär" Läsker) | 6,63% (5/6) |
| Benjamin Herd | Señorita (Justin Timberlake) (chosen by Anja Lukaseder) | 5,91% (6/6) |
| Linda Teodosiu | Because of You (Kelly Clarkson) (chosen by Anja Lukaseder) | 15,15% (2/6) |
| Monika Ivkic | Für dich (Yvonne Catterfeld) (chosen by Dieter Bohlen) | 8,95% (4/6) |
| Thomas Godoj | Shadow of the Day (Linkin Park) (chosen by "Bär" Läsker) | 50,38% (1/6) |
Bottom 3: Rania, Benjamin, Monika
Jury Elimination Forecast: Benjamin or Rania (All)
Jury Best Performance Forecast: Linda or Thomas (All)
Eliminated: Benjamin

#### Top 5: "Party Music and Ballads"

    Original airdate: 26 April 2008
| Contestant | Song (Artist) | Percentage/ calls |
| Linda Teodosiu | I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor) | 15,37% (3/5) |
| Linda Teodosiu | The Voice Within (Christina Aguilera) | 15,37% (3/5) |
| Rania Zeriri | I'm So Excited (Pointer Sisters) | 8,12% (5/5) |
| Rania Zeriri | Save the Best For Last (Vanessa L. Williams) | 8,12% (5/5) |
| Monika Ivkic | Let's Get Loud (Jennifer Lopez) | 9,78% (4/5) |
| Monika Ivkic | Killing Me Softly (Roberta Flack) | 9,78% (4/5) |
| Thomas Godoj | You Get What You Give (New Radicals) | 50,04% (1/5) |
| Thomas Godoj | Behind Blue Eyes (The Who/ Limp Bizkit) | 50,04% (1/5) |
| Fady Maalouf | Never Gonna Give You Up (Rick Astley) | 16,69% (2/5) |
| Fady Maalouf | All By Myself (Eric Carmen) | 16,69% (2/5) |
Bottom 3: Rania, Thomas, Monika
Jury Elimination Forecast: Rania or Monika (Dieter), Rania (Anja and Bär)
Jury Best Performance Forecast: Didn't say (All)
Eliminated: Rania

#### Top 4: "Germany vs. England"

    Original airdate: 3 May 2008
| Contestant | Song (Artist) | Percentage/ calls |
| Monika Ivkic | You Might Need Somebody (Shola Ama) | 9,05% (4/4) |
| Monika Ivkic | Liebe ist alles (Rosenstolz) | 9,05% (4/4) |
| Fady Maalouf | Und wenn ein Lied (Söhne Mannheims) | 19,22% (3/4) |
| Fady Maalouf | Breathe Easy (Blue) | 19,22% (3/4) |
| Thomas Godoj | Wonderwall (Oasis) | 46,83% (1/4) |
| Thomas Godoj | Mensch (Herbert Grönemeyer) | 46,83% (1/4) |
| Linda Teodosiu | Durch die Nacht (Silbermond) | 24,9% (2/4) |
| Linda Teodosiu | Mercy (Duffy) | 24,9% (2/4) |
Bottom: all candidates were in the Bottom Group
Jury Elimination Forecast: Monika (All)
Jury Best Performance Forecast: Didn't say (All)
Eliminated: Monika

#### Top 3: "Number 1 Hits" / "The Beatles"/ "Dedicated to..."

    Original airdate: 10 May 2008
| Contestant | Song (Artist) | Percentage/ calls |
| Thomas Godoj | In the Shadows (The Rasmus) | 46,34% (1/3) |
| Thomas Godoj | Let it Be (The Beatles) | 46,34% (1/3) |
| Thomas Godoj | Easy (Faith No More) | 46,34% (1/3) |
| Linda Teodosiu | Don't Stop the Music (Rihanna) | 23,34% (3/3) |
| Linda Teodosiu | With a Little Help From My Friends (The Beatles) | 23,34% (3/3) |
| Linda Teodosiu | My All (Mariah Carey) | 23,34% (3/3) |
| Fady Maalouf | You Raise Me Up (Westlife) | 30,32% (2/3) |
| Fady Maalouf | Yesterday (The Beatles) | 30,32% (2/3) |
| Fady Maalouf | Feeling Good (Michael Bublé) | 30,32% (2/3) |
Jury Elimination Forecast: Linda (Anja, Dieter), Fady (Bär)
Jury Best Performance Forecast: Thomas or Fady (Anja, Dieter), Thomas or Linda (Bär)
Eliminated: Linda

#### Top 2: Finale (Singer's choice, Highlight song & Winner's Single)

    Original airdate: 17 May 2008
| Contestant | Song (Artist) | Percentage/ calls |
| Fady Maalouf | Careless Whisper (Wham!) | 37,8% (2/2) |
| Fady Maalouf | She's Like The Wind (Patrick Swayze) | 37,8% (2/2) |
| Fady Maalouf | Blessed (Fady Maalouf) | 37,8% (2/2) |
| Thomas Godoj | Fairytale Gone Bad (Sunrise Avenue) | 62,2% (1/2) |
| Thomas Godoj | Chasing Cars (Snow Patrol) | 62,2% (1/2) |
| Thomas Godoj | Love Is You (Thomas Godoj) | 62,2% (1/2) |

### Elimination chart

| Safe | Most votes | Safe First | Safe Last | Eliminated |
| Stage: | Stage: | Top 15 | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Week: | Week: | 3/1 | 3/8 | 3/15 | 3/22 | 4/5 | 4/12 | 4/26 | 5/3 | 5/10 | 5/17 |
| Place | Contestant | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result | Result |
| 1 | Thomas Godoj | Viewers | 1st 52,75% | 1st 39,88% | 1st 52,01% | 1st 40,81% | 1st 50,38% | 1st 50,04% | 1st 46,83% | 1st 46,34% | Winner 62,2% |
| 2 | Fady Maalouf | Viewers | 4th 7,08% | 2nd 21,09% | 3rd 8,54% | 3rd 13,91% | 3rd 12,98% | 2nd 16,69% | 3rd 19,22% | 2nd 30,32% | Runner-Up 37,8% |
| 3 | Linda Teodosiu | Viewers | 3rd 8,09% | 3rd 9,58% | 2nd 9,21% | 2nd 17,95% | 2nd 15,15% | 3rd 15,37% | 2nd 24,09% | 3rd 23,34% | |
| 4 | Monika Ivkic | Viewers | 2nd 9,02% | 5th 7,28% | 5th 6,12% | 6th 5,94% | 4th 8,95% | 4th 9,78% | 4th 9,05% | | |
| 5 | Rania Zeriri | Judges | 6th 4,67% | 4th 7,69% | 4th 7,27% | 4th 10,04% | 5th 6,63% | 5th 8,12% | | | |
| 6 | Benjamin Herd | Judges | 5th 5,88% | 6th 7,08% | 7th 5,82% | 5th 6,54% | 6th 5,91% | | | | |
| 7 | Collins Owusu | Judges | 7th 3,07% | 7th 3,15% | 6th 5,91% | 7th 4,45% | | | | | |
| 8 | Stella Salato | Judges | 9th 2,78% | 8th 3,01% | 8th 5,03% | | | | | | |
| 9 | Sahra Drone | Viewers | 8th 2,85% | 9th 1,24% | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Jermaine Alford | Judges | 10th 2,37% | | | | | | | | |
| 11–15 | Christopher Schnell | Elim | | | | | | | | | |
| 11–15 | Felix Gaisberger | Elim | | | | | | | | | |
| 11–15 | Juna Manaj | Elim | | | | | | | | | |
| 11–15 | Simon Gincberg | Elim | | | | | | | | | |
| 11–15 | Viviana Stengel | Elim | | | | | | | | | |