Lithuania‘s national final Eurovizijos atranka has a reputation as being the longest and most complicated Eurovision national final. But things have just got even longer and more complicated. Broadcaster LRT has added more dates. The final will now screen on 12 March, two weeks after the originally scheduled date of 27 February, and the show has an extra three episodes from what was originally planned.
This year, the Lithuanian national final is operating in two streams: one for singers who have come to the competition with their own song, the other for singers without a song, who have been matched with one.
Initially it was planned that the first four episodes would be the heats for each stream, however with only 12 songs in the “artists without their own song” stream, this round was cut down to just three episodes. Episode four and the upcoming episode five are further eliminations of two acts from each stream.
It’s complicated
And here’s where things get bigger and more complicated – just like Catrinah’s inflatable dress. In the original schedule announced in October, by this stage the semi-final would be the next show. But now there are three extra episodes to fill before the semi-final on 5 March, where the two streams will be merged for the first time. We can only assume that the episodes before the semi will be further elimination rounds where small numbers of acts are culled each week.
The grand final, which is scheduled for 12 March, will be held on the same night as the undisputed high point of the national final season: the grand final of Sweden’s Melodifestivalen. Eurovizijos atranka may have a captive audience in Lithuania, but up against Melfest, it won’t be such a priority amongst Eurofans.
But despite the complicated ten weeks of eliminations, all it will take is one great song to make an impact in Stockholm. Lithuania frequently qualifies for the grand final at Eurovision, but they’ve only made the top ten once. Is 2016 their year?
What do you think? Is Eurovizijos atranka too long? Or is the format essential for Lithuania to find its act for Stockholm? Share your thoughts below.
To be honest most national selections could be scaled down to one episode with say 10-15 acts and make a massive night of it. Drawing it out longer makes people loose concentration. Make a massive bang, not a drawn out sqwib.
It only works of Melfest, as the traveling to different places add something to and gives it a nation wide celebration type feel.
There is no effort in our national selection, it’s only cause of ratings (to Sparrow). The only way out from this mess would be to remove rights of Eurovision translation from LRT. Sadly, it won’t happen…
I have the answer why LRT makes such a long shows, and this is because LRT has a big wiews on “eurovizijos atranka 2016”. Without national final they have nothing to show who could make a lot of wiews like eurovision, thats why that show is extenden and its all because of good rates..
how annoying.
The only reason they extended the show is because it’s EXTREMELY popular in Lithuania. The producers don’t care about whether people think it’s necessary, they just wanna rake in all the money and views.
This is totally ridiculous. Lithuania has good songs in the NF, but apparently the producers can’t choose which ones they want to make a more condensed show. I get that tbey are trying to.be like MelFest but they arent as organized to pull it off. MY SUGGESTION Get rid of the two different streams of artists. They should only have the artists who sent songs in should compete. Cause the Higher classed Entries like Donny an Erica ((some extent Petunjia)) would be in the competition. MAKE IT MORE ORGANIZED They cant keep the dates straight. Its completely foolish. Lithuania you… Read more »
It’s funny that Lithuania seem to put all this effort in yet they come out with the worst entries year after year.
YAS I’m so happy my favourite national final *not*