Thousands of fans, ranging from tiny tots to grannies, turned out on Sunday to catch the 23 contestants from the first two seasons of UBC's reality show "Academy Fantasia" strut their stuff on the stage of Royal Paragon Hall.

In true AF tradition, the show kicked off with the academy's anthem "Nak La Phan" ("Dream Hunters"), with the dream team making their entrance from the back of the hall and scurrying up to the stage.

Talented graduate, Season 2's runner-up Patcha Anek-Ayuwat joined AF1 R&B specialist Pongsak "Off" Rattanapong for their smash hit "Destiny". Off held on to the microphone for "Yud Mai Dai Kaad Jai" ("Can't Stop or I'll Die") triggering screams from the female fans.

The first season's runner-up Tunyanon "Jeen" Mahapirun and Season 2's Jittinand "My" Hongthong got together for "Ploi Pai Kap Num Taa" ("Let It Go With Tears"), singing to a backdrop of farewell scenes, which drew tears from many in the crowd.

Jeen then teamed up with Patcha for a cover of Jennifer Kim's sentimental ballad "Kidthueng Ther Tuk Tee Thi Yoo Kon Diaw" ("Missing You Whenever I'm Alone"). This song also featured a tight saxophone solo by AF2's Nawapadol "Mew" Mingtum.

The girls then segued into Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey's smash hit "When You Believe". But while the American divas are neck-and-neck in the vocal stakes, Jeen easily overshadowed Patcha with her powerful voice.

Thanakrit "Wan" Panichwit and Panupol "Joe" Eakgapetch, the two heart-throbs from Season 2, then took over the stage for "Talk Show", an over-long interlude that saw them picking on the current season's contestants for "looking good, but singing poorly".

Tatchapol "Kartune" Choomduang, whose knack for singing off-key has stirred wide criticism, took the brunt.

The entertainment resumed with a less-than-stellar performance by AF2 champion Suppanut "Aof" Chalermchai-jalernkit of the look thung number "Hua Jai Wang Wang" ("Looking for Love").

Patcharapol "Vit" Jantieng, the first AF champ, wowed the crowds with his BeatBox show and soon had the teens dancing along to his infectious hip-hop beat.

But the artist who drew the applause had nothing to do with the reality show.

Guest star Jettarin "Jay" Wattasin performed two of his all time hits - "Kaa Jai" ("Can't Get Over It") and "Faak Liang" ("Please Take Care of My Heart") - backed by AF1 and AF2 contestants. That's when, for the first time, the audience bonded, singing along and waving their hands.

As the dream chasers returned to centre stage for a medley of hits that featured none of their songs, spectators started leaving their seats.

Was it a fear of traffic snarls or had they simply had enough? The hall was nearly empty by the time the "Thaang Fun" ("Passage to Dream") was performed.

Despite the hype generated by the promoters, the AF graduates still have a long way to travel - and a lot of hard work to put in - before getting anywhere near superstardom.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation