SHANGHAI, March 21 -- The male version of "Super Girl" has been approved by China's TV industry watchdog, an official of the star-making reality show's operator has said.

The show, named "Happy Boy" instead of "Super Boy," is expected to debut in Changsha from next month and may last for five months, the official told Shanghai Morning Post yesterday.

The contest will be held in five cities to select singing talents, including Changsha and Chengdu, but the other three cities haven't been decided, the report said.

Hunan Satellite TV has sent invitations to other media to attend a news conference set for tomorrow.

The hit show "Super Girl," by central China's Hunan TV, is regarded as the Chinese version of American Idol. It drew an audience of 400 million for the finale in 2005.

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television has stipulated that televised talent shows can't run for more than six weeks at a time.

Last year there were about 10 influential star-making TV shows across the country, among which those from CCTV, Hunan Satellite TV and SMG's Dragon TV, were the most popular ones. "Super Girl" ran for almost five months and "My Hero" lasted four months.

While the shows have proven popular, they have also earned many complaints from people who say they are vulgar and uncultured.