As 18-year-old has finished his attendance in the first series of „Czech Idol 2004“ – Czech equivalent of American Idol. He left it as 3rd in the final round of this show.

Some reputable people of Czech showbusinnes expressed their opinion on his oppressive discard from the position of the unmistakable leader of the competition:  

Ondrej Hejma – foremanship, musician and publicist:

It was clear to me – from the first rounds I considered Samer Issa as an outstanding to a dizzing talent, and Martina Balogová as well. And I think that TV viewers felt it the same way.

Ondrej Soukup – juryman, musician and composer:

The people went mad!...and during this show one year later: Unfortunately this year didn´t appear nobody similar to Samer Issa. At the time when he came in and sang a few notes, we immediately knew, that he is the right SuperStar.

Gábina Osvaldová – jurywoman, lyricist:

A finale without Sámer loses its sense to me…

Ondřej Brzobohatý – moderator, musician and composer:

I´m hitted by him. I liked him very much and we´ve understood very well each other. At everything, also at our opinion on music. I certainly want to compose songs for him. He with his musicstyle is convenient most of all competitors for me. I like what he makes, how he sings and what he sings.

Eva Urbanova – famous Czech opera singer:

I think that Samer Issa is the absolutely best. Maybe I will record a new duet with him. My impresario said that Samer would win the whole competition and be the absolute number one, by reason that he is singing both by his heart as by his mind.  

Honza Musil – Scream agency; moderator, the first Samer´s manager after Superstar competition:

Samer is such a boy who wants to make R´n´B music. In our country there´s nobody like him – he has a chance to open (start) a new stream at our music scene and to put new life here. Now it is about how many people will be apostrophized by him. I stick up for him!!! He will manage it!!! He is a joyful boy, highly sincere, he is sure of himself. I wished him to win from the very beginning of the show. From the start of it he acted on me like he was living with that. He didn´t speak about anything else than music, he wanted to sing for the people. When he fell out, it was for the first time when I cried because of a singer. It was like a family funeral – I couldn´t forgive it to our nation.

Jim magazine:

...the jury itself thought that Samer was going to be a favorite of this show. That is why it tended to constrain him – especially in the last rounds of the competition. It should have intensified the thrill of the show and prevented Samer from thinking „too much“ about himself as well…Goodness knows, if it by its approach couldn´t unwillingly affect viewers who were sending text messages in the next rounds. It was said among finalists that Samer was the greatest showman and talent in the show. So all of them were sure that he has so many fans that he doesn´t need other votes.

Story magazine:

SAMER´S AT EASE. The third best was Samer Issa and rightfully in a way. He has drive, is full of beans and is able to carry audience. Although he hasn´t got range as Pavarotti, with his „happy face“ he has no problem catching all sorts of people. His wellbeing seems not to be only image but his lifestyle. He validated a rule that favourite never wins this show. Maybe some people were discouraged by his boyish lip-licking, chewing gum that he had also during the last performance or not too successful cameo with the Decin´s city mayor in a swimmingpool. However – Samer left the show as a king – with the smile at his face.

…and later they tacked on:

Ondřej Hejma – foreman of the jury, musician and publicist:

Samer is trying to bring here the black music and he has very good prerequisites for that. He seemed as the most complex star to me from the beginning– as he looked, as he behaved, as he sang. But he set off on a very tough way.

He sings English R´n´B as he has always promised. I appreciate him for not swerving, for going his way, although it is very difficult. Isn´t it dead way? It doesn´t matter. It is the journey of his heart and nobody can know in advance what will happen. The worst is betray himself.  

Vladimír Vlasák – musicpublicist (after Superconcert, Sazka Arena in Prague):

Sámer Issa is the most charismatic idol. It is enough when he appears at the stage in dandy hat and white shirt and a few thousands fans faint at once. Shout which came with him was clamour of pure adoration and was beyond the beyonds. But Samer didn´t lose his head and together with the wisdom, he retained the feeling of soul as well (especially during singing of Against All Odds by Phil Collins). If he doesn´t drop to a shallow repertoire, one day he could be a star, who transcendents beyond the bounds of Czech Republic. In case that MTV television has chosen him for one of its faces, it was a logical choice.

Matěj Ruppert – the lead singer of music group Mounkey Business:

The first roud of the competition I have been watching till the last third of it. Now I am going to watch it as late as the final evenings come I guess – the vanguard doesn´t amuse me. I didn´t send any votes at the first time, but all the time I was thinking that Sámer Issa was going to win, because of he matched the most of requirements. Of course they are not the complete singer yet, but not even I am.