X Factor (UK)

[Tomato]

Probably going to get flogged for this but for some reason I find British shows 10x better than American shows (except for the Office I couldn't understand the accents). This has been proven with Kitchen Nightmares and Top Gear. Also with X Factor, got hooked when Leona was on. Love Rhydian and Same Difference. I thought Ruth Loreno should've gotten way further. Especially after that killer Purple Rain performance.

So has any Brits been following the X factor? Any thoughts? Any stand out performances?

I haven't watched all the acts but to be honest a lot of them look boring. Although I did enjoy Simon calling Cheryl and Dani hypocrites for chastising a girl group for being half naked. It was great to see them trying to justify it. "But we did after we were established!!!"

 

[KobayashiMaru13]

I've seen a few clips of Ethan Boroian. Not only was he hot he was talented too. he should have made it to the finals.

and for all of you who didnt vote for him...

 

[Tomato]

Who was he??

Did the judges not pick him? B/c they just started this season.

 

[KobayashiMaru13]

Who was he??

Did the judges not pick him? B/c they just started this season.

what? ethan boroian. he was on x factor. i heard from perez hilton who was stalking his every x factor move that he didnt make it to the finals. this was maybe three weeks ago. or less. i dont remember. when ethan auditioned, he sang USE SOMEBODY by KINGS OF LEON.

 

[Tomato]

Ohh yeah I watched that audition. He was good. But really just being good isn't enough. You need to be amazing to have a shot of being famous after the show instead of some cheap one hit wonder.

 

[cultcross]

Sadly, yes, I've been following it. I got hooked early on and now can't let go

Can't believe the Twat Twins survived week 1 elimination, they'd better go soon.

 

[Angel4576]

Sadly I'm subjected to it on a weekly basis thanks to the other half.

Afro Bloke's the best on the show by an absolute mile.

 

[Holdfast]

Can't believe the Twat Twins survived week 1 elimination, they'd better go soon.

I have a nasty feeling they'll be hard to shift, like a persistent fungal infection.

This year's crop seem pretty decent, though none so far match Leona, who's been the only real major talent to emerge so far from X-Factor over the years. Still, early days.

I did enjoy the cattiness between the judges which was a bit more pointed and with a substantial point behind it than the usual tongue-in-cheek tirades.

 

[Tomato]

Still catching bits of clips here and there. That new Alexander Burke single is pretty bad. Can't believe they couldn't have made a better song for her.

Good god the twins were brutal. They can barely even rap let alone sing. WTF. It is all the stupid little girls voting for him. Holy hell why weren't they in the bottom two. And the judges, "not all the pop stars are great singers." Yes that is true but they can entertain and they have catchy songs. Which these two DON'T!

The afro bloke was way overpowered during the first half of his performance. He pulled it off near the end. I was disappointed that his background singers were better than him.

Still waiting for these guys to grow on me but it seems like the seasons have gotten worse since Leona.

 

[cultcross]

I actually think there are a few who could do well out of this year's group. Essex girl, Lets-talk-about-my-Welsh-village girl, Miss Frank, Jamie Afro. (I know very few of their actual names, I make up nicknames) Granted, there's no Leona yet, but I don't see this group of acts as being hopeless. I don't see Cheryl having a chance in the competition; she picked the exact opposite 3 to who I'd have chosen at the Judges Homes stage, and in particular that 16 year old kid who can't sing was a choice. There were better acts than him who got booted in round 2.

As for Twerp Twins, I think they're high profile enough to garner some votes; being a well-known act, for good or bad, cna save you in early rounds - compare to, say, Rihanna-clone, who isn't very well known, sang first so probably a lot of people missed her song completely, and surprise! she's in the bottom two. The twins will drop out around week 3 or 4, at my guess, after the real unknowns disappear. As soon as they're in the bottom two, they'll be gone, only Louis will vote to save them.

Still, Kandy Rain deserved to go, and I'm fairly glad they did. Miss Frank were the only group who actually used the fact they were a group to their advantage, singing different parts and utilising individual talents. Kandy Rain just all sang all of a repetitive and banal song in a straight line, and the Twins of Terror actually did a song that needs a second vocal in parts and left it out rather than use the fact there were two of them

 

[Jim Steele]

I watch it during the auditions, purely for the moments when talentless, pompous wankers have their dreams of stardom rightly crushed before them with panache and brutal honesty. At that stage, the show could only be improved if those particular people were dragged out to a car park and shot in the face at point blank range, as a crowd of onlookers cheer in a sordid frenzy of variety show bloodlust. Sigh. It'll never happen though, this country's stringent health and safety regulations care little for art.

Also, xtra factor is always worth a goggle for the lovely Holly Willoughby. Mmmmmmmmm

Sadly though, as soon as the shite is filtered out (well, aside from the usual irritating "how did they get through again?" warbling tone deaf moron act - a position taken up this year by those poxy little twin fuckers) and the boot camp/live shows start? I remember how little I give a shit and lose interest completely.

But for those few weeks where it's just auditions and ego-pampered fools crying into their bus tickets? TV Gold.

 

[Captain Shaw]

I watched the auditions on the first series then i lost interest.
After series 1 all the bad acts knew they were bad to begin with you could tell they only went for a bet or in the hope of landing a pizza hunt ad so even the auditions became boring.

 

[Holdfast]

I watch it during the auditions, purely for the moments when talentless, pompous wankers have their dreams of stardom rightly crushed before them with panache and brutal honesty.

You see, this used to be the highlight, but I thought they utterly ruined the schadenfreude this year with the live audience during the auditions. Cuts to gurning audience members during auditionees' performances spoiled the whole effect for me.

I definitely agree about Holly Willoughby though.

 

[Jim Steele]

See I thought it would ruin it for me too but I got used to it. Still isn't anywhere near as good as the closed off auditions though. They seem to be shifting everything towards a sterile Britain's Got Talent style of doing things, and that is the single worst televised talent show on planet earth imho. Yes, I'm even including Strictly Cum Guzzling. Boke.

 

[Holdfast]

See I thought it would ruin it for me too but I got used to it.

Lucky. I never did. I also miss Kate Thornton's presenting. Well, actually I miss her dresses, but you know what I mean.

Still, X-Factor (or at least Xtra Factor) still has its highlights:

 

[cultcross]

See I thought it would ruin it for me too but I got used to it. Still isn't anywhere near as good as the closed off auditions though. They seem to be shifting everything towards a sterile Britain's Got Talent style of doing things, and that is the single worst televised talent show on planet earth imho. Yes, I'm even including Strictly Cum Guzzling. Boke.

Speaking of which, Strictly is fucking dire this year. I mean more than before. I never really enjoyed the show, but it had some class. Now it seems to have somehow thrown out the class, I can't quite put my finger on how in the 3 minute bits of it I see during X Factor's commercial breaks, but there's something missing.

 

[Holdfast]

See I thought it would ruin it for me too but I got used to it. Still isn't anywhere near as good as the closed off auditions though. They seem to be shifting everything towards a sterile Britain's Got Talent style of doing things, and that is the single worst televised talent show on planet earth imho. Yes, I'm even including Strictly Cum Guzzling. Boke.

Speaking of which, Strictly is fucking dire this year. I mean more than before. I never really enjoyed the show, but it had some class. Now it seems to have somehow thrown out the class, I can't quite put my finger on how in the 3 minute bits of it I see during X Factor's commercial breaks, but there's something missing.

Arlene whatshername.

 

[stoneroses]

My girlfriend is to blame for me watching this. I watch it purely for the enjoyment of seeing how the lowest end of the music industry works ie with only money in mind. I always record the show on my digital box so I can fast forward through most of the songs and watch only the damning remarks of the judges.
It is clear to me that the show is about churning out more plastic pop stars that can sing but have little to say like new computers waiting for programing.
My greatest interest is not who wins but rather who loses. Since I like music I would never by any of the dross resulting form this and other shows of this kind.
Having said all that I like the show.

 

[Jim Steele]

^

Yeah I don't think your insight is particularly unique in the realm of X Factor viewership. Everyone knows it's prolefeed, I don't think anyone is under any delusions as to its artistic credibility.

 

[Tomato]

Any performances I should watch first for this week?

Edit: Just watched Whitney's perfomance... Incredible. Cheryls was brutal. the twins was like a train wrecks and since I love watching accidents I guess it was entertaining.