Not sure if there's a topic already for this. I did promise myself that I wouldn't do it this year, especially as I missed 3 saturdays on hols. However......I can't help it!!!
I do think that this year is really poor, there isn't anyone that stands out so far, in fact more people annoy me than please me. So glad Iccaro got kicked out - would have been ridiculous if he made the finals. The only ones I like are a couple of the over 25s - Daniel and Beverley, really glad they got through. And there is a young guy thats pretty hot - can't remember his name though!
Anyone else?

X factor is great watching and it's a well thought out show-it's all carefully engineered to e draw the viewer in little by little as the good, bad and ugly do their worst.
What i find strange so far is all the sob stories and endless tears, on last Sunday's episode there was more crying than actual singing and it really began to grate on me-is there anyone on the show who isn't there because it was someone's dying wish they should do so. If a 14 year old is crushed and thinks his or her life is over because they fail a talent show -they deserve to be kicked off for being seriously out of touch with reality.
They should try and keep it as a talent show, not a second rate drama.
Having said that it is addictive-like some drug you know you shouldn't enjoy cos it's bad for you.

I agree far too much crying! It annoyed me how in a lot of the auditions we had to hear the sob stories, it's not meant to be about that! Plus I really don't think the 14 year olds are up to it, too much rejection too early! Also makes me laugh when they say - it's all Ive ever wanted. I think hang on a minute your 14!!!!! You have all your life ahead of you!!! Will still be glued every week though (or taping it when I'm banned!)

To be honest i've missed one or two of this series, but can't miss it now.
It's quite sad really- for the last two years me and a group of friends all watch it on a Saturday night before we go out- a few drinks and an hour later everybody's up for going out-everyone can make their comments and have and aguement about who's good and bad.
I expect at some point one of the judges will have a fall out with Simon and will flounce off or something-all part of the drama, if i were a cynic i would say it's all contrived.

George said that. He is nto as soft as me, I felt sorry for them, but that shoudl eb no reason to get through. It's engineered and put together to make sure that anyoen who gtes through and has a sob story has it aired. It was predictable to see who got through as we kind fo knew that the sob stories would. I expect others had sob stores but if they were not picked then they di dnto get their story aired.

I'ts clever the way it's done though-it gets you hooked.
Who's George SB?

I agree, the standard is poor. I will give you my full thought tomorrow when I can think more as I feel a tad tired now, but yes, the show is going down the pan. I don't care for the format now, pickign 3 acts i sharder, and it reduces the number of over 25s and the groups, which is not necessarily a good thing. I think havign under 16s was tupid, I mean they are at school and way to vulnerable to be used in that show, and rejection could screw them up.

O sorry, I just assume folks know! :blush: George is the long suffering Mr SB :D And a most cynical person, even moreso than I am! He makes out he has to suffer programmes liek X-Factor, but he loves them really - although eh thinks the standard is going down each year - he was a huge fan of Brenda on the 2005 show. :D So was I, my fave contestant ever. :bow:

:o OMG SB is STILL banging on about her love for Brenda. :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Its so old had SB. Let it go. :rolleyes:

:lol:

I agree the sob stories are very irritating. If you think about it most of us have a sob story or two from our past. Its just a shame that theirs have to be aired on tv. I want to hear people singing not sobbing. Mind you in these later stages of the auditions, the contestants probably have no choice but to air a sob story or two, and they are hardly going to say 'no, won't do it' for fear of reprisals. God, now I am the ol cynic. :rolleyes:

I was stunned when I heard the age limit was being lowered to 14...far far far to young to be exposed in a show like this. The most mature 16 year old I can recall from previous years was Roxanne, who did handle the live shows extremely well.

Did you guys know that Michael Jackson has signed a deal to be a judge on this show? :shrug: It was announced yesterday on Sky News!

Hey all George did was bang on about her throughout the dreadful auditions this year! :D Every singer he sees he say is nowhere as good as her. He has taste at least. :D

Anyway of past contestants, we hardly hear of Shane and Leona do we unless it's a shameless plug form the X-factor spin factory! :rolleyes: They plugged soem album for the dreadful ray last Valentines and Steve from ages back was never heard of again. Haven't heard much abotu Andy either. They claim they are going to be huge but they are just flashes in the pan - we've never heard fo Ben and JS again yet they were going to be massive apparently. And even if they sell records who cares cos it's all down to huge marketing effort anyway! X-factor is deinfitely slipping down the shitter and I'm nto surprised given the crap that wins it these days, puts off decent contestants I reckon.

I think is always been a load of hype about nothing. Speaking of Ben Mills, I did have tickets to go see him this November in Brighton, but it was cancelled about 4 months ago....no explanation......prob poor ticket sales :(


The only ones who seems to have done any good from this sort of comp is Will Young in the music market, and Darius and Brenda...yes Brenda, who I understand now do a lot of stage work....still they found their niche. :clap: :clap:

Was never a fan of Leona, too screechy for my ear, but quite like here latest single. As for Shayne, don't think I have even heard it latest. :rolleyes:

Hi Dark :D yes I did hear a mumble about that, but was hoping it was not true. :nope:

Got any faves in the show so far ? All a bit dissapointing and samey if you ask me. Some of the contestants even look like some of last years finalists. :o

Still I suppose it makes for good 'saturday night fodder' tv. :shrug:

Just seen this in the Daily Mirror today....

X Factor Rhydian is a pain
By Mark Jefferies 09/10/2007
Related Articles

X Factor finalist Rhydian Roberts has already upset rivals with his arrogance.

The singer, who even Simon Cowell said was "up his own a***", arrived three hours late at the house where he will live with the other contestants.

When told he had ruined a filming schedule he replied: "What's your problem?"

On Sunday when the other hopefuls viewed their performances at Boot Camp, Rhydian, 24, watched only his own singing session then left the room.


A source on the ITV show said of the 16-1 outsider: "He keeps going to the shed and has become a bit of a loner. All the others have bonded well."

Rhydian, branded "revolting" by Sharon Osbourne, was backed by Dannii Minogue, his mentor in the boys aged 14-24 group.

Anyway WA, the quality has gone and my theory is this. :)

X-Factor attracts too many terrible contestants - they focus too heavily on the dreaful auditions to get viewers. Funny as they are, you have more chance of 15 mins of fame if dreadful than good, so more incentive for bad contestants to go on. And in last year's final, the bad contestants were the only entertaining bit :lol: And people see an ordinary person become a pop star, they think why shoudln't they do they same? So we get lots of deluded people who think they are great when they are not.

Good Contestants are put off entering - best people don't always win X-factor or go as far as they should do. Obviously this is partly down to the audience, partly down to the judges picking the wrong material for their acts, or sending the wrong one home. Blander more marketable acts seem to win putting serious good singers that don't fit this bill off.

AND to add to this, certain types of acts do not do as well as they should, e.g black singers/black groups, many of whom are really good soul singers. Robert left too early last year, as did Maria in 2005 and dare I say it Brenda (sorry Mo!:lol:) who never made the final. A good black male group last year left early; mixed race Leona won but very commercial, copycat of Mariah, young and marketable; they were pushing hard for a woman to win so being sceptical was that fixed? Hardly any black male singers/groups this year compared to before, and stupid Danni Minogue sent home that young black kid who was a cert to go through and kept two bland white singers instead. :rolleyes: Simon rejected GHOSTT, an all male black group, best singers there, for rubbish cobbled together form rejects! :o Expect next year to be even worse then! :rolleyes: Groups overall don't normally do too well so I the standard was very poor this year. Lack of sucess for certain types of acts puts a lot of good acts in these categories off entering.

The Judges/Show Set Up -regardless of who enters, they turn down some good stuff and put through some stupid choices. And of course the judges are competing too as mentors, unlike on American Idol and I think this influences who they put through way too much, and also who they send home. I think Am Idol is just down the the public, who are not always right but it is their show and the outocme is fairer in that respect.

Anyway that's my thoughts :)

Wow, Ben's show was cancelled? :o Well maybe they are just churning too many people off these shows becuase they get all the fame and the marketing, and yet are forgotten in no time at all. That;s sad for an act liek Ben, who was nto aiming to be heavily commercial and who has more depth and talent and versatility than people like Shane. ben wrote songs and played instruments, I don't think he was the greatest act I ever saw but he was much better than most fo the crap on there. Ray beating him to the final was an utter disgrace! :angry: He deserves to find his niche too.

It's good when people do find their niche, but I still say Brenda coudl have recorded or done live tours. I'd have bought her songs cos I like soul singers. She reminds me of Gladys Knight who is one of my all time faves. Sorry to go on abotu her, but I am a real soul fan and I don't hear many whom I coudl compare to the likes of Gladys. :bow:

I wonder what happened to Andy? he was good, not great to me, but very good and such a smashing chap. So dignified and a credit to himself and the show. :bow: He was a bit liek Nat King Cole but nto as good - I do like Nat , I listen to his greates hits a lot. :D

Shane was on Tv a while back but what eh was doing was nowt special. He can sing for sure and is a nice lad but the material si just so dull. I also found Leona forced and sreeechy, she was very ovverrated too.

Unfortunately we dont get BBC whatever channel that is on we just get BBC 1 which has all the sitcoms and stuff. :(

Wish we could watch this show!

Oh shame :( There is a website, it has clips and stuff and some of the perfromances go on youtube if that helps. It starts this Saturday Night with the competition side.

I thought it wasnt on this saturday because of the rugby? on last saturdays show, it said "the 12 winners will be getting ready for their first live performance in 2 weeks time" :huh:

good thread WA - I am a shameless addict - and I am a sucker for all those sob stories - I have cried at every single show so far! :blush:

probably shouldnt have read this until after I had watched Sundays show cos I taped it and am now :argh: to discover that they havent put through the only decent ones in there - ffs - some of the choices this year have been shocking...

but I will still be watching every Saturday I am sure :D

Pebs I totally agree, was so shocked to see some of the choices. I think every judge got it wrong at least once. And as for the Ryd guy....get Rid of him is what I say. What and arrogant objectionable person, instantly dislikable me thinks. :blink: Bet SB will say that she's glad he is in the comp...to maybe stir things up a bit. :o

You are right, Rugby England v France this sat evening. :D

He was kicking off in the Sun today, saying they have edited him to make him look like a twerp, and he was even considering quitting the show. I reckon he should, hes a prick no matter how they have edited him. And the UKs version of the carpenters are creepily close. Surely they shouldnt be singing love songs to one another :unsure: On the plus side, i really like that blond barmaid picked by Sharon. Theres just something about her voice that mesmerises me. I just wish they wouldnt cry so much. Pretty much every person cried, whether they got through or not. it makes for cringeworthy TV :angry: In fact im shoving this in CC Room 101

Sharon is sooo going to rip into him though.

My surprise was the boy band in the groups, can't remember their name, 3 guys though. That they went home and the Opportunity Knocks couple went through!!

There is something slightly weird about a brother/sister group singing love ballads...

Can not stand Rhydian!!! I was so annoyed that he got through! If he had Sharon there would have been no chance as she hated him too. The sooner him and his massive ego is kicked off the better.
SB you are right about the people that didn't get through - the all black guy group would have been great. Instead Simon put through the 2 ready made for the show groups (fix or what!) I also wanted the little black boy to go through - would have been miles better than Rhydian. I do like the Welsh guy though that did get through :P I remember when Maria got kicked out - so so wrong, she was fantastic.
As for what they are doing now, isn't Shayne Ward at number 2? Think I heard the Sugababes beat him to number 1. Also saw Journey South on GM the other day and they have a new single coming out. Think Leona's album&single is out soon. And I hate to say it but remember Girls Aloud were from reality TV and they are still doing pretty well. The last I heard Brenda was in Chicago, not sure what she's up to now.

I agree, they mean well but it's verging on incestuous! :unsure:

I think Louis was the only one I agreed with! I was so worried he was going to be a fool and keep Iccaro.

I thought so too, I thought he was going to try for the Chico vote although Iccaro was nowhere near!

I was soo pleased that the Scottish guy and the over 25's single dad went through (sorry, I'm crap at remembering names).

I'll get pissed off with the lady who's dad died and the young girl who nearly died if we get that shoved down our throats every week. I was really surprised at the 70's throwback girl who got through, can't see her endearing herself to the public somehow.

The made up groups that went through, I think the guys may do quite well, but the girls will have a hissy fight at some point (perhaps the one who fancies Simon will do the splits once too often :wacko: )

Should be interesting, but ultimately it's quite a bland selection. There's not really anyone there who is a blow your socks off contender yet.

Yeah I like the single dad - think he's called Daniel. You are right about the woman who's dad died, it's grating. "I can feel him looking at me and I don't want to think about it because I will cry" - enough already!
The girl that almost died is the spit of one from last year who's mum died, there seems to be a trend in the sympathy vote.
I was glad that the army guy didn't get too far as they harped on about him at one point and he wasn't even that good.

ahh think they were called Ghost.

The young boy who didn't get through.....think he was Dominic. Yes another mistake.

So...to summarise, don't think any of us will be voting for The Op Knocks' couple or The Ryd. :P Unless of course they surprise us. :o

okay, caught up now - watched it yesterday with Mr Pebs and the Peblettes and we all agreed with Louis and that was it! Lots went through that I wanted but some odd choices indeed... Simon being the worst contender of them all! What was he thinking?

Dominic was one of our faves from start - Mr Pebs particularly miffed he went out - especially as the eejit stayed in.... I didnt mind Sharons choices - some of the girls were rather bland so she didnt have much to go on but Dannii and Simon - whilst I like a couple of their acts - they dont deserve to have a winner based on their rubbish decisions :angry:

He is the ONLY one I would have definitely picked if it was me. I'm not saying that to stir, he can deliver, he can sing and he is confident. The other lads picked were very average. Esp the other Welsh one. I am not a fan of the poppy opera style especially, but he was the only bloke picked that deserved to go through. Strong performer. And he is interesting and personally I do not dislike him. This year is sooo lackign characters so I'm glad he got through. There are no other characters that I can see, nto that I recall. And he has great muscles :D

The show is heavily edited. I personally don't blame him and he seems fine to me, very confident, and the show needs that. They have a bunch of amateurs. I'd rathe rhave a serious confident performer than one fo those weeping useless sympathy seekers.

On the brother -sister duo, they are very Butlins but you cannot argue that despite not being my cuppa tea, they are very good singers and can harmonise. The other groups are f*ckign shite, tragic, so they deserve it from what was left. I thought Ghostt deserved it and those geeks too. The only entertainer in that terrible girl band No-Hope lot was removed as she had a criminal conviction. So what? I had one once. That's the life and soul of their group gone then. :rolleyes:

:D The Carpenters?I love the Carpenters.

The travesty was those stupid bands fo rejects goping through. And if onyl that regae group had stayed together, I was soooo looking forward to them singing. The rasta guy left :(

Sorry but form the guys I'd have gone for Rhyddian. See above. :) I'd have liked the young black lad to go through, wasn;t he smashing? And possibly the young white boy too. I wasn't keen on the other Welsh guy, nothing ditinctive and almost sent me to sleep like Westlife. :D The other one with the funyn hiar, maybe but hardly set alight by him.

Agreed on the army guy! How annoyign when they played hero. :rolleyes:

I knew that woman woudl get through cos Louis liked her. She is OK, but not great. His best act was Beverley, good but not brillaint. Anyways I cannto stand Louis, he is useless and he wil no doubt give his acts the wrogn songs beign the crap mentor he is. We hate him in our house, Geroge hurls abuse at him non stop - he says he's a c*ck, dickhead, arse whatever! :clap:

love it :lmaao: :lmaao:

I can;t help it, I always coem up with derogatory names :D

Nice to see ya about btw :hug: Sorry I shoudla sent you a PM and forgot. :blush: