Why Simon Cowell didn't boot Jedward out of The X Factor
He had the power to send them packing — but when it came to the crunch, he couldn't let them go.
Simon Cowell may have described John and Edward as “vile little creatures”, but those “vile little creatures” are perhaps the biggest X Factor story ever, taking up more column inches than the back-biting, the fall-outs, the contestants and the costumes.
When the Terrible Twins found themselves in the sing-off last night, facing the talented Lucie Jones, they must have thought their dream was over. Louis Walsh, not surprisingly, chose to save the act he had unleashed some weeks ago on an unsuspecting public, while Dannii Minogue opted to send them home. Cheryl Cole sided with Dannii and backed Lucie to stay, leaving the final decision in Cowell's hands.
The shock was palpable when Cowell announced a deadlock situation, meaning the act going home would be decided by the public vote. Poor Lucie knew then that her number was up.
The decision to go to deadlock will undoubtedly be the talk of the tabloids today. Just why did Cowell not stand by his convictions and boot the big-haired boyos off the show? Week on week he slated them for their lack of talent.
But this is why Cowell is a multi-millionaire. He knows an opportunity when he sees one and John and Edward, let's face it, are the headline-grabbers, the act that is dividing the nation, the ratings booster.
Given Cowell's criticisms of the Gruesome Twosome every week, it seems highly hypocritcal that he squandered the chance to get rid.
And surely this says something about the show and what it has become. It's not about talent anymore.
It all started going wrong with this current format, I believe. Holding auditions in front of a live audience was a bit too much like the tacky variety show Britain's Got Talent for my liking.
Somewhere along the way, The X Factor lost its soul. Cowell has sold out in his bid to be the richest, most powerful man in the entertainment industry. And last night's verdict proves that.
Let's hope another potential — and deserving — winner isn't sacrificed on next week's show to allow the Jedward juggernaut to keep rolling. Or Cowell will have some explaining to do.
Source: The Belfast Telegraph
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Comments
Alli Diet Pills
A show that gives unsigned bands and performers a stage to perform on and leaves it to people go find their websites and discover more about them and their music without shepherding them into recording deals might be about talent. One that earns revenue by telephone voting and deals post show deals with record companies that exploit the publicity gained by the show for the benefit of the shows organisers surely is not.
It has always been about finding and marketing a commodity (and very successfully so). Simon Cowell's response in throwing the decision out to the public vote was entirely predictable. He is a very astute businessman. He knows the difference between talent and commercial success, and as a businessman sides with commercial success and his own potential profits. Keeping an element of controversy and maintaining people who evoke strong negative reactions from viewers is a staple of all these sorts of competitions nowadays. Its part of a very well established and successful formula.
Personally, I think Simon has a good eye for talent, but he also has an even better one for a profit.
m.
Even a six year old child will have realised last night that the show is clearly not about talent, despite Simon's previous protestations to the contrary. The amount of criticism directed towards Cowell for his decision to place ratings and headlines above talent will ultimately cripple the show.
The show is peaking in popularity, boasting a string of Number 1s from past contestants, judges and guest stars. Alexandra, Cheryl and JLS have topped the charts. Predictably Liona will too by the end of this week even with what is a rather dull song. Guest stars including Whitney, Robbie, Michael Buble, Bon Jovi and the Black Eyed Peas litter the UK charts. There is still the X-Factor Christmas Charity Song and the Winners song still to come. But this success demonstrates how undiscerning this money making machine is.
It is obvious that the X-Factor is simply a staging post to launch records and for Simon Cowell to make money, regardless of talent. It is clear this is at the viewing and voting public's expense. But viewers, now disheartened seeing someone as likeable as Lucie being ejected from the show, will start to switch off in their thousands.
Hopefully so, and perhaps our music industry might scrape some dignity off the floor. New ways to give real talent an wider audience will emerge, because that is what a disillusioned public will now demand.
Check it out
http://www.youtube.com/user/ThisIsJohnn
So, lets vote against the real talent ( they will make it anyway) and ensure that the " vile little creatures" as Simon described them win the final. That would ensure that Simons manipulation fails him. The twins would profit in the short term but the real talent will be spotted and profit long term and Simon's grin would be wiped off his greedy face. Hopefully
tyopa