Opinion: Having watched the video clip of this years ‘Subu’ BGT hopeful Michael Collings singing a version of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” am left wondering two things. The first is a little harsh but is one I will stick to, why does BGT allow singers in the show? And the second is if your unattractive and against type is your singing seen as a tallent?

Sitting with friends who watched the clip on Youtube and announced that it was ‘beautiful’ and ‘how could you knock that performance’ I found myself feeling as though I was alone in my analysis of the show. When did singing become a talent and why does the show accept singers when there is X-Factor?

Michael Collings himself produces nothing special and his version of Fast Car was a good effort but was nothing more. Cities up and down the UK boast hundreds and thousands of ‘singers’ who make the rounds of bars and clubs trying to get their music out there. Some of them are great, some good, and most are just average, which Collings falls into.

BGT – The ‘Drama’

Watching shows like this make me feel sick in that the production goes overboard to try and ‘get’ to judge the contestant. The story we get from him is dull though honest. In the fest few seconds of seeing his chat with the every annoying Ant & Dec we are giving yet more indications that this is going to be a flop…something they are overdoing to build up the so-called tension.

When he walks onto the stage the audience already have their faces set to stun, a few awkward seconds, then he sings, and long and behold he has a good voice. Cue wild applause and shots to Ant & Dec proclaiming what we can already hear in that he is a good singer, and a shot or two of the bemused judges and before the song is over we have the audience sheepishly getting to their feet to add further insult to the whole spectacle.

BGT has been desperate to try and reproduce the global success of Susan Boyle, and even I would not argue with what she has been able to achieve, mental breakdown and all. But she was a rare anomaly with her finding a market that was somewhat unique for her.

For Collings though there is a lot of competition from a great deal more artists in the UK and globally who are, I hate to say, a great deal better than he is, so it makes his inclusion in the show all the more confusing, and their reaction all the more fake.

This brings me to my second point, why is singing considered a ‘talent’ in shows like BGT when pop singing at best is all it is, singing. Boyle and even Paul Potts you could make the argument that perhaps they could be part of a show like this with their style of music ignored from shows like X-Factor, but for general singers, really?

BGT shows that there is little of any actual talent in the UK and they provide the usually set of character and same set of reactions from an incredibly lazy audience…

If anyone had to be convinced of the power of Twitter only has to look at the success of Justin Halpern’s Tweets about his fathers rather rude comments. Staring legendary Hollywood icon William Shatner the show is about to hit the UK this week and is bound to go down a storm.

This is really two shows in one: The first is William Shatner who is, well, William Shatner who plays Dr. Edison Milford “Ed” Goodson III who’s estranged son Henry (Jonathan Sadowski) ends up coming to to live with him after losing his job as a writer. Shatner revels in the material and gives a genuine feel to the show and shines in the first episode. The second is your typical American standard sitcom that really is neither fun and so overwritten it lacks any originality whatsoever.

In the first episode Henry has to come and ask his dad for money as he has lost his job at a magazine and comes to realise that he doesn’t really know his father. Shatner and Sadowski work well together but the overall success of the show lies with the delivery of Shatner’s lines and the total absurdity to some of them. The show itself is not as perfect as it could have been with sub-characters Vince (Henry’s brother) and Bonnie (Vince’s wife) being rather limp and unnecessary.

There is something about Will Sasso’s Vince that lacks anything funny at all. He is neither daring or controversial but yet another rather stupid example of American TV executives who think that a bald overweight guy can marry someone like Bonnie (Nicole Sullivan). This unrealistic marriage makes it hard to watch when they come round, kind of creepy to watch which adds nothing but a solid block of fakeness to their characters.

That said if you ignore the overwritten moments of the show $h*! My Dad Says is funny with Shatner being overbearing and a delight. If this is to get a 2nd and 3rd season the writers should be mindful to get rid of Vince and Bonnie and let Shatner do what he does best…go nuts. They should also look for a network that would be willing to let them play it less safe s it seems like CBS is too scared to let the show really

It appears that Cher Lloyd is winning even fewer fans now that the show is coming to an end with a Facebook group being set up called Cher Lloyd makes me want to vomit.

Even we think that this is a bit too much and have been asking ourselves what is it about Cher that people hate? From some of the comments we have seen on other sites and what the Facebook dedicated page has to offer seems to be pretty clear. And if she wins, what of the outcome? Well I doubt she will be getting number one if she did win.

Though Cher was negated in an online chat last night when the top three where being talked about. One Direction and Matt seemed to be the main focus with Rebecca facing either 2nd or 3rd, though from the chat there was clearly no real favourite.

X Factor

Its incredible to think that the US want this show after comments like this by Tom from Portsmouth:

Cowell just churns out generic singers with no personalities, charisma, originality or creativity. The sooner this shit is axed the better.Stop clogging up the chart with shitty covers to Cowell.

In a move many have been calling a fix Cher (who could have polled the lowest in the bottom two from the public vote) and Mary had a surprise sing off, something that wasn’t mentioned before hand which also saw Danny vote off Mary and support Cher. Something fans have seen as weird.

On another note it seems that the BBC News Website doesn’t want to mention anything of their rival show. They mentioned Strictly but have not mentioned ANYTHING of X Factor, pretty odd.

What are your thoughts, should X Factor be trashed?

This weeks X Factor was touted as something of a change for one contestant the annoying 17 year old Cher Lloyd. Getting rid of all ger fake ghetto image and attitude she decided to sing a simple classic from the 1990s, Shakespeare’s Sister and Stay. After a wobbly start see seemed to have really worked hard but is it enough?

There has been some weird words coming from Cowell over Matt’s performance of “Bleeding Love”, in fact it was reported that ALL the judges had harsh words for the singer yet listening to his version again there was very little that could be faulted. It’s odd that a almost faultless performance was butchered yet Cher’s mistake lauded version (she had a very weak start) was not mentioned once. Cher choice was certainly a breakaway from the stuff she has been doing (all not that great so far) but is part of what X Factor is, image, and she has plenty of it. But I fear she’s much like Taylor Swift, very good to watch but when it comes down to actually performing she’s weak.

Though the highlight of the night was without question Rebecca and her version of the classic Chris Isaac “Wicked Game”, original and beautiful, I couldn’t help but wonder why Cole always has to look at Cowell when one of her acts are on, it’s as if she is awaiting a smile of approve or something.

One Directions misdirected version of “Total Eclipse of the Heart” was an odd and weak choice. It neither suited the guys or gave their vocals any challenge whatsoever. What the hell is Simon thinking and why are these guys not challenging him and doing songs that they are closer to? I think with Belle Amie out Simon has only the boys left and if he keeps giving them bad choices like this then he’s going to left with no contestants left.

Belle Amie faced the very difficult task of the judges not sure who to send home as they where up against Katie. The four girls Esther Campbell, Sophia Wardman, Geneva Lane and Rebecca Creighton, had joined X Factor as solo acts but where grouped together much like One Direction. Since the judges where unable to send anyone home it was down to those who had the lowest votes, and the girls where given the boot.

After watching Katie’s performance again online am a little sad for the girls. Katie wants this, and wants it BAD, which shows. Much like One Direction Cowell has not put in enough time or work with the girls. Their version of “Venus” was not the best at the start their vocals where a little off but this, I suspect, is down to their voices being too strong for the song, bad choice and their exit is down to Simon.

Two things about their performance (sans Rebecca and Matt) they where all cheesy and the show came across like some very expensive version of Stars in their Eyes. Though week in week out they all do covers they can, very rarely and it’s usually Matt, Rebecca and Aiden, they make their performance original. Last night they showed that but the rest did not really reach the bar. However Thriller?? Aiden come on man! The second thing is Wagner, what the hell is going on there??