The X Factor UK 2015
- Thread starter MrJames
- Start date
Also, Nile Rogers would be great. An obvious legend with a strong connection to British pop (through Bowie mainly) and far more amiable and eloquent and less interested in being deemed cool than Ronson or Pharrell. Probably not starry enough to prop-up a three piece panel but could slip into Nick's vacant position.
1. Three judges: Cheryl, Robbie Williams and Simon. Only three categories, males, females and groups. An impartial guest judge every week at the Saturday shows, and then at the Sunday show it's back to the three judges again.
2. Quick fire, sing off voting. The judges critique but don't vote to see who goes home. There is a sing off, lines reopen for a few minutes and after this time the act with the lowest score in the sing off vote goes home. Not a combined vote, because otherwise it could be nearly impossible for some acts to get through which would mean people wasting money voting for someone who is guaranteed to go home.
3. Themes are kept to an absolute minimum, and even when needed they're very open. For example, movie week means that you could have someone singing a big ballad or a dance number, whatever suits the act. Having a Elton John week does not suit everybody.
4. 4 weeks of theatre auditions and each judge can send one act straight to judges houses, one week of bootcamp, one week of judges houses (which is back to being fully prerecorded). No six chair challenge, because it doesn't make good television.
5. Use of social media more. Record the rehearsals, choreography sessions etc. and put them online. Let people see what goes on behind the scenes and watch the contestants journey's every week.
2. Quick fire, sing off voting. The judges critique but don't vote to see who goes home. There is a sing off, lines reopen for a few minutes and after this time the act with the lowest score in the sing off vote goes home. Not a combined vote, because otherwise it could be nearly impossible for some acts to get through which would mean people wasting money voting for someone who is guaranteed to go home.
3. Themes are kept to an absolute minimum, and even when needed they're very open. For example, movie week means that you could have someone singing a big ballad or a dance number, whatever suits the act. Having a Elton John week does not suit everybody.
4. 4 weeks of theatre auditions and each judge can send one act straight to judges houses, one week of bootcamp, one week of judges houses (which is back to being fully prerecorded). No six chair challenge, because it doesn't make good television.
5. Use of social media more. Record the rehearsals, choreography sessions etc. and put them online. Let people see what goes on behind the scenes and watch the contestants journey's every week.
I like that. It allows the guest 'legend' to make objective technical critique (let's face it, Cheryl and Robbie aren't going to give much vocal critique) but means that when it comes Sunday - it's back to being the judges who know that contestants journey and 'get' what the "the X factor" means.
You've lost me there. I've said this before, but there are only two distinctive format points that makes The X Factor significantly different to Idol; one is the category mentoring, the other is the judges save. Take away the judges save and the vanilla tastes of the audience run un-checked. It's also a bit pointless to open the public vote again for the sing off, when the likelihood is that the result would be exactly the same if they just sent home the act with the fewest votes. One of the benefits of taking it down to 3 permanent judges would be the end of Deadlock and reliance of audience vote to settle it, that's a good thing.
Non artist-specific themes are fine. In fact, I think they went *too far* with removing the themes in the last series and they ended up being so vague they were pointless and not really in touch with what the nation was doing or thinking about on that weekend. Themes like Halloween and Christmas can bring a sense of fun and dress up in a show that compared to Strictly is seeming increasingly po-faced. But any act should be able to interpret a Halloween theme appropriate; from ballads to up tempos to rock songs. It doesn't have to be Monster Mash x 12.
I agree with the theatre auditions in terms of scale, but "theatre" might not be quite the right tone. I think places like the Roundhouse but with seated audience would be perfect. The Six Chair challenge does make good television, that's why it's so controversial. It's scrupulously fair, and yet riles people up something rotten. I agree it's too long, 1 weekend of it would be fine, but I think don't think that 1 audition and 1 weekend of standing on stage in a line at bootcamp would give us enough airtime with the acts prior to judges houses for us to care anymore. There needs to be middle-stage and we've moved on from judges moving around Polaroids on a desk.
I agree. The VTs in first two weeks of the live shows last year were way too rehearsal-room heavy and while uber fans like us might like that stuff, I don't think the general public do. Again, look at the Strictly VTs - they are fun and full of human interest. If backstage and rehearsal stuff was an exclusive treat online for the mega fans, the live show VTs could concentrate on trying to get us to form an emotional connection (and that doesn't have to be sob stories) with these contestants again.
Do you know what I miss and I hadn't even realised until someone on here pointed it out? The judges are no longer included in the pre-performance VT's, they used to comment and basically criticise the decisions the mentor had made for their act this week and it would normally end something like Simon saying 'this is going to be a trainwreck'........Lloyd Daniels. (sorry Lloyd but you were who I thought of when I wrote trainwreck)
Yep. I can only imagine it's laziness on the judges part and them not being available for an interview each week in which they talk about all the acts. They only discuss their own and 'in situe' which basically means half a second pep talk during rehearsal. Or even worse, a chat on Skype.
He's worse than I remember. Every note is a struggle...
Reggie and Bollie have signed to Syco! Second consecutive year of the final meaning nothing.
Not really. Louisa got her contract the night of the final. Reggie N Bollie will have got their contract after further discussions at the label and Syco deciding how much they have to spend for the rest of the year. It wouldn't be fair to bar second place from getting a deal (to make the final 'mean something') when sometimes 6th placed can get one (i.e. Ella)
The winners aren't always the most commercial proposition, but winning isn't always 'bad'. The best case scenario is when you're are the most label friendly act AND the winner (Shayne, Leona, Alexandra).
The winners aren't always the most commercial proposition, but winning isn't always 'bad'. The best case scenario is when you're are the most label friendly act AND the winner (Shayne, Leona, Alexandra).
Oh, and final 3 should all have different winner's songs. I've yet to understand any credible justification for them not. More than anything, the audience does NOT wanna hear the same song performed three times across the course of one episode.
Laughing at Cheryl's deadpan delivery of "Louis would put ANYONE in a boy band, given the chance"!
'Especially on the Facebook' is another highlight.
Simon responded to Dermot's recent quips about The X Factor (and Dermot's ever-increasing insinuations that he was actually fired, which seemed obvious at the time really).
http://metro.co.uk/2016/01/24/simon...utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=Facebook
For someone who made a name from "telling it like it is" and "only being honest", Cowell is awfully petulant and thin-skinned whenever anyone has anything to say about him or one of his low-rent shows.
http://metro.co.uk/2016/01/24/simon...utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=Facebook
For someone who made a name from "telling it like it is" and "only being honest", Cowell is awfully petulant and thin-skinned whenever anyone has anything to say about him or one of his low-rent shows.
Last edited:
Dermot just comes across as bitter nowadays. Whether it was his decision to leave or he got the sack, it was definitely time for him to go. He overstayed his welcome on the show. I don't like his presenting style. I saw him on the NTAs the other day and he looked like he wanted to be somewhere else and kept making snarky comments. For all of Caroline and Olly's faults, at least they're enthusiastic and try to engage the audience.
I'm not sure about doing away with theme weeks. I think they're useful in weeding out acts who essentially only do one thing and are limnited artists. Some of the worst finalists of recent years got quite far in the competition through doing the same act each week and it was grating. I was glad to see them struggle with something like disco, for example. Mary Byrne epitomised this.
Which is the fundamental problem with the whole show. How can we invest when everyone knows it makes no difference if you come first to 6th. There is absolutely no pretence that doing well in the show will lead to anything but a crap rushed album I'm Feb. The who thing is completely cynical, inconsistent and degrading, there is no fun or joy left. They will manipulate anything to get the desired result for what is deemed good of the show, there's not even a pretence that they are looking for a viable pop star in the long term.
Who wants to watch a show that isn't particularly enjoyable but is so transparent
Chill out and get your MMR vaccine.
Well it does actually matter where you end up. The top 3 usually get signed but anyone outside that is not as certain.
Half of the Pop Idol top 10 got recording contracts, so let's not act this is a new phenomenon. It's also impossible to regulate against. So what, it should be a show rule that unless you come first you can't get a contract with Sony? No one would apply.
It's way more cynical to place unnecessary punishment on those who don't win as opposed to simply rewarding the winner with a guaranteed contract and leaving everything else up for grabs.
It's way more cynical to place unnecessary punishment on those who don't win as opposed to simply rewarding the winner with a guaranteed contract and leaving everything else up for grabs.
Last edited:
Of course anyone COULD be signed but Syco themselves often invest more time and energy in losing acts than the winner so what's the point in any of us caring who wins or picking up the phone to vote ?
It's always been a exercise in making a TV show not discovering a new music act but they don't even pretend any different these days.