Saturday, September 24, 2011

The X Factor Appears To Be A Big Copy Cat Fail So Far


With the help of my DVR's fast forward button I have made it through the first 4 episodes of The X Factor.

I somehow thought Simon Cowell was bringing an original new singing competition Reality TV Show to American TV. I did not realize The X Factor was a British import. Like America's Got Talent, which came from Britain's Got Talent.

Speaking of America's Got Talent, so far, The X Factor seems to be the same show as America's Got Talent. Same format for the auditions anyway.

Maybe The X Factor starts being unique when it gets to the "Boot Camp" part, and then the live shows.

The first hour of The X Factor seemed to have 4 Susan Boyle moments. By the 4th Susan Boyle moment the moments started seeming manufactured to me.

I remember no names, but in the first hour, which were the Los Angeles auditions, we started off with a cute little girl who had the crowd on their feet. Then an abused 42 year old lady with two kids who had the crowd on their feet. Then an Usher like kid who had the crowd on their feet. And finally a guy 70 days out of re-hab who had the crowd in their feet.

By the 2nd hour, in Seattle, 3rd hour in Miami and 4th hour in Dallas, I'd gotten used to the formula.

The initial ratings for The X Factor have not been good.

I think a lot of viewers were likely thinking there was nothing new, different, original or relevant about this latest singing competition show.

Except for it having the biggest prize in Reality Show history, at $5 million.

I must mention the Seattle auditions. Opening with a guy exposing himself, with Paula Abdul recoiling in horror and running from Key Arena was just bizarre. Was The X Factor so unsure of itself that it had to use such a tacky gimmick?

Methinks Simon Cowell may have a big fail on his hands. Me also thinks there are a lot of TV viewers who may derive some reality pleasure from Simon Cowell suffering a big fail, due to The X Factor being un-original and irrelevant.

That is what is known as irony.

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