Vote for Stavros Flatley!
Saturday, May 30, 2009 I have watched most of Britain's Got Talent this week and with the exception of one or two acts the "talent" has been very thin on the ground. Of the judges, only Simon Cowell has had the bottle to tell contestants the truth - most of them are rubbish. And even he has had to choose his words carefully at times, although the meaning has been fairly clear.
Last night we saw a dreadful example of parent power as 10-year-old Hollie Steel's mother pleaded with the judges to allow her daughter to sing again after she burst into tears during her performance.
Presenters Ant and Dec were obviously mortified by the whole experience, although it was compelling television. Dec, in particular, was clearly thinking, "I'm a celebrity, get me out of here!". Again, it was Cowell who got a grip on proceedings but I think he was wrong to offer Hollie a second go, because it appeared to be in direct response to her bursting into tears again when Ant told her there wasn't time. And did I detect a small stamp of her foot as well as she buried her face in Dec's stomach? (Violet Elizabeth Bott, anyone?)
I thought she did well to recover from her first attack of stage fright, but when she froze for a second time that should have been it. The judges should have said hard luck and well done and judged her on that performance. No matter how old you are you shouldn't be rewarded for bursting into tears and stamping your foot.
I'm no fan of Susan Boyle either so the winner HAS to be the father and son combo otherwise known as Stavros Flatley. Click HERE to see their original audition. What a marvellous moment that would be should they win.
Update: I have just read a quote by Hollie Steel's mother in the Weekend section of the Daily Mail. It must date back several days at least (ie before last night's performance) and I think it's quite revealing:
"She's a sensitive little child. She has to have a bit of encouragement before she thinks she's good ... And since she's been on the show, things have got better at school. She'd been having problems with a couple of girls, but when the newspapers discovered she'd been bullied, the kids back-pedalled. They don't dare bully her now that she's been in the newspapers. She's having brilliant fun and we want her to get some sort of record deal and release an album. She's never get a break like this again."
Never get a break like this again? No wonder the child feels under pressure.
Simon Clark
Sorry, Stavros, you were rubbish tonight. The best act was Diversity.
Reader Comments (6)
For those of us old enough to remember the Sixties, this appalling show used to be called 'Opportunity Knocks' - with Hughie Green:
"Remember, Folks, nine-year-old Jessica is a blind, crippled orphan - but I don't want THAT to influence you in ANY way !"
99% of the acts were TOTAL CRAP then, too !
But at least we had proper MPs and decent pop music.
Still got the Moronic Audience, though.........
PS:
Hasn't this site caught up with British Summer Time yet ?
Bread and circuses, Simon. Bread and circuses.
Britain's Got Telly:
Didn't watch it. One of the many advantages of only watching telly over the internet is that hysterical wallpaper such as this is automatically filtered out via the can't-be-arsed button.
But, oh so predictable. Build up Boyle [Oh look, a munter ha ha. But ooh gosh! She can actually sing! Amazing! Who'da thunk it!], only for her to be pipped in the final-round by a junior-showtime dance act whose very name makes me wanna scream. Result: double the hypelines, double the sales.
Dancing: I've never seen the point. Moderately entertaining if done by a dog but otherwise it just looks spazzy.
Each to their own tho' :-)
Andy Warhol once said, with exemplary foresight, that we would all be famous for fifteen minutes. Back then it sounded a bit quirky but nowadays it appears to be the new religion. If I hear any one else say it is a dream that will change my life I think I shall scream. BGT is a showcase for mediocrity, cashing in on this twenty first century desperation. The wannabees should take a hard look at themselves. Being famous ain't all it is cracked up to be. Ask Susan Boyle or, even better, Gordon Brown.
Could Gordon Brown be the New Les Dawson ?