I predict JLS will win (The X Factor)

Member Name: whiteroseuk

Product:	The X Factor
Date:	09/12/08 (154 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: a great evening's entertainment

Disadvantages: not sure the result isn't fixed

Unless you've either never watched TV in the winter for the past few years, or have been off the planet completely, you will have been aware of the X factor phenomenon.

X factor is a TV programme screened on Saturday nights on the run up to Christmas, where a set of judges whittle down tens of thousands of hopeful singers to a set of 12 finalists, who are voted for by the public until there is one winner. At least that is the premise.

This year we saw record numbers of hopefuls, in venues all over the country, queueing for hours in all weathers in the hope of being the X factor winner. For most this is a vain hope, but for the one winner the prize is worth having, as it includes a million pound recording contract, and possibly a career in the music industry for the rest of their lives.

The first programmes show the interviews before the four judges which this year (the fifth year of X Factor) were:

Louis Walsh an Irish music mogul, who has such bands as Westlife and Boyzone

Cheryl Cole, member of the girl band Girl's Aloud, who were the product of a similar type of programme, 'Pop Stars: the Rivals'

Dannii Minogue, sister to Kylie, and singer songwriter, tv presenter and fashion designer

and of course Simon Cowell, television personality and producer

The various acts perform their audition songs and the judges can put them through to the next round, or dismiss them, and according to a work colleague who made a bid for fame by going, only a very few auditions are actually seen by the judges themselves. The vast majority are screened out beforehand, so the impression that is given that the 4 celebrity judges see every act is incorrect. Only the very good and the very bad are seen by Simon and co, to make the programme entertaining.

I realise the atrocious singers are as entertaining as the ones with incredible voices, but sometimes it beggars belief that people who obviously have none of the required 'X factor' whatsoever, cavort and croak, in the mistaken belief that they can be the next Leona Lewis (the winner from 2006). Simon tells it as it is, the girls are usually kinder, and Louis, well you never can tell, sometimes he will say that he would put them through to the next round, I think just to wind up Simon.

When the crowds are whittled down to about 60 they are taken on to 'Boot camp' where the numbers are whittled down further. It is here that we begin to see the various categories forming, and 6 lucky and talented acts in each category get to jet off to somewhere exotic (either the Caribbean or Mediterranean unless you're in Louis' category and it will be Ireland) to stay in a mansion called the judges house, although in reality they are rented by them. The categories are boys, girls, over 25's and groups. The judges each mentor one of the categories, and who is mentoring which group is supposedly kept a big secret by the producers of the programme, and we see the judges being informed by a phone call. This year Simon mentored the boys, Dannii the Over 25's, Louis the groups, and Cheryl the girls.


There 6 become 3 as the competition hots up, and the three remaining contestants go forward to the live final. Each week they perform live in front of a live TV audience and the millions who tune in to watch each week. The judges give their opinion, there is a telephone vote, and the two contestants with the lowest votes have to sing again, and the judges say which act they want to keep in the competition and which has to go home with all their dreams dashed.

Each week one contestant leaves, with four left for the semi-final. By this time the judges have no say, and its just the public vote that decides who goes through to the final.

Over the last few years, I have had a growing suspicion that the public actually have no say in the matter, and that the result is rigged, and I'm sorry to say this year has not allayed my suspicions any at all.

Two of the strongest singers in the show went out quite early, Austin and Laura and then Ruth who had, in my opinion developed more than any of the others. The four acts left for the semi-final last week were Eoghan Quigg for the boys, Alexandra Burke and Diana Vickers for the girls, and the band JLS for the groups. Throughout the contest, the favourite according to the tabloid press has been Diana Vickers, and yet apparently she ended up with the least amount of votes and so had to leave.

All the way through the contest, I have noticed comments about JLS and I have wondered if they were hearing the same band that I was hearing. They have been called the best band ever on X factor, but I personally have never seen that. I have to say they seem very pleasant young men, are goodlooking, and sing passably well, but when you compare them with the incredible voice of Laura, or the individuality of Austin, or the quirky personality and distinctive voice of Diana, or even the strength and passion of Ruth, to say nothing of the sheer professional quality performances of Alexandra, there surely is no contest. JLS have improved during the series, there is no doubt about that, but for them to win, when there are Alexandra and Eoghan with them in the final, would be a travesty. Somehow, I think that is what is going to happen. There has never been a group win the X factor, so perhaps the producers think it about time they did. Am I too cynical? I don't know. I do know that a lot of great acts went out early, leaving the way clear for those who weren't as great to make their way as far as the final. This can be put down to the strange voting of the public? I wonder.

I would like to see the figures, to know exactly where the votes went, how many people voted, and for which act. I know Ofcom and various other such bodies have done investigations into phone polls such as these, perhaps if they were involved in the counting and the setting up of the systems it might be possible to put faith in them, as it stands if seems to be open to many different times of abuse.

All in all I find the programme compulsive viewing, as i love to see the development of these raw talents into the final polished articles, able to stnad in front of millions and sing their hearts out, but I have decided that I will never vote for any of the contestants, as all I'm doing is making money for the TV station, and no matter how many people vote, however many times, the result is a foregone conclusion.

Summary: If you can suspend your disbelief, enjoyable entertainment