AN
You’ve just described all the things I used to love about the show. It was nuts, and it was usually unfair and manipulated, but I bloody loved it. When all these things happen naturally (2010) it was magic. When they try to recreate that or try and force it (most years since), it doesn’t work.
Cowell needs to go. By all means continue to pull the strings, but Robbie could have carried this new series as head judge.
It’s never really recovered from the series that Caroline and Olly (tried) to host.
The year after with Honey G wasn’t too bad, but the most recent series was instantly forgettable.
It needs the judges arguing with each other, it needs a few joke acts, it needs Dermot revealing which acts are DEFINETELY through next week (with some audience nutter shouting ONLY THE YOUNG week in week out even after they’ve been eliminated) and the resulting judges vote, without all of that it basically just becomes another generic singing / karaoke show.
The year after with Honey G wasn’t too bad, but the most recent series was instantly forgettable.
It needs the judges arguing with each other, it needs a few joke acts, it needs Dermot revealing which acts are DEFINETELY through next week (with some audience nutter shouting ONLY THE YOUNG week in week out even after they’ve been eliminated) and the resulting judges vote, without all of that it basically just becomes another generic singing / karaoke show.
You’ve just described all the things I used to love about the show. It was nuts, and it was usually unfair and manipulated, but I bloody loved it. When all these things happen naturally (2010) it was magic. When they try to recreate that or try and force it (most years since), it doesn’t work.
Cowell needs to go. By all means continue to pull the strings, but Robbie could have carried this new series as head judge.
BR
Agree the series would be better with Cowell off the panel. Ratings actually held up relatively well in his three years away and only went into freefall when he returned.
And although Robbie is the sort of name they've needed for a while I don't think signing up a judge who'll miss many live shows in his first season is a great move. Whether this panel works or not that'll only hurt the show - and at a stage where it really loses viewers.
And although Robbie is the sort of name they've needed for a while I don't think signing up a judge who'll miss many live shows in his first season is a great move. Whether this panel works or not that'll only hurt the show - and at a stage where it really loses viewers.
RD
This is way past its sell by date. The fact they can only attract a bloke who's last number 1 was over 6 years ago. His wife who has no musical experience whatsoever. And the least popular member of boyband.
Why will they not put it out of its misery?! I think ITV are really panicking as they realise the series is flopping, but they don't have anything on their hands that can even come close to replacing it.
Why will they not put it out of its misery?! I think ITV are really panicking as they realise the series is flopping, but they don't have anything on their hands that can even come close to replacing it.
SE
Square Eyes
Founding member
Last year was really odd, the eliminations, half the categories singing on the Sat & the other on the Sunday, the prize fight (who cared). They've messed about with it far too much now. And of course this year they've dispensed with the audition rooms (again), straight to the arena.
When you have to mess about with a show so much, and with the personnel of the show, I do think its time to call it a day and just make a different show. But there is nothing waiting to take its place. From being the strongest, its become the weakest link in the ITV weekend entertainment line-up in arguably the most important time of the year.
When you have to mess about with a show so much, and with the personnel of the show, I do think its time to call it a day and just make a different show. But there is nothing waiting to take its place. From being the strongest, its become the weakest link in the ITV weekend entertainment line-up in arguably the most important time of the year.
SE
Square Eyes
Founding member
Shiny gold logo here.
https://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/robbie-williams-ayda-williams-and-louis-tomlinson-join-simon-cowell-judges-x-factor
I like this bit :
Robbie is a global superstar who has sold more than 75 million albums over his career and won 18 BRIT Awards - more than any other artist in history.
and basically
Ayda is his wife.
https://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/robbie-williams-ayda-williams-and-louis-tomlinson-join-simon-cowell-judges-x-factor
I like this bit :
Robbie is a global superstar who has sold more than 75 million albums over his career and won 18 BRIT Awards - more than any other artist in history.
and basically
Ayda is his wife.
BA
The X factor has been dead for the last few years at least. It doesn’t help that the winners/contestants in the last 2/3 years haven’t really came to much, doesn’t look good for the show. Talking of the 2015 season, the winner of that year Louisa Johnson has become the first winner to be dropped without releasing an album, poor her.
:-(
A former member
When does the right disappear?
BR
Only when Brexit and Trump have well and truly been defeated.
When does the right disappear?
Only when Brexit and Trump have well and truly been defeated.
BR
Agree they've messed about with it too much over the years and generally axe and bring back the same things (and often people) over and over again. The annual changes in the judging line up has been a major factor in it's decline- they got away with it from 2011-13 as the one change they made each year improved the panel, but since 2014 it's been a complete mess. No surprise BGT has remained relatively strong with a consistent line up since 2012.
I do think they were right to finally tackle the live shows, long the weak link in the format, last year, but they just didn't get it right. I do think though they'd be best off sticking with the 6 week format with live shows both nights, but just need to bring back Deadlock instead of the Prize Fight and merge the two sets of contestants into one show far earlier. And one significant improvement last year was encouraging the acts (who could) to perform original songs - it was no surprise they finished in the top two.
Last year was really odd, the eliminations, half the categories singing on the Sat & the other on the Sunday, the prize fight (who cared). They've messed about with it far too much now. And of course this year they've dispensed with the audition rooms (again), straight to the arena.
When you have to mess about with a show so much, and with the personnel of the show, I do think its time to call it a day and just make a different show. But there is nothing waiting to take its place. From being the strongest, its become the weakest link in the ITV weekend entertainment line-up in arguably the most important time of the year.
When you have to mess about with a show so much, and with the personnel of the show, I do think its time to call it a day and just make a different show. But there is nothing waiting to take its place. From being the strongest, its become the weakest link in the ITV weekend entertainment line-up in arguably the most important time of the year.
Agree they've messed about with it too much over the years and generally axe and bring back the same things (and often people) over and over again. The annual changes in the judging line up has been a major factor in it's decline- they got away with it from 2011-13 as the one change they made each year improved the panel, but since 2014 it's been a complete mess. No surprise BGT has remained relatively strong with a consistent line up since 2012.
I do think they were right to finally tackle the live shows, long the weak link in the format, last year, but they just didn't get it right. I do think though they'd be best off sticking with the 6 week format with live shows both nights, but just need to bring back Deadlock instead of the Prize Fight and merge the two sets of contestants into one show far earlier. And one significant improvement last year was encouraging the acts (who could) to perform original songs - it was no surprise they finished in the top two.
Last edited by Brekkie on 17 July 2018 10:44pm
AN
To be fair - last year was brilliant for talent. The live shows felt a lot fresher. Unfortunately they axed the part that worked the best in the old format, ie the bottom 2 sing-off. I’d be amazed if that didn’t return this year.
JM
JamesM0984
The worst thing they did was that lifeline vote, in which the Scottish fella whose name escapes me was let out of every week. Think it was in Saara Aalto's year.
But sadly it jumped the shark a lot earlier. For me it was back in 2009 when future Eurovision contestants Lucie Jones and Jedward went into a singoff and Cowell, despite weeks of slating Jedward, chose not to save Jones in order to engineer a deadlock. That was like when you're told Santa's not real - you kind of knew it was Bull but that's just confirmed it's a setup.
I found myself unable to invest myself in the lives by week 3 as you knew it was going to be the Grace vs Rak Su show. And it came to pass of course. The sad thing is we got one of the best (and certainly most credible) winners singles ever. Yeah, it was a Despacito knockoff but there's more guilty formats in the genre internationally when it comes to that bandwagon - Melodifestivalen, I'm looking at you.
But sadly it jumped the shark a lot earlier. For me it was back in 2009 when future Eurovision contestants Lucie Jones and Jedward went into a singoff and Cowell, despite weeks of slating Jedward, chose not to save Jones in order to engineer a deadlock. That was like when you're told Santa's not real - you kind of knew it was Bull but that's just confirmed it's a setup.
I found myself unable to invest myself in the lives by week 3 as you knew it was going to be the Grace vs Rak Su show. And it came to pass of course. The sad thing is we got one of the best (and certainly most credible) winners singles ever. Yeah, it was a Despacito knockoff but there's more guilty formats in the genre internationally when it comes to that bandwagon - Melodifestivalen, I'm looking at you.