56 replies to this topic

[katisha66]

I am quite liking the look of this upcoming show. Any other takers? Read about it here.

[Kelekio]

We now have a starting time and date- 7pm on Wednesday 22 August. It looks like it'll be fun.

[SnideAsides]

I kind of get the feeling this is going to develop the same way as The Glee Project - too much focus on singing and dancing, not enough on acting.

[katisha66]

Well, it all starts tonight and I'm really looking forward to it. The guest judge list is impressive and it's always interesting to see who looks good in drag. It's odd how sometimes a really good looking guy will make quite a hideous drag queen and some plainer guys look great.

[Xingu]

Am I correct in assuming this is only is Australia?

If so, damn, it looks like fun.

It's just not fair. We give you blokes/sheilas tons of programming and outside of Kath and Kim we get nothin'. I kid because I'm jealous.

Edited by Xingu, Aug 20, 2012 @ 8:28 PM.

[katisha66]

Xingu, I think it is only in Australia but there always seem to be ways overseas viewers find to view our programs! Hopefully someone will look after that side of things on this show because, yes, it does look like fun.

[Xingu]

katisha66, thanks for the response. I'm a huge lover of everything Australian (even Dame Edna, don't hate me), but I hate watching TV online. But I appreciate the feedback. It just amazes me that we have 500 TV channels in the states and it's nearly all home-grown. I can't even rely on BBC America to provide British programming. Can't we have ONE global network? And when I read that Toni Colette was going to be on I got more envious. I hope it's as fun as it sounds. Enjoy. Have a Toohey's or an XXXX for me.

[TallulahBelle]

Yingu . . . no one in Aus actually drinks Tooheys or XXXX . . . at least no one I know, Katisha? If you can get your hands on it, Redback is a LOVELY Aus beer - IMO of course!

I'm curious to see what the prize has been changed to, I believe it was initially going to be a run in the Broadway production of Priscilla which has since shut down - I don't know if that was known when they were filming or not though.

[katisha66]

I'm curious to see what the prize has been changed to, I believe it was initially going to be a run in the Broadway production of Priscilla which has since shut down - I don't know if that was known when they were filming or not though.

Oh, really? I had no idea! Wow, talk about an anticlimax. They're promising to take the winner from Broken Hill to Broadway or some such so let's hope they have got something else lined up!

As for beer, blah, I hate ALL of it so I'm not the person to ask!

[TallulahBelle]

Housemate says he thinks the new prize is instead to be part of the US touring production instead. They still said on the show tonight that it would be on Broadway though . . . so who knows?! What I DID notice was how many times the guys let us know they had GIRLfriends whilst dragging it up . . . GIIIRRRRRLFRIENDS. Of the female variety.

Edited by TallulahBelle, Aug 21, 2012 @ 4:51 AM.

[katisha66]

What I DID notice was how many times the guys let us know they had GIRLfriends whilst dragging it up . . . GIIIRRRRRLFRIENDS. Of the female variety.

Heh. I haven't watched it yet but I was thinking that might happen. I think it's like any straight male hairdresser will mention his girlfriend/wife every third sentence, or a straight male dancer will shag anything female that moves just so you don't think HE is gay even though 90 percent of the other male dancers are.

[cousin oliver]

And the clearly gay boys seemed to have no loved ones at all. Thanks for nothing, Channel Ten.

Criticizing someone for being too camp for Priscilla? Ramping up the tension about performing in front of footballers? "I know how to take a bra off but not how to put one on". Meet my WIFE/GIRLFRIEND/KIDS. Man, I lost count of the ways the show rubbed me the wrong way throughout.

I would have been interested to see who these dozen boys beat out for a seat on the bus. Ten seems to like starting their new reality shows in the middle.

Rachel Taylor must be a hell of an actress if she can disguise that Aussie drawl in Hollywood.

[katisha66]

And the clearly gay boys seemed to have no loved ones at all. Thanks for nothing, Channel Ten.

Yeah, what was up with that? If they didn't want to show them having a full-on passionate embrace, that's one thing, but to seemingly not even have any of them there - WTF?

Criticizing someone for being too camp for Priscilla?

Yes - is there even such a thing?!

However, in saying that I agree, cousin oliver, I think I'll keep watching purely because some of these guys are genuinely very talented. The one who sang This Is the Moment, the one who sang Everybody's Talking and the one who teaches at WAAPA were my favourites vocally. The ones who have done theatre for years as understudies, it seemed pretty clear why they have only made it that far because there is a certain X factor (no pun intended) which seems to be missing. And the jury is still out on the Hi 5 guy as far as I'm concerned. I don't know if I can get past it and he doesn't have the sort of voice I enjoy at all.

ETA - Oh, bugger...

Edited by katisha66, Aug 23, 2012 @ 9:22 PM.

[katisha66]

Hmm, looks like I'm on my own continuing to watch this one! Well, I'm enjoying it mainly because some of the contestants are so very talented. I could do without the thinly veiled apparent homophobia of the straight contestants, such as the other day in an episode when one said during the clay pigeon shooting activity, "It felt good to finally do something blokey", but apart from that it's been well done. Kelly Abbey doing the choreography for guys who can actually dance/move, for the most part, great guest judges - it's really got it all, for me!

[nozycat]

I'm still watching, loving Kelly Abbey, she seems great. I don't know if I like the overall concept (and yeah some of the comments are cringe worthy), it seems to me to be trying to be 2 shows in one and it isn't quite gelling for me but I find it entertaining enough and the guys sufficiently talented to keep me hooked.

[katisha66]

Hey, nozycat, glad someone else is out there! I have a question for you: did you wonder what was going on with the guy who keeps having temper tantrums in the previous couple of episodes? Is his name Jamie? I fully expected him to be booted off by the producers at the last town, thereby saving Frank from Tasmania from being booted. I guess we can assume by this that he'll be leaving sooner rather than later? Normally, behaviour like that on a reality show would be milked for all it was worth with some kind of dressing-down from the judges at least. Maybe that's coming in future episodes? Oh, well, I found it all a bit confusing, anyway!

[nozycat]

Yeah, first they made a big deal of it, then they just seemed to drop it, I agree - confusing. The guy (can't remember anybody's name, but could be Jamie) seems a bit unstable and not right for such a competition which can be quite challenging.

[katisha66]

So, nozycat, how have you enjoyed this week's episodes? I must say, it was a big thrill to see Courtney Act again. I can't think of many better-looking drag queens than her, that's for sure. I also had a bit of a chuckle at Jamie's drag name, Janome Pfaff and the Husqvarna Dancers - hee! But in saying that, I'm not at all surprised to see Jamie go in view of his edit arc with the tantrums, etc. Still enjoying the show.

[nozycat]

LOVED Courtney Act, I prefer that sort of drag to what most of the contestants look and act like, although they are fun, and she seemed really nice. I find it amazing how different her alter ego - Shane? - looks, to me anyway.

Yeah I wasn't surprised Jamie went, thought he was the weakest of the bottom three plus all the drama.

I'm going away for a week, health spa for some pampering yay, so will catch up when I get back.

[katisha66]

So, how was the health spa, nozycat? :) Very jealous!

Well, I was not surprised to see Davin gone last night. His acting was approximately Grade 4 standard and it was embarrassing to watch. He was a great dancer, though, and the group numbers will suffer for his absence. In the acting challenge (you're terrible, Muriel! - shout out to Toni!) I thought Tom was amazing (and amazing in general - I could see him winning this) and Rowan was hysterically funny. Still loving the show and wishing more snarkers were on board!

[Ambrose's Auntie]

Am watching and enjoying. I primarily started watching to see how Nathan from High 5 would go, and I've been slowly sucked in. Very happy Davin departed - he was irksome and entitled with little reason to be. Agree on Tom, and I still love the guy who was in Jersey Boys (is it Stephen? Names are still eluding me).

Edited by Ambrose's Auntie, Sep 13, 2012 @ 1:11 AM.

[SnideAsides]

I don't know either, but it's about to get worse - last night's episode got beaten by a repeat episode of Heartbeat on 7Two (usually the worst of the main digital multichannels), so Ten's decided to cut the show down to one episode a week. Because cutting a show in half worked so well for Everybody Dance Now.

[katisha66]

I wish I could understand why people would find a repeat of a show like Heartbeat more appealing than this show, but I don't think I can. I don't get why people would prefer X Factor, even. This show is well done, has very talented performers, great guest judges - why are people tuning out in droves? I personally will stick it out to the end because I've really enjoyed it but clearly there are only a few of us out there.

[TallulahBelle]

I gave up after two eps and here's why - it felt sloppy, hastily put together, not polished and I didn't feel invested at all with any of the contestants. Also. The lack of ladies maybe? I think I prefer to watch a singing comp where both men and women are represented and I just . . . tuned out . . . and I'm a theatre nerd, so this show SHOULD have been catnip to me. My housemate! Is a BROADWAY LOVIN' GAY MUSICAL THEATRE NERD and even he's stopped watching (he lasted longer than me though). I don't know. It just didn't work for me.

[cousin oliver]

I'm also a Broadway lovin' gay musical theatre nerd and I gave up after the second episode mainly because of the undercurrent of gay! panic! (pick up a woman in a pub, play some footy, shoot some guns - seriously?). Now that I've read they booted three clearly gay contestants in the first four eliminations I'm glad I got out when I did.

[katisha66]

Well, I think you both raise excellent points, Tallulah and cousinoliver. I can only assume my lack of discernment is desperation to enjoy a singing show with performers who tend to actually sing and not just melismate all over the place a la X Factor! I mean, I've seen heard/who won it last year (Reece?) and I think he totally sucks. I must be prepared to put up with all the negative aspects of I Will Survive because for me, it has a couple of major things going for it.

In saying this, though, I think most Idol fans would tune out this week if they were still watching because the guest judge is MarShutUp!. I somehow don't think her, "You go, girlfriend!" schtick will enhance the process much. *shudder*

[nozycat]

Katisha, I had a lovely time thanks, got totally pampered and feel so relaxed now.

Now that I've read they booted three clearly gay contestants in the first four eliminations I'm glad I got out when I did.

Personally I don't think they were cut because they were gay though but because they were the weakest and just happened to be gay. I didn't think Davin was even that great of a dancer, better than some others yes, but not that good.

I was surprised they gave the guy - Brendan? - who did the dying man such negative feedback and put him in the bottom 3, I thought he was fantastic in that piece and I felt really moved.

[katisha66]

Welcome back, nozycat. Glad you had fun!

You know, I can see why, with the shocking ratings, they've cut the show back to one episode a week but boy, did that butcher that episode last night. They didn't show one performance all the way through except the bottom three performance and it just was disjointed and confusing. And to add insult to injury, they sent my little puppy dog Adrian home. :( Fair enough, he was the weakest of the bottom three but I do find Stephen and Matt (finally getting the names right!) to be a bit TOO perfectly skilled and rehearsed and definitely lacking heart/soul and that's what I liked about Adrian because he didn't have the former but had the latter in spades.

I also would agree that of the early bootings, the fact that most were gay wasn't as much a factor as other things. Jamie was a case in point. He had to go because if he hadn't, I think the competition would have almost caused some kind of breakdown in him. And it's a real pity because I thought he was very talented. Certainly more so than Davin, who was really quite the legend in his own mind. You only have to read his bio on the OS.

Davin skyrocketed to stardom on TEN’s Star Search when he was 10 years old.

"Skyrocketed to stardom"? How come we've never heard of him before this show, then? I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say perhaps he didn't write that but it sort of goes with his ego, I gotta say!

Tom FTW!

[nozycat]

Thanks Katisha :-). After years of caring for others I was finally able to take some time and space just for me.

I've finally caught up. I actually thought it worked cutting it down to one hour.

I agree about Stephen and Matt, to me their voices are good but they don't sound natural but sort of manufactured.

Tom ftw for me too, he's been my fave for a while although I thought he oversang his song last night.

[katisha66]

Still out there, nozycat? :)

Well, even though I felt Matt was a bit unlucky because his duet partner was probably the worst singer, I do feel it was his time to go. I was just temporarily scared for Tom. Rowan, I like him but I agree he is a bit one dimensional. Lastly, I thought the version of True Colours was lovely and the indigenous kids with the make-up were cute!