8 replies to this topic

[Cherry Wire]

Anyone catch this on the CW last night? (after "The Sit")

Sure, we've seen just about everything you can see in performance reality TV, but I liked how the CW's version stripped out a lot of the BS you see on Idol/X-Factor/Voice.

The first girl and the country-singing guy surprised me. The others weren't so great.

Celebrity judges are Gloria Estefan, some Jonas brother, Jon Rich, and Nelly. I like Nelly and am glad he's not yet reduced to singing "Hot in Here" at bar mitzvahs and office parties.

[Kromm]

The Sit? The Next?

The Hell?

Jokes aside, although it sounds nice that they've stripped out "the BS", does the world need another singing comp? The talent pool is SO diluted, and to be honest, as much as it sucks on some level... only American Idol seems to be able to produce an actual star.

[marketdoctor]

Cherry Wire, you're thinking of "Oh, Sit!" as the lead-in (a show that was Wipeout meets musical chairs.)

I like a low-nonsense singing show, so I'll give it a chance, but the CW is going to have less credibility, because the WB once made "WB Superstar USA", a prank show that tried to convince untalented singers they were talented. (It was pulled after a few weeks due to abysmal ratings, but the music community is small, so whether there's a distrust factor or not may not be the issue.)

And I've seen fairly big turnouts for local/regional talent competitions, so I don't think we're completely out of talent, but if other reality shows have a militant "no competing shows" clause, we actually might.

[chadritt]

I like the fact that the show gives each contestant real one-on-one mentoring time with the celebrities. That seems unique and positive at least.

[Kromm]

I like the fact that the show gives each contestant real one-on-one mentoring time with the celebrities. That seems unique and positive at least.

In theory isn't that the whole idea behind The X-Factor?

[Kromm]

I will say, that actually WATCHING this show, I was a lot more impressed.

Its doomed, because nobody watches the CW, or cares about yet another singer out of yet another contest. There's just no buzz or sense of importance here.

That said, because they went for seasoned pros--people who very literally fit the definition of "almost successes" (that The Voice tinkered with but kinda missed)--the level of talent is damned high. Every single one of the 12 singers we've seen so far would is workable--not a single dud--even the guy who did too many dance moves and kind of ruined his performance a bit.

The "local hero" model is an interesting one. Its NOT totally legit, in the sense that its not people in the local watering holes and clubs voting--its an audience of whoever stands in line to get free show tickets that day in that city. But it at least gives the show an interesting structure.

I also found myself pleasantly surprised what a nice guy Nelly is coming off as. His particular "area" of the music industry is filled with assholes... and unless he's really putting on a good act... he doesn't appear to be one of them. Of the four judges, La Esteban is really the only one who seems kind of fake to me, and its not THAT bad.

I doubt we will ever see a 2nd season of this show. I doubt the winner will ever be heard of again, record contract or no contract. But its a surprisingly watchable show.

[Kromm]

You know, watching the 4th episode I believe the "winner" has been the last person performing every time.

Sigh. We all know that's usually inevitable with voting, and voting on-site by a live audience is probably even MORE influenced by "who did I hear last".

[chadritt]

The first episode winner went 3rd, so not quite last.

[jewelsnba]

I am resurrecting this thread to say that there is no way Michael Ray is not winning this competition. He is one of two guys and the only country singer.