I hate to say this as i love x factor, but this series we are so missing "something" i dont know if its Simon and Cheryl, or the lack of Talent but something is totaly missing from this year

There is hardly any decent stories in the papers. Last year the x factor practicly filled the front page of all the tabloids every day !

I seriously think that Gary Barlow is totally out of his comfort zone, he looks uncomfortable and its not nice to watch

The song choices are terrible especially Garys and Kellys so dull.


The acts are not great this year, the fave Janet sounds like she is singing nursary rymes no matter what she sings, The risk are ok the funny thing i think is the expected novelty act (johnny) is turning out to be a credible (sorry for the matt word) singer, and the original fave (frankie) is turning out to be the joke act - very strange year for contestants..

It could be the production team, remember we have a 3 new main production staff

Music - Choreography and stylist


Not sure what, but something needs to happen very soon !


I do know what though. this travesty would never have happened on Simon's Watch !

It shouldnt be about annoying tabloids
But i do miss Simon a bit

Don't worry - if the judges bickering and Mishagate doesn't drum in more viewers next week I expect Simon will arrange for something to happen!

What's missing is not Simon, Cheryl, or any other person. What's missing is that the show has turned into a pantomime and everyone involved, with the exception of Gary, has forgotten that it should be a singing competition to try to find a singing star who can sell records.

Instead they've managed to turn it into a popularity show where the singing is the least important aspect and comes second to "entertainment".

The producers manipulate the show to the nth degree right from the hysterical live audience, to only joke acts or sob stories getting televised, to fake arguments between the judges.

For me, if they took it right back to basics without the stupid song choices, the outlandish styling and staging, the joke acts, the people who just can't sing, the auto tuning, the backing tracks etc and just had really good singers being mentored by great judges, then they might just find another Will Young or Leona Lewis.

The show is spiralling into a car crash and Syco etc are trying ever more manipulative measures. Instead they should stop, be intelligent about it, and make it about the singing. I think in his heart Gary wanted it to be about that but knows it isn't, and that's why he's uncomfortable.

This is totally right and correct. The producers have ruined the show and turned it into a pantomine. There has been too much of the judges in the past few years using the show to promote themselves and keep themselves in the papers. The show needs to go back to 2008 when it was at its best The talent was at its peak, the judges actually had an interest in their acts rather than fighting and the press interest was not as scandalous and pre planned as it is today. I think the current judges apart from Louis are fine but the show needs to just be about the acts not the outside rubbish.

I tend to agree. The judges being billed as the stars of the show with their over-hyped walk-ons at the beginning and constant reaction shots as the singers perform only distracts from the actual music.

lack of proper talent is the problem, Im sick of pub & karioke level singers being touted as "credible artists" they are not credible nor artists, they are just a rag tag group of people entering a reality tv show designed to create money from the gulible public who phone in each week.

But most years it's been like this, some people foreget the talent levels in Series:1,3,4,6,7

the song choices are the problem.

what he said - if anything needs to be done to stop the rot, take it back to spotting real talent. i've long since thought that nothing spontaneous ever happens on x factor - everything you see and read about is carefully managed by x factor.

i think most people would admit that this series is poor and the fact that they are panicking about losing viewers tells you what the number 1 priority is for ITV and Xfactor. most people on here have been moaning for a number of years about being manipulated.

louis walsh needs to go - he's had his day. make it about genuine talent and stop playing games - that would be a start i suppose. I doubt ITV will commission another series unless cowell returns.

Yes, The OP Needs To Learn The Difference Between Too and To and When It Is Right Or Wrong To Capitalise Words

I would say it's missing Simon. Cheryl was dreadful, especially compared to Tulisa and Kelly.

Gary Barlow is like a kid in a school play. I am very aware that I am watching someone trying to be like Simon. He aint pulling it off.

Thank you (but I am a she, not a he)

Brilliant post, you hit the nail on the head. XF has definitely lost its way, I long for the old type XF without all the production and everything else that contributes to the circus that it has now become. I am so thankful we have Leona and Alex from the XF, would love to see someone else of this calibre, but I can't see it happening with XF in its current format. It is a shame. I think I will be watching The Voice when that airs.

Cheers.

Yes, I too will be watching The Voice with interest to see if the Beeb actually make it about really good singing.

Good post. It seems ridiculous to get new judges and then stick to the same old script. IMO it's time to scrap the format completely and come up with another one.

I couldn't have much more of the opposite view from the OP.

I don't think the "talent" has anything to do with it. That varies year to year, and is pretty subjective anyway.

The exit of the Simon&Cheryl show is what made me really watch this year, whereas last year I barely tuned in, as I found the pair of them sickening.

Gary and Kelly are doing a great job, and I have enjoyed watching them (*except* when Gary is talking about his own acts, when he talks utter complete b*llcks).

The weaknesses in the show for me are:

- Louis. He is past his sell-by date. Get rid of him. Seriously.

- Tulisa. A failed idea. Too inexperienced and too gobby. There is a phrase about not being able to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear that applies here. There is another one about polishing something one might produce in the smallest room in the house. Just let her go.

- There is too much of a feel of "it is all scripted" these days, and that comments made to acts are not honest, they are either gushing praise when not deserved, or tactical put-downs when it isn't. It is turning people off.

Of course, the excessive amount of advertisement breaks isn't helping either.

Mmm, almost like a cross between American Idol and the old Pop Idol or even old X Factor.

There's nothing much wrong with the judges if they were really allowed to pick their own acts and say what they really want to say without it all being scripted as if Simon was still there.

I get really irritated by stories about how Simon blames the new judges for everything when in fact it's his producers and his meddling that just ups the manipulation every single series. Yet his ego is so huge he can't see it and thinks instead that it MUST be the new judges.

No Simon, we're just sick of all the hype and manipulation. Some of us just want to hear really good singers singing good songs, without all the cr*p!

The judging panel is largely rubbish

Neither Kelly Rowland or Tulisa Whatshername have the credibility to be judging a singing contest. Kelly was just someone who lurked in the background with the other no-mark in the Destiny's Child videos while Beyonce stole the show every time. N-Dubz barely qualify as being able to "sing". I'd say "talking in chav patois" would be a better description of their style. Louis Walsh is a joke who bogs down the show with his mediocre novelty acts.

Barlow is the only one with any credibility. For the next series of X Factor, the panel should be Barlow, Cowell (if he's available), and someone like Cathy Dennis and Noel Gallagher, who would actually know what they are talking about.

I agree regarding Louis. Judging by the same old cliches that Simon was trotting out on US XF, I think he too is past his sell by date to be honest. He's just not that interested in the acts, even his own.

I'd like to see Dannii back, particularly without being put down or just ignored by Simon. Cathy Dennis would be fantastic.

Noel Gallagher would make me switch off though; he's awful. I don't mind Kelly; at least she sometimes comments on the vocals.

There is only one contestant as far as I am concerned that is talented had strong vocals and can perform on stage and is memorable.

Step forward Misha B

The rest tend to pale into insignificance, however I will give a shout out to Kitty for having some stage presence and a decent voice, Marcus for having a good voice and The Risk for being able to hold a note!!

All of the contestants are either dull or mediocre, except for Misha, Johnny and Kitty. Because of this, the show has become primarily revolved around the judges and they themselves are either dull or show-offs!

Xtra Factor has more charm and entertainment this year though...

I have to agree with others, whilst disagreeing on specific contestants, that theres only a few who are even remotely interesting.

The fact that one of them is Johnny (who for me goes wayy beyond being a joke act, and could actually win!) is rather a sad sign for the other contestants. Sure hes great but in other years he'd be weakened by other powerful performances.

Kitty is the other - shes got a great voice (bit nasly, but that'll be worked on this week I'm guessing ) and is a lot of fun. Same time I find her my fave personality as well.

The others?
- Sophie needs a good song (frankly a new mentor!) to stand out from the crowd.
- Misha needs a different aspect - atm shes not coming across well at all. But she has a voice - and even ignoring her as a person, she needs to use it differently - its great sure, but its still a bit dull - she'll make less of a mark every week - as we know from other contestants in previous years this can happen and they usually go out against someone whose much more vibrant (whilst Misha's 'saving song' would be once again samey)


The rest...the bands are okay...not really standing out - but so far better than all the boys and the girls.
Boys are a mess. Complete mess.
Girls have lots of problems, in fact all Kelly's groups are failing to stand out - shes playing too save, sometimes someones strength has to be to surprise (hopefully as I say Sophie will do this).


So yeah its pretty dire when really theres only 2 acts who are enjoyable :/
And both are probably in danger from the voters...if Kitty and Johnny went I'd probably drop out myself. (unless someone else improves)


I've gone over my problems with Gary/Kelly a lot - Tulisa/Louis are no saints but they do seem to be the stronger mentors (not always but overall) and are trying to push the show on (especially Louis, Tulisa is still to learn to do more with the themes).

Gary/Kelly - Rock week was their worst week. The entire show was a mess and they were at its heart.


Frankie is ruining it all as well. Hes like a big highlight of how wrong it all went.

^^^^ Fantastic post. I agree with all you say...now if only the producers of XF would listen to that. The last couple of years theyve gone overboard chasing ratings by highly manipulating the way the show goes, putting joke acts in, creating fake drama, leaking stories to the press, turning down good vocalists in favour of controversial acts, over staging, over styling, ridiculous pantomime audience (BOOOO!!! YEEEEAH!!), everything too obviously scripted,.... in turn they have destroyed what should be a great show with great talent.

Totally agree with this

I have to say - the producers from previous years left to go to the states.

You only have to take two looks at what story their trying to tell with Frankie to realise the current ones are under performing and don't really understand why the show was a success before.
Plus its hardly Doctor Who in terms of how they reacted to an entirely changed cast - they've not moved the show ON with the new judges.
Its the same show but one that worked with an entire different group of people with entirely different relationships.

Next year it'll get a revamp. Strictly had the same problem for a while - long as they deal with it calmly and appoint a good producer to steer the path it should return more fresh.

I hope they make it a bit less 'X Factor serious' and a bit more Saturday night entertainment.
And some good acts