[Stockingfiller]

I've been watching the lovely Michael Buerk series about historical treasures found by the public. He gets over 4 million viewers. On one evening, 'Superstar' got 2.2 million. Something's gone seriously wrong.

[morrislee]

Who cares I have enjoyed it and it is what it is ..People who did watch and voted got what they wanted ...sick of all this rating thing ! never had it in my day ..tho i am sure I will get many comments as to why it was different

[tinkie]

Originally Posted by BuddyBontheNet

One thing that would have affected the number of viewers was that the final episode of In The Line Of Duty was on BBC1 at the same time and that series has been very popular.

Bad planning by ITV though imo.

Yes I watched that instead and turned over for the last 15 mins

[Stockingfiller]

What the viewing figures are is important to ITV ( and the thread title is about ratings).

It's nice that people enjoyed the shows but I think that ITV executives will, be thinking about costs and on the other hand, the low viewing figures.

[SheShe]

Originally Posted by LaniGrey

The format's all wrong; trying to crowbar this into Jubilee year and Olympics with a madcap 10 days of auditions is too much. I love it,, my OH is sick of it. It's JCS's jubilee too, so needs to be celebrated but I think it would have been better served as a weekly programme in the Autumn. (with Graham Norton!)

Definitely. I said on another thread that I just can't watch it live as the ads drive me crazy. I'll probably make an exception for the Final but I haven't got into this show at all and haven't voted once, which is very unlike me! I don't feel we've really seen what these finalists can do. I haven't a clue if any of them can act!

[SheShe]

Originally Posted by BomoLad

It seems like a complete sell out. With the old BBC format it'd least give the impression the contestants were being groomed for a number of weeks. Getting acting lessons, rehearsing different vocal and performance disciplines each week. This show just seems like a typical 'belt it out' singing competition that just happens to have ALW on it.

With the old shows I felt like I was watching, cliche as it is, a journey of the winner and of other contestants. This just seems like nightly karaoke for a week.

Well put! That's exactly my feeling.

[BuddyBontheNet]

I don't think ITV will do this kind of show again.

[Stockingfiller]

The format works well for The X Factor but for JCS...no. Probably, ITV is desperate for a big success, Simon Cowell has big successes so ITV might have tried to put JCS into an unsuitable format and hoped that it's the format that viewers would want to watch.

The BBC didn't want the programme though did they. They now have The Voice which was less successfu lin terms of viewing figures than most of ALW's shows for the BBC.

[*Topaz*]

Originally Posted by Stockingfiller

The format works well for The X Factor but for JCS...no. Probably, ITV is desperate for a big success, Simon Cowell has big successes so ITV might have tried to put JCS into an unsuitable format and hoped that it's the format that viewers would want to watch.

The BBC didn't want the programme though did they. They now have The Voice which was less successfu lin terms of viewing figures than most of ALW's shows for the BBC.

But didn't the BBC get a lot of criticism for the ALW shows because they were just one long promotion funded by the license fee payer for him and his shows? I did watch some of the BBC shows but I remember being annoyed by them because to me it just seemed like free advertising for him. Perhaps that's another reason why they had to drop the shows

I did watch some of the ITV 'Superstar' shows........I'm not overly impressed tbh........perhaps the declining viewing figures means people are bored of the format! At least I'm not funding in now though

[guenevere]

Originally Posted by Button62

I hope ALW ends up with a turkey on his hands. The blatant favouritism and his ridiculous posturing last night has put me off going to see the tour.

Given the subject of the show, it will be a Christmas turkey. I agree with your words about favouritism, and I stopped watching two nights ago after his public humiliation of Nathan. I will keep my memories intact with the first ever concept recording of the show, featuring an incredible performance by Barry Dennen as Pilate.

My favourite-ever performance of this show (which I have seen multi-times in its first immortal production at the Palace Theatre, and again at the Lyceum) was an in-concert performance at the Barbican - never to be equalled.

[Nosnikrapl]

Originally Posted by *Topaz*

But didn't the BBC get a lot of criticism for the ALW shows because they were just one long promotion funded by the license fee payer for him and his shows? I did watch some of the BBC shows but I remember being annoyed by them because to me it just seemed like free advertising for him. Perhaps that's another reason why they had to drop the shows

I did watch some of the ITV 'Superstar' shows........I'm not overly impressed tbh........perhaps the declining viewing figures means people are bored of the format! At least I'm not funding in now though

BIB - increasing criticism which made it impossible for ALW to continue on BBC. I just don't think musical theatre fits with ITV & certainly not attempting to do a RTV using a basic X-Factor type template.

[*Topaz*]

Originally Posted by Nosnikrapl

BIB - increasing criticism which made it impossible for ALW to continue on BBC. I just don't think musical theatre fits with ITV & certainly not attempting to do a RTV using a basic X-Factor type template.

I'm surprised the BBC got away with it for as long as they did! How many search for shows with ALW did they do? I lost count! I remember whenever a new show was announced! I'm glad its died on it's a*se on ITV tbh - it's a pity it didn't go that way on the BBC!

[duncann]

I think there are several reasons it didn't do well. It never had a big audience right from the start.

The first is that it's religious and about Christ and his crucifiion - I would say a lot of people don't want to see that in a musical format. I know Joesph is religious but it's a kids' show with more fun in it and a lot of children do it at school. The songs are better known in Joseph and it's associated with light, fun TV-based stars like Phillip Schofield and Jason Donovan who are still popular. Joseph was also looking for a teen idol, while this is looking for the Son of God going to his death! I think that's just asking for trouble. Far better to look for Judas or Mary Magdalene.

Second is that JCS is out of fashion. I don't think its time has come again and this show would seem to suggest it too. I just don't think it's that popular a show, certainly it is nothing like as popular as Oliver! or Sound of Music or Wizard of Oz.

Third is scheduling - it was on weekdays and too late, it needs to be on at 6.30/7.30pm. Also, it was not well publicised. Plus it was maybe too much in too short a time being scheduled daily. Also, summer ratings for new shows are often not good.

Fourth is it was on ITV which I don't think affects the programme quality but a lot of people do because ITV has poor brand values. People think it's naff.

Fifth, I like Amanda Holden but I think a lot of people don't, especially women, so her casting probably didn't help either.

[Glenn A]

It actually did worse than Popstar to Operastar. I think ITV would have been better advised to keep that as Superstar was a costly flop and I only knew one person, who watches ITV most of the time, who watched it.