Simon Cowell always has a motive (usually money related) for what he does, but this year, I just can't understand what has gone on. I can understand the joke act with Bratavia, Simon hates them, Louis camps it up every week with them, Simon makes comments about Louis being gay, simon hates the act, the public vote them in, it gets press, he makes more money on the votes etc etc, seen it all before.

What i don't understand is:
1) Why have two joke acts - can't pull the above routine twice in a show. Surely if you wanted another "entertainment act", you would have put through the young guy who forgot his words as he has a good voice but could camp it up, not quite as embarrassing as Honey G and those two idiots.

2) I just can't see why he would have put through that the guy that didn't make it to the 6 chair challenge. Not particularly good looking, average voice, no star quality. What is the reason he was picked out without the "I've made a mistake" routine that we usually get to get some press. He was totally underwhelming at JH. Why would Nicola have picked him when he was one of the two weakest. What benefit will Simon get from that?

3) Why did he pick Saara as a wildcard and why did Sharon pick her when she clearly disliked her, Robbie thought she was boring, her accent is so strong when she is singing it spoils the song, she is not particularly likeable - she sticks things on her face for FFS. What financial gain will Simon get from putting her through as it clearly wouldn't be Sharon's choice.

4) Why on earth you would get someone like Calvin Harris to JH, who has some credibility and then totally ignore what he suggests and put through some of the weaker acts - next year it will be Sinitta back for the JH as they won't get anyone decent to judge again.

What is Simons reasoning, its not going to help him beat Strictly in the ratings or his credibility against the Voice. I can only assume ITV has decided to make his show the real "entertainment show" and The Voice, the credible music show as they need to differentiate them on the same channel and that is the only reason they gave Cowell another 3 year deal this year. I just don;t know.

You raise some good questions, but to be fair I gave up trying to figure out his game plan a long time ago. Personally I think he's lost the plot. The fame and power and self-confidence has gone to his head, he's started believing his own bull-excrement and he can't see the wood for the trees any more.

Amen to that.

If my memory serves me right it was one of the other judges who coined the phrase 'X factor' on Pop Idol. I think it might have been Dr Fox (can anyone remember?) and Cowell took it and replicated Simon Fuller's idea for the show.

It's staggering that he's been on our screens for so long.

He must still be getting bums on seats and mega advertising revenue, otherwise he'd be canned by now.

But you can get bums on seats and mega advertising rev with good singers, there must be a reason why some of them went through.

Brooks Way went through because Sinitta is managing them, so there is a solid reason why, pathetic, but a reason.

Cant find one single reason for Saara and the boy who didn't make 6 chair challenge.

I wonder if they're paving the way for The Voice to become the show about talent and XF to just become even more of a karaoke light entertainment show and drop any pretense that it's about finding an artist

I can not see any logical reason why the chicken tossers and Honey G got through at the expense of so many good acts. And it's not just that 1 or 2 good ones went, it seems almost all of the acts sent home were superior to those who got through.

But Simon is all about the money, so what benefit do you think he got from becoming the joke show. Unless it was take it or leave it from ITV, or be canned.

Still don't know why he wouldn't go completely joke focused, rather than getting rid of good acts for average acts, then it becomes not really that funny after the 2 joke acts go, and not full of talent. There must be more to it.

Ryan got put through because his easy cannon fodder.

He'll be gone by week 4.

If putting crap like Honey G and the pompom twits makes the audience think they're "popular" enough to compete with the real talent (helped along with fake Twitter popularity) then it could mean more voting which equals more money. The audience (gullible ones anyway) will think their favourite acts need all the votes they can get lest Ali G and the Twits get thru.

Cowell is an incredibly smart guy and I'm pretty sure he'll have a master plan with all this, for a start look how much free publicity he's already got from the chicken duo and Honey G ....it is all over every single paper today as well as on TV...money cant buy that kind of PR make no mistake. This in turn will translate into viewing figures next weekend with people tuning in to see what all the fuss is about!
As for the people we've seen on social media saying they will now not be watching you can bet your life they will be if only to wish ill fortune on the remaining acts! It's a bit like passing a traffic accident...you cant help but look!
I've said the same myself in previous years but sure enough the following Saturday....in front of my TV with a glass of vino ready to cheer when the act who gazumped my favourite trips up or better still is eliminated!

Mediocre predictability does not polarise opinion and motivate people to watch....sorry folks but it's a marketing fact!

On the Honey G thing i wonder if she is for the American market? The yanks love a true British eccentric and they don't come more eccentric than her!!

I have nothing of value to add but you literally took all the words from my mind and placed them into a great post.

I don't get the Wildcard thing. Honey G was back. Was it for Sam?

Saaaaara is an "act for hire" talent show veteran. She'll do her bit, look credible, then lose.

Nessie is right Simon is clever he knows this should translate into ratings because people will be intrigued - not only that it keeps people guessing - there will be some sort of drama for Saturday you kno this!

Simon is and always will make money he's a brilliant businessman - I don't think the lives are going to be as much a disaster as people think / there is talent through - whether you like the acts or not they all offer something.

I've just watched last nights show and OP has summed it up..
I've always accepted that there is a certain amount of interfering in the background, Cowell/producers with an agenda but tbh have always just accepted it for what it is - chasing money and ratings.
But this year I just don't get it. Get the chicken twins exactly as OP describes but if Honey G is either real or a joke I don't get it either way. More to the point out of that room of mad talent Sharon has only chosen one contender. And I couldn't agree more that she doesn't even like Saara - Sharon is just not a good enough actress t pull that acting routine off with her ,who imo was the weakest of the singers.
To me this was duplicated pretty much across all the categories as well
I guess you can argue that we are talking about it now- but surely if that's the game it's a very short sighted strategy!!
Confused.com

The likes of Honey Ga and KFC Lads offer nothing other than making theirselves look like idiots.

Indeed, he has long proved to be a master of PR, hype and playing the media. That I have no doubt. But what I don't get is how these tactics have any long term pay off. Using the "jokes" to create headlines and interest might make people tune in for the short term, but for every gain presumably there is another thinking "crikey this has gone downhill".

I think its to do with The Brooks.

Syco needs a new young cute act to replace 1D.

Caitlynn and Peyton the favourites are gone. joke acts can't win. Leaves only 9 (mediocre) acts for competition

He has f*ck you money. ie he doesnt give a crap what anyone thinks and doesnt have to.

I get the feeling that this year more than ever, they purposefully chose to put cannon fodder through. Louis looks positively rational after last night's show. Nicole literally chose the two weakest contestants to go with the strongest, which is extreme even for this show, but Sharon . . . maybe it's just me, but I felt like she got rid of all of the strongest contestants.

It's bizarre. I'm not outraged, because the show isn't a singing competition and it doesn't owe us anything, but I'm struggling to understand what it gains by letting so many great acts go. Plus it's just so uneven . . . Simon actually chose decent acts.

If they'd wanted the Brooks to be successful, acts like Peyton are a better idea than 5am and the young lad who's not a great singer whose name I can't remember. They've already got a following so they'll probably be fine anyway, but if they really wanted to promote them at all costs, they could have done much, much better.

Interesting points you make, but I wouldn't say Honey G was all that eccentric, as she doesn't act like a real one. As for marketing, you wouldn't want to market her, as she's too much of a one trick pony, one look and you'd scoot away as fast as you can. -shudder-

What i can make out here of this show 2016 is the prolonged death throes of TV dross
the fact that there is clear post production editing on the audio in auditions has totally killed any remaining credibility
as for the judges on the panel how can hasbeens that are so out of touch make a judgement call
advertisers should now pull the plug on this show i mean who actually watches this rubbish in real time

I think you may have something. The way Sharon ditched the decent acts was like a bulldozer going through a brick wall, shocking to see, but say Simon wanted to win the Judges round this series, so all the good acts had to go, so that Simon's little group could win. It would make a lot of sense if it was Simon's turn to win!

The problem this show looks like it's having is it's not even pretending this year that there's vocal talent at these lives, that will cost them ratings in the long term unless there's some breakout performances on the first live show.

What is actually going on is simpler and sometimes more ridiculous than your theory.

Producers decide, and get the final say.Simon Cowell doesn't.The kicker? They often don't even hear much of the contestants and go by what they are "advised".

They decide before auditions begin what kind of winner they think would be best each season.

I knew(and posted previous to first episode) that they wanted a male winner. Unfortunately for those who don't fit that description, turns out they wanted a pop singer, basically a boyband type with enough ability to go solo.

A few of the acts (Matt/Ryan/Brooks) fit that mold. . Matt will likely win.

Of those not through, the better ones get bad mixes, last minute key changes,character edits not in their favour,and unsuitable song selections.

Occasionally, there will be a real artist with an amazing voice and wide appeal. This year, they gave the one who fit that description a personality erasing edit(since they can't paint someone as a **** who doesn't act like one)

Since he gave them nothing but consistently good to great vocals, they gave him a horrible mix.When that couldn't diminish his ability enough to make him not still clearly sound the best in his category, they butchered his vocals and rearranged them to make a rendition of a song he has sung beautifully and with connection for years sounf like oversinging but cuttingthe sensitive and light vocals and connecting the intense ones.The result? Oh, look, oversinging and an out of place scat.


Do they generally succeed at getting the desired outcome? Not always but close enough for not rock-n-roll. Usually they do.


That is how they operate.


Not putting acts through is fine. Not giving them a true representation of the ability talent and person they are is not okay.It is unnecessary , too.The thing is, they only want to promote those who they have under contract (as of live shows, they all are) and can control the career of and profit from.


They cut the strongest singers who are also potentially marketable who are capable of outshining their promoted acts

HAving said all this, I wish those through well, and those not through well.

I actually like Matt as an artist. I don't think he is amazing,just good... but , he has everything needed to be successful as a winner .

Relley C ,Gifty, Saara, Matt, Freddie and others are potentially wonderful


They should have given those they said no to fair exposure as a parting gift .


I have maybe said too much. It needed to be said, though.