Suggest you have a read of the articles on Sofabet trust me it will open your eyes!

a couple to start you off

http://sofabet.com/2013/11/12/how-to...-the-x-factor/

http://sofabet.com/2013/11/14/abis-j...-manipulation/

I'm not a fan of anyone on this year's show, so my comments aren't coming from a 'biased fan'.

What I see is a show that's become a parody of itself. In the past, Honey G would have been the type of act who was featured in the audition eps as a 'bad auditionee' - the ones we were supposed to point and laugh at as they made a fool of themselves, before the judges told them they weren't through. Now, the judges are praising her to the heavens, which shows how ludicrous XF has become!

If I had to chose the 'Jump The Shark' moment for XF, it would either be the 'asking the judges to dump one of their acts in the first live show, only to have to bring one back several weeks later' debacle, or the 'making a contestant sing a song which featured in Peter Kay's XF spoof':-

'Geraldine' (Peter Kay)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzSuwklObyQ

Storm Lee (XF contestant)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt2QUEejWdI

Agreed. After getting beaten by Countryfile (again), you think Simon would stop his interfering bullshit, but nope. The man just does not know when to stop, he is ruining his own show. I say 'ruining', I mean HAS ruined his own show. I'd be interesting to see how many votes this show actually generates, I imagine not a lot of revenue because who could be stupid enough to still vote.

Good post. If people don't vote it's hardly the producers fault.

I blame the show because I knew at the beginning, before casting, that they wanted a male winner. I knew before Judges Houses that the best male singers would be screwed because they wanted a POP male winner, preferable boy band but with a strong enough voice for solo.

There is a thread now burried a few pages in called "Whats Really going On" in which I explained a lot of what I *know* not *guessed*, based on pesonal experience over the years and secondhand because I have coached my share of excellent vocalists, some of whom did not heed my warning about the way these shows operate, and yes, a few who were lucky enough to fit what was wanted and do well.

Relley is out for the same reason the best vocalists with marketability who did not fit what they were planning and investing in already were out before the public got a say-because she is not a male pop act and is so good she might have overcome crappy edits and mixes. Again, before you try to dismiss this, please have a look at the what is really going on here thread. I said much in it that needed to be said, and explains that I am not just sad for Relley, who deserved better. I am disgusted at the way the show lures in real talent with fake promises.This year, the arrogance and condescending way they think the public will fall for anything and talent can be treated poorly was just too much. It very much *is* "the producers' "fault".

To be fair, there is enough public awareness of the X-Factor that people should know to stay away. Really the only acts who should be entering are the very young who are happy to be "moulded" by Syco, or those who see it as their last shot.

A lot go on there just so they can get some exposure as many would not get this without having good backing or the finances behind them.

So you had preconceptions? That rather throws your objectivity off from the start!

I don't need to read any threads about conspiracy theories. They turn up every year and they're always nonsense, as far as I'm concerned.

Now you're saying choosing a girl band over a girl was because they wanted a male to win? You realise that makes no sense!

If you're talking about the lifeline, that was down to the public and Ryan will never win so it has no bearing on anything.

People cry conspiracy when results don't go to their preferences but, given that they've been going to my preferences I don't see a fix here. I see good decisions!

I suggest you check out Singy's credentials , most on this forum know that she KNOWS exactly what she's talking about and yes that word is KNOWS not guesses or thinks!!!

i would assume if you didn't agree with her then you wouldn't be saying that, this is what is called confirmation bias

anyone can come on an anonymous discussion forum and claim to have inside knowledge

for example i'm really simon cowell and can say that all your theories are nonsense ...

You are of course absolutely right anyone can pretend to be anyone Simon!
But from a personal standpoint I would have never made the statement above without being 100% sure

forgive me if i dont take the less than objective opinion from a supposed personal friend of the contestant about someone making comments about said contestant that support their already biased opinion

I wish there was a like button

Singy clearly isn't lying - she knows what's what every year she expresses things - she knows what she is talking about and i value her opinion and what she has to say because at least it's constructive and she knows what a load of bs the show is and how manipulative it is - I for one enjoy reading her posts

This show would've been better if there was some competition for Matt Terry in the voting.

Yes there are more talented people at the lives than Matt, I don't think that it can be denied, but they're all in styles that will be more marmite than the average "nice guy" Matt.

The sick joke will be that if Matt gets more interesting in his performances then he will leave the gap open for the next average act to take the crown (5 After Midnight)

This show has the public vote on more than just the performances sadly.

It's about looks, likability, staging, time slots, judges comments, where the acts come from, and the worst of them all is voting for an act based on who the judge is, it's not Football where it's in teams for god sake.

My opinions on Relley are far from objective.....I've never made any secret of this on DS.
When i said Singy has the correct credentials to know what she is talking about I was not referring to her comments about how good or otherwise Relley is but to her knowledge regarding the mechanics of the show

Thrombin, I have experience and knowledge of what goes on. I did not suspect, I heard through channels what producers were looking for this year. I also for the first time publicly said so. I did have a close personal friend make it to Judges House this year, who was easily one of the best and most marketable vocalists and got the worst edit I have ever seen. Notice I have not complained about or mentioned them by name here. It is about more than just one person being treated wrong. It is about the general way the show operates.

What I will say is, again, please read tha "What's Really Going On: thread. I explain a lot there that I won't repeat here , because it was lengthy and detailed .

Also, while I love Relley's voice, I also appreciate plenty of the acts ,including those still "in".
Saara has a lovely voice, though she belongs in a different place musically than X Factor.
Gifty has a unique tone and x factor to spare.
Though I know (and posted long before the lives) of knowing Matt/Ryan/Borroks or Boyband would be in and make the finals/likely win, I actually think Matt has a really good, strong pop vocal and 5AM are also quite good.They deserve success.

Again, my issue is with the show/producers, and the way they treat acts and lure and lead them on, not with any of the acts themselves. I have seen a few succeed thanks to the show, and have doors opened, but that does not excuse the way too many are misrepresented to the point where even some finaliss regret their choice to be on the show. It is so easy to say they should have known better but...well, again, read the whats really going on thread if you care to know.

Great read Singy, and well said.

Indeed, in fact they all represent everything that is wrong about the music business these days,choosing gimmick over talent.

Please can you give me link to 'whats really going on' page as I looked and can not spot it thank you

I have no issue with the producers having a preference for the type of acts they hope will win or the mix of acts they'd like on the show. I also don't see how a bad edit is relevant if an act isn't picked. Surely the edit only affects the public who vote, not the judges making the decisions at judges' houses?

The way I see it, the edit is a narrative that is largely written after the resutls are decided. They won't want to concentrate too much on someone they know wasn't picked because that will upset viewers. Better to give the people who get picked the most favourable exposure so that the public see a happy result to the story they've been following.

That doesn't mean that the choices weren't down to the judges, though. I think the fact that Louis failed to pick Four of Diamonds is a clear indication that the judges are making their own decisions - as neglecting a complete genre / gender like that was a big mistake from the point of view of a balanced show.

Edits don't influence my own ability to judge performances and I haven't had any problem with who has left so far. Nor would I have any problem with Matt winning as I think he's given the best performances.

In terms of the sing-off decisions, The first two weeks went to deadlock, which is the opposite of what you'd want to do if you'd been directed to save one act over the other and the assumption that they're looking for a male winner has no bearing on the decision between Relley and Four of Diamonds who are both female.

So what specifically did the show-makers do that caused Relley to be in the bottom two? I thought she sang pretty well that night although I haven't been overly blown away over previous weeks.

Or are you blaming them for saving Four of Diamonds over Relley? If so, I don't see how that helps them achieve a male winner one way or the other.

i agree with most of the above but iirc they didn't take it to deadlock in week one when the bacofoil boys were eliminated did they ?

what you are describing tho is something we see every single year on these forums, fans of acts will use every excuse in the book to try and rationalise their favourite getting sent home rather than just accept they weren't good enough

The flash vote is the big problem as its riciculous to give the bottom three chance to escape. Ryan will almost certainly be bottom again this weekend, and will be saved yet again with the flash vote, ath expense of a better singer going home.

The shows biggest issue is that it can't seem to decide if it wants to re-connect with Young viewers or be a 'Saturday Night Variety Show' ala Strictly and Britain's Got Talent.

Over the last 5 years attempts have been made to make the show younger, such as hiring Tulisa, Kelly Rowland, Rita Ora & Nick Grimshaw. Introduction of App voting, discussions about Tweets etc But we also had the 2013 series which had a '10 year Anniversary' theme, an older winner and Sharon came back.

Then this year they've got Louis & Sharon back and are making a fairly young lineup of acts (even the Overs are relatively young compared to some years) but are again making them sing old songs and themes. They can't seem to decide which audience they are going after.

I also think the judges performances are getting worse and worse, Sharon, Louis & Nicole don't seem to care at all this year and are just turning up for a laugh and a big pay cheque. Whereas even a few years ago there was at least the pretence that they were close the acts and had been mentoring them each week, now they barely know their names.

The themes have long been an issue, time to scrap them and just let the acts sing what they want. If they keep choosing the same genre viewers will get bored so naturally they will vary it up. Instead this Saturday we will sit through another year of 'Ghostbusters' a slowed-down dramatic version of 'Thriller' and whatever else is in the 'been there, done that' song list.