Same with all these shows the weekly sing offs and backstage edits are as much a 'story' with everyone having their parts as any tv soap :sleep:

Well said. That is the true requirement of theatre performances. Theatre-goers, who go to a see a show whether or not it has been on TV, want the best performance, not the most popular, cutest, etc.

Too true
I've never been to a theatre show where I've checked out the starring roles personal life.
Just the same as when I buy a cd..if I like the song I buy it don't give a fig if it's sung by a k**b

That is sooooo true. It was obvious that Chris B and a few others were going to be saved when the tears started flowing. How in heaven's name are they going to cope with live theatre?

Before Ben started singing in the sing off I was absolutely convinced he was going home and Seamus had it in the bag but don't know where but that boy pulled off an amazing emotional performance and I am sure ALW was going on that. He couldn't ignore the audience reaction so in my opinion ALW was spot on. The fact I think Seamus is a jumped up prat has not coloured my view in the slightest Then he has to sing been promised my own show just put the icing on the cake There is a god after all

Sums up my thoughts perfectly.

I think Seamus was as good as he was going to be whilst Ben has improved and has the potential to improve further. It's also unlikely that Seamus would have won in the end. So, whilst I agree that Seamus was better than Ben tonight, ALW was right to save Ben in order to see how much better he can get.

Whether Seamus or Ben should have stayed I really get the impression ALW would like to steer the comp. towards a Lewis/Keith final and using Ben along the way to keep these two in and lose the older guys.

Just can't see it being anything other than a Lee/Daniel final though.

Totally agree. Seamus does have the better voice but he didn't make the effort in the sing off.
Must admit Seamus' reaction to it all has made my night though. Hilarious. What an ****.

Absolutely. We wouldn't know anything about the personality of the actor cast in the role, and ticket sales would be based on their performance.

No I thought Seamus was poor tonight - bland and boring. Not a huge fan of Ben but he did a much better job of the sing off than Seamus did.

I'm glad Ben stayed. Seamus just had too much bad 'tude for my liking.

And did you see how reluctant he was to give up his Joseph coat? LOL

ALW madehis feelings perfectly clear about the views of the GBP at the beginning of the show when he as good as said that we got it wrong last week (which we did but that'snot the point).

The point is that he has put this in the hands of the GBP and he cannot have his cake and eat it. Either he wants the publicity for the show and as such has to put up with what we think and what we want, or he disregards anything other than his own views and just employs who he wants to employ and forgets a show such as this.

You cannot take it to the public, then tell them they are idiots and are picking the wrong people.

Quite agree JJ

I think the fact that Seamus has got a great voice is not the key factor here. I will say now that he has talent butthe fact is ALW asked for an emotional performance and Seamus thought as he was only up against Ben that all he had to do was belt out the number and thank you and goodnight.

It was not the case though, as there was no emotion or any show of acting in his performance at all, where Ben made the song his own and was totally emotional.

I think those who do not think that Seamus attitude should not be a problem should think about the fact that he would have to work with a hell of a lot of other people in the show who might get a tad annoyed with him, as I would not want to work with someone that thought he knew better than everyone else.

I have said all that, I still think the one major factor that cost Seamus his place is the fact that he forgot the words when he was singing with his mother there in front of ALW and Denise. If he has the attitude that he knows best then as ALW said, in his position as a singing teacher he should not be forgetting the lyrics at this stage of things, as he should be rising above the others that had forgotten the lyrics and proved how good he thinks he is.

One word...mistake.

yes exactly - why do these type of shows always revert to type? So frustrating - I love this show - but ALW made the wrong decision - Seamus, despite the personal view Andrew had about him - was the better singer and should have gone through.

I see your point but on the other end of the scale, Seamus has been constantly criticised for his age, his arrogance, his this, his that, so it is understandable that he suffered nerves at that point, as did Lewis, Keith and Chris (who seemed to have a wider margin for error with the judges) ok maybe he has come across as arrogant or that could be his pride - his protection mechanism - either way IMO Andrew made the wrong decision tonight and I suspect it was on a personal basis - which is not very professional.

This is what really annoys me about the whole set up. His Justin T/MJ guy he wants. If he wants that so much he should have gone and looked for it and just taken them on.
ALW has more arrogance in his little finger than Seamus could achieve in a lifetime.
As you say he wants the publicity and for us to spend money voting and then spend lots of money going to the show so it should be the publics choice not his.

I think ALW had it right tonight. Afterall Seamus came bottom in the public vote, so it wasn't all down to Andrew. He didn't have a very likable personality, and I don't think he would have been able to win the overall contest anyway. As John pointed out to him the other week, he needed to know how to work in a team in order to be successful, and he just dismissed the advice. Whilst his age worked in his favour in some areas (i.e he didn't have beserk family supporters), it worked against him in others - he assumed he knew best, so wouldn't listen to anyone's advice.

His "conspiracy theory" comment was a stupid thing to say - and I don't know what reaction he expected to get, however I thought he looked slightly shocked when the audience started to boo slightly.

Personally - I think it was right for him to go - certainly considering the final two.

I agree with most that Seamus has the stronger voice, although Ben sang better in the sing-off.

ALW's decision, in my view, was based on one or both of these factors:

1) Seamus's unlikable, or 'difficult', personality

2) ALW already having his winner in mind, and wanting to eliminate any serious competition

With regard to the performers in musicals not having to be likable, yes, I agree, it is irrelevant in a regular show, but this show is a different case, simply because TV viewers will have formed an opinion of the lead based on what they have observed over the course of this series. That makes it different from a regular show.

Completely agree. Ben's been bad the past 2 weeks, and tonight he was only marginally better.

I couldn't see Ben holding the stage as Joseph, not for a few years. Seamus had it all, and was one of the leading men of the bunch, I'm baffled as to why Lloyd-Webber chose to eliminate him?

he let his personal feelings creep in I thought.

Exactly - what does the personality of the performer matter? I'd much rather see Seamus than most of the others even if he is as arrogant as we've been led to believe.

I didn't like the way ALW implied that as Seamus was so unpopular it would be wise to get rid of him - after all, Ben's the one that's been in the bottom 2 twice... I'm still really annoyed about this decision.

If Seamus had been eliminated in favour of someone good, I wouldn't be half as angry. But I just think Ben has an ok voice, is an ok singer, an ok actor, is kind of cute if you like children and is just generally average. Maybe in a few years time he'll mature into a really good performer, but there's absolutely no way he's there yet.