I enjoyed both a lot, but felt the talent in the Maria show was higher than Joseph overall.

I enjoyed them both, but the big difference for me is that I got more attached to the Josephs and felt more worried about them. Why is that? I don't know but I somehow felt they were more vulnerable and after a few weeks I really didn't want any of them to be voted off.

Will be interesting to see the reviews lee gets and if he can have the same success Connie has enjoyed, hope so as he fully deserves it.

Enjoyed the Josephs better.... I wonder why ?

Hope Lee has more stamina than Connie, she really looks worn out poor girl

I agree, for some reason the boys seemed much more vulnerable and they wore their hearts on their sleeves much more than the girls. You really felt for them more and more as the weeks went on. It's the Josephs for me

Well I never got into Maria that much so it wouldn't be a fair comparison (and I never warmed to Connie who I felt would win so ...)

On the other hand I probably got into Joseph far too deeply. In fact its time for another addicts meeting.. .

Enjoyed both programmes and both a lot more than Grease (watched one but didn't enjoy it). Probably Joseph just edged it over Maria's but on the whole thought the Maria's were probably more consistent singers over the series.

I thought the overall standard of talent on Maria was better, but as Lula Mae said, I never warmed to Connie either. I also thought the song choices were better on Maria. But I got hooked on Joseph. Apart from the lovely Lee I can't quite figure out why I got so obsessed, but I think maybe because I enjoyed Maria so much I was excited about Joseph from the start...

so all in all, they're about level

The overall standard of Maria was better, the song choices was better and the choreography was better the Maria missions were slightly less pointless and I loved that all the Maria's were strong and level headed and some like Abi had great personalities which shined through. But I loved Joseph because it was longer and we really got to know the Joseph and see them improve and develop, and as others have said I never warmed to the two judges favourites in Maria, Connie and Siobhan and the favouritism ruined it a bit for me.

Oh and also the exit song is miles better in Joseph, the Maria one was so twee and cheesy.

I think he has. He says in interviews that he is in good shape (well we wouldn't argue with that! ) but he does seem to realise you have to be on top form to do 8 shows a week.

I preferred the Josephs but of course I didn't fall instantly in love with any of the Marias!

I also enjoyed both programmes.

However, the overall standard of Maria was better, there was less crying, less weeping girlfriends, better comments from the judges and better song choice.

But then there is Daniel.....

So difficult to say really!!

I didnt see maria. The first time I saw connie sing was during the final of adwd and i didnt understand the fuss. It may be that she's tired. It may be that Julie Andrews is a far higher standard to live up to than Jason Donovan, it may just be i didnt see her journey.

I've since seen some bits on youtube and really really prefer Jospeh, especially agree about the difference in exit song.

Actually i think its close every door that marks the widest gulf, almost all the Josephs were at their best when leaving and almost every time it was oh no why did he go there was so much more to give.

She is honestly a lot better on stage than she was in the final. She had two SOM performances that night so I expect she was saving her voice for them, especially since her voice still isn't 100%.

I don't see why a journey is needed, she is great as Maria and is very talented.

(And thats coming from someone who wasn't a fan in the show and thinks that the alternate Maria- Aoife who came fourth, is better)

wasn't she in the final at the time she would normally have been on stage though? i assumed she wasn't on stage that night

agree about the leaving song on Joseph being better btw, though both were cruel, it was fantastic ... whoever came up with that idea should be fast-tracked to BBC Controller asap, they have a sick sense of humour and I love it!

It was pre-recorded but made to look live.

But yes both leaving songs were very funny and cruel. The Maria one was more sadistic in a way because So Long Farwell is quite a light hearted song, cruelly ironic. At least if you cried in Close Every Door it actually was in character.

ah right! I was thinking she was skiving from the day job to be on the final

I preferred marginally Maria, I think, but David Ian was off-putting in that.

I'm sure he has.... he did really well in the barricades challenge whereas she was less than useless when the Marias did an obstacle course.

I'm sure he has and (preparing to get shot down here ) the role of Joseph is probably not as demanding as Maria. He only really has 2 possibly 3 big songs with other bits and pieces throughout. It's the narrator that's going to need the stamina.

I do think that is a fair commet, Electrat.

josephs! by far!

it probably has something to do with the fact that they are all men which makes me seem really sad and superficial. I think i just found the boys a lot easier to feel like i got to know them if that makes sense. Yes the girls were good singers but i didnt really feel any fondness towards them although i loved the show.

I think there are a couple of reasons for this. Firstly Joseph was on for longer, so we had more time to get attatched to the boys and watch them develop, Maria was way too short IMO.

Secondly the girls were generally older and more experienced than the boys. I've said that I liked the fact that the girls were strong, grounded and professional, but at the same time it meant we didn't get to know them as people, just as performers. The Josephs were much more open with their feelings.

Thirdly there was more extra stuff with Josephs, more interviews, podcasts etc. Joseph was simply bigger than Maria, because they built on Maria's sucess.

The only time I ever felt really emotional during Maria was the semifinal with the Abi/Aoife sing off, and Abi (in tears)afterwards saying that ALW made the right decision .

One thing that was good about Maria is that we saw more vt footage of rehersals, like when Abi re-watched her first performance ('can we watch neighbours instead?' ) and when ALW watched one of Aoife's rehersals and started crying.

I agree. I think how much you can get to know the contestants really can affect how much you get into the programme. With maria, i never really got emotional. I had my favourites and i had times when i disagreed with ALW but i never felt truly gutted when someone went out.

Compare that with ADWD, i got probably too emotionally involved!! I cried for the first time when Rob went out because he'd been pretty much folliowed through since the very beginning and i thought he'd get further. Then after that every single week i'd be a wreck!

I really dont think that BBC realise just how popular this show (or should i say this "joe") is...

awwww (((((ben hugs)))))

I have too much time on my hands and have been thinking about the concept of Any Dream Will Do (How do you solve a problem like Maria)....

Was ALW being realistic in his hope for a Joseph...?

He wanted some young and poppy, but they had to be mature enough to handle the role.

He wanted someone who could sing, dance and act but without having played a lead part before.

He wanted some fresh and keen to grow into the role with only 5 weeks of rehearsals.

Someone who could take criticism, and handle the pressure of 8 live shows a week.

Plus have stage presence and be able to hold an audience for 2 hours.

Did he really believe he would find this in the younger Josephs?