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ITV READ THIS: Our suggestions to improve the show for Series 5


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Old 16-12-2007, 22:42
rzt
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THIS IS THE THREAD for DS users to post your format critisicms of the X Factor and your suggestions to improve the show for series 5. Please don't post unconstructive critisicms such as "X should have won... blah blah blah." Serious suggestions only.

ITV, we all know you read these forums, so please take our views into account, to make series 5 the best ever. Please post your suggestions below. Thanks.
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Here is my extremely long list of suggestions:
- Judges no longer mentor the contestants- this means that we will get proper constructive critcism from judges, and also the judges' votes will be genuine.

Here is how I would do the format:
Auditions:
* The auditions will run over 4 weeks, full of 8 shows. One show on Saturday, one show on another day of the week (possibly wednesday at 8pm).
* Each show will focus on one city only. However, London will have 2 shows (first and last shows), because it is the city with the most auditions.
* Show much more proper talent, but also obviously have some crap novelty acts to laugh at.
* Still have the same four judges.
* BAN sob stories and background stories.
* No more stupid things where the narrator says: "The start of the day was terrible with all the acts failing." [shows clips of shite people]... "Then Mr X came in, and impressed the judges. This sparked off a series of good people going through."
* No more emotional music in the background when people are put through or are out.

Bootcamp:
* This will run over one weekend full of four 1 hour shows (2 on saturday at 6:30-7:30 and 8:30-9:30, and 2 on sunday at 6:00-7:00 and 8:00-9:00).
* Four shows mean we will see double of bootcamp, compared to this year. We will then see more singing, instead of 10 seconds of someone singing.
* Each episode will focus on each category. There will be four judges for bootcamp like this year.
* The first 45 mins will show the contestants performances. The last 15 mins will show the judges putting the contestants through.
* So by the end of bootcamp, each category will have 6 acts left.

Semi Finals Week
* There will no longer be any judges' houses.
* There will be five shows in the week (from saturday to wednesday).
* Each show, a different category will perform. The shows will be in a studio, but not the live show studio.
* The six contestants will sing, and at the end of performance shows, one randomly picked judge will have the chance to put 1 contestant through to the live finals.
* The remaining five contestants will go up for the public vote.
* On Wednesday, there will be a results show, where the top 2 acts from each category from the public vote will be put through to the final 12.

Live Finals
* Similar to previous years where it will be weekly, and one act will be eliminated each week (apart from maybe a shock double eviction).
* Have a LIVE BAND. Makes the whlle thing classsier and better.
* Keep themed weeks, but keep the themes broad. So NO: abba or barry manilow week. More such as: songs from movies, love songs, no.1 hits, top songs of the 90s, etc.
* Let the acts pick their own songs, perhaps with some help from the vocal coaches.
* Less emphasis on the judges. AT the start of the show, dont have them coming out. Just get on with the show.
* Judges need to give more constructive criticism (this will probs happen because they will no longer be mentors).
* Keep the judges vote.
* Get rid of that awful voice over man... cant take him seriously... he just reminds me of those e4 ads.
* Get rid of the dramatic music being played all the time. They need to make the atmosphere more calm and stylish like strictly come dancing.
* Tell the audience to stop f*kin applauding and chearing so much... so annoying!
* Sort out the sound levels... sometimes the background music drowns out the singer.
* Have the final in a large amazing setting. e.g. Royal Albert Hall.
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Old 16-12-2007, 22:43
GonzoTheGreat
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axe it and bring back Pop Idol
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Old 16-12-2007, 22:44
beast1982
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Couldnt agree more in regards to the sob stories. We dont like them and neither do the contestants!!!!

And be honest with us, if someone has had a record deal before, say, then at least we can base our opinions on facts!

Whilst im on that subject, isnt the basis of the show to discover talent rather than rehash people who have worked in the industry??If so, do that eg Leon was a good example whereas Niki and Daniel dont fit into the criteria if this is the pretence of the show
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Old 16-12-2007, 22:45
Katharine_1987
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No sob stories.

Do not enphasize where the contestant is from- a la "Battle of Britain" and Louis always introducing his act as "so and so from X place".

Have more phone lines to vote in the later stages.
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Old 16-12-2007, 22:46
brumster
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axe it and bring back Pop Idol
hear hear!
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Old 16-12-2007, 22:51
Daewos
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1. No dead daddies, missing mummies, bullying stories and do not allow anyone competing to love their mother.

2. Brick up Lou Lou's mouth, or sack him again

3. Sack Fearne Cotton

4. Ignore forums - they are not representative of public opinion.
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Old 16-12-2007, 22:52
beast1982
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No more mentoring. Then the judges wont vote off better acts who are a threat to their own acts!

This is unfair imo. The best talent should get thru week on week, not who the judges want to get thru because they represent them.

It should be joint mentoring
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Old 16-12-2007, 22:53
Lord Harlow
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Get contemporary guest stars. This year was better than series 3 for modern guests, but seriously we need artists who are topping the charts now. Okay, they've not got the records and high figures but they've certainly got the fans in the demographic of the XF audience. I'd like to see these next year: Leona, Shayne Ward, Leon (they'd ave to), Rihanna, Hard-Fi etc... even bands like that should be on TXF.

Get the judges more involved...this year they were more impartial towards the acts, but I'd like to see the judges really fighting for their acts and working with them too. Back in series 2 final, all the judges went back home with their acts...and you got the feeling they cared. This year, you didnt detect that.

New songlist...add more contemporary and varied songs to what the judges/acts can choose from.

Get the good acts to the end! When you watch the auditions, you see some really very good people who've the looks and the talent and they sail through to bootcamp, you are really optimistic for the series...then you never see them again. I swear there were some people in eliminated in bootcamp who were far better than many of the top 12.

Get a regular schedule...theres no Rugby World Cup next year...so fix the X Factor onto a regular start time...say 7.00 or something, preferably not clashing with SCD.

Scrap the themes...I think the show worked better without them.

Change the middle of the competition round...boot camp and judges home are a bit boring...they need livening up...how about live heats like back in Pop Idol?
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Old 16-12-2007, 22:55
oilcat
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axe it and bring back Pop Idol
Not a bad idea...........so

Get rid of the mentor idea......go to the tried and trusted format of AI, three judges who dont have a vested intrest in "their acts" it would stop the silly tactical voting by the judges.....in fact scrap the judges vote.Bottom two sing again for viewers votes.

Get rid of Louis and Sharon......get rid of Friedman and his crap dancers..........Dermot and Fearne can go also.
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Old 16-12-2007, 22:56
C14E
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I posted this in October.

The Auditions:
They might as well drop Danii. I don't think she's really added much to the show. If they can find someone decent (perhaps someone lesser known from behind the scenes but more "up to date" than Louis or Simon). Most importantly, I'd cut the sob stories out. I'd also like to see them cut the shows back to 4 or 5 instead of 6. Suggestions for how to replace them are included later. Some people have said that the first auditions with the producers are ignoring talent for stories. Stop this and start looking for personalities, entertainers, something different and of course, good singers. I'd also put the age limit back to 16. Another important change would be stopping the routine of every day starting badly and then brightening up with one brilliant sob story.

Boot Camp and Judges Houses:
I'd like more time spent at bootcamp. Some of the people we saw alot of at auditions vanished suddenly at boot camp. It should be the first step of getting to know people. Again, no sob stories and far less crying!

I'd also like to see some kind of semi-final or wildcard round to give the viewers more of a say. Perhaps the judges could pick 2 or 3 of their final acts and those that just miss out would have the chance to compete for the viewers vote to make the finals? An alternative is that the fourth judge would have the "wildcard" category. All their acts would be selected by the viewers. They would have one 16-24, one 25+ and one group.

Live Shows:
The challenge of the live shows is to balance some great performances with entertainment. Firstly, I would cut out the themed weeks. I liked series one and two where contestants played to their strengths, looked more comfortable and offered a wider selection of music that could satisfy everyone.

The sob stories are being used as a way of showing a "human" side to the performers. Without this, there needs to be a new way of "connecting" with the finalists. I'd like to see more opportunity for contestants to respond to the judges and possibly a "Green Room" where they can speak away from the cameras and perhaps answer a viewers question instead of the often over-acted VT's.

I'd also put Fearne on the live shows alongside Dermot to help with this. I'd have 3 acts in the final as this worked well in series 2 and also allows for someone to drop out due to family reasons or illness. I'd love to see the final be more of a "red carpet" event like American Idol. Hold it somewhere like the Royal Albert Hall or even the O2 arena.
Tbh, I don't know what to do about the judges. It's missing something this year. Jonathan Shalit, Cathy Dennis, Guy Chambers and others could be asked, but it might ruin a winning formula. I don't like Sharon and Louis, but it works pretty well.

Live Band.

Impose quotas on song choices. For example, at least 50% of choices must have been released in the past 10 years etc. Get better guests, contemporary acts that appeal to the younger viewers ... not Buble and Duran Duran.

Change the results show format. The first 15 minutes are a waste of time with endless plugs for the guests and no action. The judges are the shows biggest asset, talk to them about the night. Have a more thorough recap, as they do on AI, talk to the contestants etc.

Improve choreography (e.g sack Freidman). Get a new stylist.
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Old 16-12-2007, 22:56
beast1982
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I agree with live heats definitely!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Also scrap the genres, if someone is a great singer but their genre isnt swing then it puts them at an unfair disadvantage
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Old 16-12-2007, 22:56
PJMillar
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I don't think you should be criticising a brilliant series of this year's X Factor, backed up by the overwhelming audience figures. And you will be shocked next year by a new style X Factor.
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Old 16-12-2007, 22:59
Lord Harlow
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Make the results show longer and feature more interactive areas. Remember the X Factor pod back in series 1?
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Old 16-12-2007, 23:00
C14E
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axe it and bring back Pop Idol
Without Pete and Simon? And then probably without Ant & Dec and Foxy? With an even more limited talent pool? Keeping these awful theme weeks?

No more mentoring. Then the judges wont vote off better acts who are a threat to their own acts!

This is unfair imo. The best talent should get thru week on week, not who the judges want to get thru because they represent them.

It should be joint mentoring
So long as the other judges make the right decision then their mentors decisions are irrelevant. It always comes down to the 2 or 3 who don't have an act in the bottom.
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Old 16-12-2007, 23:01
One and Only
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Good suggestions Lord Harlow.

I'll add to your ideas by saying that Sharon should go and that there should be only three categories

groups
under 25
over 25.

I'd also sack the horrendous Fearne on ITV2 and plead with Syco to just spend the money and bring in real musicians every week.

Finally I'd ensure that there were more telephone lines available for the final.
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Old 16-12-2007, 23:10
andrewisasecret
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No rediculous sob stories neither. For a while Leon's sob story was that his mum was single. Then it was that he worked in a clothes shop. Honestly.. he had nothing to cry about really, don't bother with a sob story for him!
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Old 16-12-2007, 23:10
rivercity_rules
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1. Promote Fearne

2. Introduce a Green Room backstage, like SCD, let the contestants reply with Fearne in Charge in the Green Room, then they can reply and we could possibly get to hear what they say rather than the stupid cheering over the top of what is said.

3. Change the mentor format, it is needed otherwise it is just Pop Idol and then its not Cowells format, not his show, so never ever going to happen. Have a Lottery of acts, the judges work together to put through 4 acts from under 25s, over 25s and groups. Each Judge gets to pick first once, 2nd once, 3rd once in a category. Then they can't blame the category they have on why they can't win.

4. A Live heat, The act left from each category goes through to a live heat. One song each, one person voted winner, they can then choose a mentor. leaving us with 13 contestants in the final, which with the same time frame as this year but with a double eviction or two should leave us with a suitable final line up.

5. Keep Brian Friedman, acts like SD would never have got to the finals without a proper choreographer in the background teaching them.

6. Reduce Voting costs and let us vote during the week for who we want to win. Encourages more votes, and somewhat eliminate the unfair dis/advantage gained by going first or last.

7. Allow us to vote for songs, let mentors choose 2 or 3 possible songs and have an online vote (one vote each) to decide what song is sung. Increases hits on website, increased charge for advertising etc would be good for the show.

8. This would mean more people were on the website, so more webisodes of contestant interviews, rehersal footage, biographies, get the sob stories off the tv. Let them sing for longer on the early shows by cutting the VTs and letting those who really care find out for themselves all about the contestants.

9. Cut down the number of Audition shows.
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Old 16-12-2007, 23:13
madmaniac
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During the auditions, they play background music when the judges are making a decision.

Depending on the choice of track played in the background, you know for certain that most of the time, the judges will allow that person through (normally some stupid sob story as well).

It's too predictable and leaves no suspence. Don't play any music whilst the judges are saying "yes or no" so it leaves a little anticipation. They just kill it with the editing.

Also, less of the sob stories. They all begin to sound the same.
Yes you have a hard life but we all do.
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Old 16-12-2007, 23:18
Starryeyes
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Someone, somewhere, invent a 'one phone, one vote' system.

I don't know how it would work getting money- perhaps you would have to register your phone to vote at all- say pay a fiver at the beginning of the series, then the usual costs per vote.

I hate it when people vote more than once- it makes me so angry!
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Old 17-12-2007, 20:16
rzt
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Someone, somewhere, invent a 'one phone, one vote' system.

I don't know how it would work getting money- perhaps you would have to register your phone to vote at all- say pay a fiver at the beginning of the series, then the usual costs per vote.

I hate it when people vote more than once- it makes me so angry!
ITV would never do that, because they wouldnt generate as much money.
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Old 17-12-2007, 20:17
Sleeper Service
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Axe it. We've reached the bottom of the talent pool and there's no value in dredging the sludge anymore.

Now bands - I mean proper bands who play musical instruments - that would be good.
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Old 17-12-2007, 20:22
trinity2002
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Stop the mentoring and stop the theme nights. It's ridiculous to expect the acts to be THAT versatile - we don't expect it with the established artists why should we with X Factor acts. Let them perform to their talents, if they're not good enough then the public decide. In the last 2 series I truly believe that some good acts may have succumbed too early because of the theme nights.
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Old 17-12-2007, 20:25
C14E
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Axe it. We've reached the bottom of the talent pool and there's no value in dredging the sludge anymore.

Now bands - I mean proper bands who play musical instruments - that would be good.
Perhaps the producers just aren't looking hard enough for the talent? I think the level varies, XF2 was far higher than PI2 and XF1, for example.

As for the bands show, I think it's unlikely. I wouldn't mind seeing some kind of band on XF (they would all need to be able to sing, obviously) but they tried a show like this in the US (made by the makers of Pop Idol and American Idol) and it flopped badly so I can't see anyone trying it over here in primetime.
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Old 17-12-2007, 20:27
C14E
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Stop the mentoring and stop the theme nights. It's ridiculous to expect the acts to be THAT versatile - we don't expect it with the established artists why should we with X Factor acts. Let them perform to their talents, if they're not good enough then the public decide. In the last 2 series I truly believe that some good acts may have succumbed too early because of the theme nights.
That's one of the things I really liked about the early series compared to Pop Idol. There was such a wide selection each night, people just did what suited them best and there were no excuses about "oh, disco isn't my thing".
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Old 17-12-2007, 20:52
A Cillay
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Here I go some may seem extreme but these are a few ideas of mine:

- There are six judges, Sharon, Louis, Dannii, Simon, Brian and Billie Piper and the judges get paired e.g Sharon and Louis, Dannii and Brian and Billie and Simon, they each mentor one of the original categories, 14-24 (boys and girls), Groups, and 25+, in the live stages they all sit on seperate desks.

- Remove themed weeks, each acts should be free to choose which genre suits them best.

- The bottom two should stay, however each group of judges has to put one not two names foward for them to save however has the least votes leaves.

- 1 vote only per hone per act, I know profits would take a hit but we would then ensure acts who have potental get through.
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