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Susan Boyle
16 Apr 2009 13:50I don't watch so-called "reality TV" - cue roars of derision for "not knowing what I'm talking about" - as it has become the breeding ground for the worst personal trait in this country right now; the thirst for celebrity purely for celebrity's sake. The "Primark Princess", whom I am sworn NEVER to mention by name - even now she's dead - was the epitome of this repellant phenomenon, "born", "raised" and buried in the harsh, uncaring light of the cookie-cutter celebrity machine, and we can only hope her example spells the death of this rather grubby business...
However, the machine keeps on churning, and every once in a while, a gem rises to the surface, and on this occasion, it's an uncut gem, yet to be clincially - some would say cynically - polished by the publicity men. The gem in question is one Susan Boyle, a woman with a truly wonderful singing voice. My mother told me about her, having seen a piece on the news about her performance on the latest "talent show" - the kind of thing that should be called "Britain's Next Teenage Beyonce Clone" - and I visited the BBC News website to investigate further (ah, the joys of broadband). That's as close as I've been to "reality TV" since the infamous Shilpa Shetty racism incident (involving the aforementioned "P.P."), but it was a worthwhile experience...
...and a joy to watch the smug looks, with teeth gritted in anticipation of an embarrassing performance, getting wiped off the faces of judges and audience as that woman began to sing.
Thanks to "The Magic Interweb", she's now a worldwide star - she's achieved more in one performance than many ever will, including the many now creeping out of the woodwork to vent scorn, or suggest that the whole thing has been engineered. These critics, often international, may, however, be unaware of, or have forgotten about recent scandals surrounding mainly independent TV stations, such as ITV, the makers and broadcasters of this particular "talent show", and the many cases of dodgy phone-ins, including phone voting for programmes such as this, leading to hefty fines and huge refunding schemes. The UK viewing public simply will not stand for any more fakery and manipulation, especially on the most viewed programme of the Easter weekend. ITV is already on shaky ground, as the axe swings to make cuts to compensate for "The Recession", and a scandal on this scale would wipe them out, no doubt about it.
I really hope this story is all "above board", and that we are seeing a true story of an underdog making good with pure, unembellished talent. Anything else would be a colossal slap in the face, and in the current social climate, where "good news" stories are very thin on the ground, the outrage would be terrible to behold.
Good luck, Susan.
This just in... Ha ha ha! Gordon Brown apologises! Bit too late for that, methinks. "Harmless banter between blokes", my arse...
Development news... The latest "work in progress" for The Darkhawk Diaries is picking up speed. It may be anything from a couple of paragraphs to half a page at a time, but it's progress, and that works for me.
Coming (very) soon... There could be a "season premiere" posting for The Secret Adventures of Mane-of-Night this weekend, or next...
However, the machine keeps on churning, and every once in a while, a gem rises to the surface, and on this occasion, it's an uncut gem, yet to be clincially - some would say cynically - polished by the publicity men. The gem in question is one Susan Boyle, a woman with a truly wonderful singing voice. My mother told me about her, having seen a piece on the news about her performance on the latest "talent show" - the kind of thing that should be called "Britain's Next Teenage Beyonce Clone" - and I visited the BBC News website to investigate further (ah, the joys of broadband). That's as close as I've been to "reality TV" since the infamous Shilpa Shetty racism incident (involving the aforementioned "P.P."), but it was a worthwhile experience...
...and a joy to watch the smug looks, with teeth gritted in anticipation of an embarrassing performance, getting wiped off the faces of judges and audience as that woman began to sing.
Thanks to "The Magic Interweb", she's now a worldwide star - she's achieved more in one performance than many ever will, including the many now creeping out of the woodwork to vent scorn, or suggest that the whole thing has been engineered. These critics, often international, may, however, be unaware of, or have forgotten about recent scandals surrounding mainly independent TV stations, such as ITV, the makers and broadcasters of this particular "talent show", and the many cases of dodgy phone-ins, including phone voting for programmes such as this, leading to hefty fines and huge refunding schemes. The UK viewing public simply will not stand for any more fakery and manipulation, especially on the most viewed programme of the Easter weekend. ITV is already on shaky ground, as the axe swings to make cuts to compensate for "The Recession", and a scandal on this scale would wipe them out, no doubt about it.
I really hope this story is all "above board", and that we are seeing a true story of an underdog making good with pure, unembellished talent. Anything else would be a colossal slap in the face, and in the current social climate, where "good news" stories are very thin on the ground, the outrage would be terrible to behold.
Good luck, Susan.
This just in... Ha ha ha! Gordon Brown apologises! Bit too late for that, methinks. "Harmless banter between blokes", my arse...
Development news... The latest "work in progress" for The Darkhawk Diaries is picking up speed. It may be anything from a couple of paragraphs to half a page at a time, but it's progress, and that works for me.
Coming (very) soon... There could be a "season premiere" posting for The Secret Adventures of Mane-of-Night this weekend, or next...
