Do Tears On Talent Shows Influence The Judging?

[naomi24]

Oh dear. That lovely girl walked on - and we got a sob story. I sympathise with her illness, but I do hope BGT isn't going the same way as the X-Factor with all its personal life stories and tears - the very reason I don't watch it any more.

[joko]

i think sob stories are often enough to get them through the first round - just to give them a bit of a lift, but wont get them any further, the judges know its meaningless, just a gesture

they often let people through the first section who clearly haven't a chance - and do it for a laugh or to be nice.

[naomi24]

I hope you're right with BGT. The X-Factor seemed to do it all the way through.

[Arksided]

I stopped watching X factor a few years ago for that very reason, BGT has become the same recently ending on a heartstrings moment.

[maggie01]

She had a sad story but she also had a brilliant voice.

[rockyracoon]

I agree, I stopped watching all the preliminary rounds for these shows because of this ages ago.

[rockyracoon]

I liked them til they had public audiences, now I feel like they're just taking the pee out of people, I find it quite uncomfortable.

[joko]

its odd because viewers are not interested in sob stories at this realy stage - its too soon and they dont 'care' about these contestants yet.

only later on, when they are familiar, and people have seen them a good few times do people get curious about their life - at the moment its like over hearing a sad story on the bus, you feel some pity for their plight, but you don't 'really' care because you don't know them at all and will never see them again.

at this stage we just want to see the acts - the crap and the good ones

[vernonk]

I thought the girl sung very well, especially considering her circumstances, but her voice is rather odd. It's not quite operatic and its not pop or rock....just unique, and not to my taste - I would never listen to a concert or cd of songs by her. However, she clearly can sing and, far more importantly from BGT's point of view, she is young a very pretty. In other words, she is highly sellable to the Media who are obsessed by PYTs. Ditto the girl who won Eurovision last night, which is why most countries are represented by babes....except the UK which seems to prefer raiding the care homes of the entertainment industry. Bonnie Tyler was never going to win any votes in the appearance dept, not up against the competition she had, and the song is truly in memorable anyway. I'm amazed that with all her experience she couldn't tell it was always going to be a losing battle for her.

[vernonk]

Damn predictive typing. UNMEMORABLE

[emmie]

i admit i don't watch them, the last time i took a look at one was when Susan Boyle was on, and it was the Roman circus all over again, she wasn't facing a hungry lion, but a baying mob, though it all turned out alright apparently, i never watched another.