It goes without saying that a major aspect of the appeal of the early stages of tv show X Factor is the entertainment provided by the untalented contestants who make it through from the first audition rounds. Let’s face it, they are put through to boot camp stage simply to keep the tv viewing audience watching – one last laugh at how deluded many of these people are about their abilities before the more serious task of sorting out the good from the bad and creating the actual talent show it is meant to be.
In past years many of these hapless people have been used as the modern day version of ‘court jesters’ to bolster the ratings and most played along with it, just happy to be getting their fifteen minutes of fame. Some though – guided by their own delusions and misguided advice from family and friends – were serious enough about their non-existent chances that they took their inevitable rejections personally. As such people do…in earlier series there were even one or two rather nasty ‘evictees’ who took their news quite badly.
It has seemed as though there are now more jesters than serious contenders due to the judges habit of putting these people through for no reason other than entertainment value. This new series is no different and has taken quite a dive in the area of good taste with the judges placing ‘singer’ Shirlena Johnson through to the boot camp phase. Shirlena on first sight presented as someone with an odd character and proved even more so during her bizarre rendition of Duffy’s hit ‘Mercy’. She moaned, she whined, she squealed and squirmed on the floor – all to the amazement of the audience and the obvious amusement of the judges, particularly Simon Cowell. It was uncomfortable viewing. It has been revealed that this lady, a single mum of a little girl, has mental health issues and her continued participation in the show looks set to be stopped. Yes, she was unusual to say the very least but with this news coming to light is it right to offer her to the public as a laughing stock – and what does it say about the way this and other reality tv shows are heading nowadays.
Back in medieval times the mentally ill were presented at royal court to provide laughs for the courtiers, free entertainment at their own expense. Why has Simon Cowell, an astute businessman with an undisputed eye for real talent, allowed his star vehicle to become the modern day version of King Arthur’s court – and why do so many people enjoy it…?
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