BRITAIN'S GOT TALENT 2011

Britain's Got Talent returned yesterday night on ITV1. Simon Cowell's talent show, now in its fifth series, came back with the same old, same old wacky, pathetic or brilliant material, hosts Ant & Dec, but a two-third renewed judging panel.

Gone is Piers Morgan, due to US commitments, and BGT supremo Cowell will judge the live shows only. Enter comedian Michael McIntyre and former America's Got Talent Judge David "The Hoff" Hasselhoff comes to old Europe (where he's revered as a living legend) for another jury duty. Amanda Holden is back but a contestant may have involuntarily given Simon Cowell an idea when she mistook Holden for... Joanna Lumley.

The Hoff himself got his share of confusion with the number of a woman named Christine Fraser (« I'm from America and I don't get it ») and a man proved that not every citizen from Liverpool can sing The Beatles. In Birmingham Michael McIntyre met one of his future colleagues, 9-year old stand-up comedian David Knight. A guy named Gold didn't shine (sorry, couldn't help) and there was of course the usual amount of dance groups and also some animals, real or not: two dogs lead by Donelda Guy, 66, impressed the judges and a financial analyst named Blair Christie doing a dolphin inspired McIntyre one of his best lines of the evening (« We can now see why this country is in financial ruin. »)

The mandatory Susan Boyle moment, available in every local edition of both Simon Cowell's juggernaut franchises, Got Talent and The X Factor, was provided by Michael Collings, 19, and his cover of Tracy Chapman's Fast car. The young man looks talented, let's hope he'll deliver as good if better when he'll come back. Same old, same old... The good, the (very) bad, the ugly and a cute moment too, with husband and wife duo Gay & Alan Cooper performing My heart will go on with handbells.

Yesterday night's show had everything, Michael McIntyre was perfect, David Hasselhoff stayed faithful to his myth and viewers didn't miss Piers Morgan and Simon Cowell at all. Cowell will apparently quit the British X Factor for the upcoming US version (1) but ITV should not worry though. 10.4m viewers watched this series premiere (2).

(1) http://www.deadline.com/2011/04/report-cowell-quits-uk-%E2%80%98x-factor%E2%80%99/
(2) http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s107/britains-got-talent/news/a314992/revamped-britains-got-talent-dazzles-104m.html

http://talent.itv.com/
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/britains-got-talent/8454608/Britains-Got-Talent-better-without-Simon-Cowell-review.html
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/britain_got_talent/3531264/Britains-Got-Talent-is-back-with-a-bang.html?OTC-RSS%26ATTR%3DBritain+Got+Talent
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t41vkwIOxIw (Michael Collings)

SIMON SAYZ

« All eyes on me, in the center of the ring just like a circus » (Britney Spears)

[14.03 - French Time] Simon Cowell's Britain's Got Talent returned last saturday night on ITV1. The talent show, now in its fourth series, came back with his trio of judges: Amanda Holden, Piers Morgan and Cowell himself.

Presenters Anthony "Ant" McPartlin and Declan "Dec" Donnelly were of course aboard for what many British media describe as the quest for the next Susan Boyle, the Scottish singer revealed by series three. Boyle gave the programme an unprecedented global coverage which prompted producers of the French version of the Got Talent franchise to revamp their show.

What makes BGT "The Greatest show in the Galaxy" is that it has it all: variety, music, dance, eccentricity, talent, humour, drama, action, pathetic, bad taste, spectacular, suspense, etc... And all sorts of animals, real or not. It's the ultimate Entertainment show, it even survived a sharp parody from comic genius Peter Kay: Britain’s Got The Pop Factor and Possibly A New Celebrity Jesus Christ Superstar Strictly On Ice.

Britain's Got Talent Series Four Episode One almost looked like a rerun of a global edition of Got Talent. The London auditions started with Simon Cowell taking a crash course about the difference between a timbrel and a tambourine but concluding: « This is a tambourine with Christmas decorations attached ».

This was not his roughest moment. « I can't do this anymore. I'm fifty years old! » said Cowell after a lady named Persephone Lewin played trumpet with her penguin puppet. Maybe the "balloon" act and the parrot before her didn't help. More interesting was Kevin Cruise with his Broadway meets The Love Boat act that didn't charm Simon (« We'll call the ship Titanic ») but seduced Amanda and Piers.

Dance group Diversity won BGT 2009 so expect more dance numbers this year (it was an heavy trend in France recently). Street dancer Tobias Mead got another opportunity to shine after an appearance in another talent show in 2008. But the real event of these auditions was Louis Walsh, of The X Factor, replacing Simon Cowell - on sick leave.

Walsh justified his salary by enduring a jungle animal impersonator, a stripper, a stand-up comic, a bagpipe player or a poet. But he had his X Factor moment with the wonderful Chloe Hickinbottom, 10-year old, singing Vera Lynn's White Cliffs of Dover. And perhaps the 75-year old Irish gardener dancing dressed as a leprechaun was not a coincidence.

But Simon Cowell came back (« Hello I'm Simon Cowell, I'm from London... ») and things returned to "normality". Talking about returns, young drummer Kieran Gaffney (aged 13) came back with mum and dad as a band, after a solo stint in 2009. Only Kieran got a second chance, and subsequently a third as he won his three yesses.

Except annoying montages sometimes zapping a performance which could interest viewers, and the usual cliché soundtrack, it was a rather good BGT episode for a series starting slowly. Like the judges and no wonder why Simon Cowell went ill as he was the only one of the trio to provide the best lines.

http://talent.itv.com/2010/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2010/apr/17/britains-got-talent-liveblog
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kieran-Gaffney-Drummer-Boy/99496689216
http://www.kevincruise.co.uk/

THE PRISONER BUZZED THREE TIMES

[16.04 - French Time] Even Simon Cowell, cherished with reason as the 8th wonder of the world by ITV, couldn't save the ITV/AMC remake of The Prisoner starring Sir Ian McKellen and Jim Caviezel.

Announced for the Winter/Spring 2008-2009 ITV1 season, the overhyped and unnecessary remake of the classic created by and starring Patrick McGoohan, finally started yesterday evening in the UK with spectacularly lacklustre ratings considering that Britain's Got Talent was astutely placed as a lead-in programme.

BGT had its best launch ever with 10.6 million viewers for series four premiere, but The Prisoner attracted only 3.2 million viewers from 9.30 pm. The mini-series did not fare better in the US, where it was aired in November 2009 by cable channel AMC, or in France on pay tv Canal Plus.

Be seeing you... Not.

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/04/18/uk-tv-ratings-record-breaking-return-for-britain%E2%80%99s-got-talent/48928

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2010/02/not-number_20.html

LA FRANCE A UN INCROYABLE TALENT 09 - FINAL

Live Final of La France a un incroyable talent season 4 (LFAIT), the French version of Simon Cowell's Got Talent franchise, yesterday evening on French private channel M6.

10 finalists: So United Crew (Dance), Mohamed Cheddadi (Michael Jackson impersonator and Magician), Sabrina Aganier (Contortionist), Agnieszka (Singer), Les Echos-Liés (Humoristic urban dance group), Skorpion (Dance), Léa (Singer/composer), Florian (Magician), Céline Perret (Opera Singer), Secrets of Moonwalk (Dance)

The jury: producer from Quebec Gilbert Rozon (founder and president of the Just for Laughs festival) - back from previous seasons. Actress/director Valérie Stroh and comedian and humorist Smaïn. They could not buzz as only vote of the viewers counted. Actually they were on an odd Strawberry Shortcake mode, being widely over indulgent even if Rozon tried a snark to the audience (« It's the only audience we found») and practiced a minimalist version of his now famous duo with Smaïn

10: Sabrina Aganier.
9: Secrets of Moonwalk. The only contenders to get critics from Rozon and Stroh, the latter confessing her lassitude towards their usual Michael Jackson tribute choreography.
8. Agniezka.
7. Mohamed Cheddadi.
6. Léa.
5. So United Crew.
4. Céline... Does The Great French Public like Opera and classical music? She deserved to win with her beautiful rendition of Gounod's Ave Maria. I didn't write she would (Bruno, a French Paul Potts, was N°2 in 2007).
3. Florian. Someone should have hidden his CDs before his number. The young man is good, though.
2. Skorpion.
1. Les Echos-Liés. Remember Diversity won Britain's Got Talent 2009. Honestly I was far more impressed by what they did in audition, and there was less dance and more comedy than previous times. They win the € 100.000 and the worldwide tour with transformist Arturo Brachetti.

This season 4 makeover by production company FremantleMedia France and channel M6 was subtile enough to surf on what the SuBo effect brought to BGT without delivering a pale imitation. The true winners of LFAIT 2009 are the creative forces behind the programme, and the new jury.

Never forget that the true stars of these talent shows are the judges.

http://www.echos-lies.com/
http://www.celineperret.com/

Verdict: 5/10

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/12/queen-of-night_24.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/12/smain-and-rozon-show.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/12/24.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/12/inside-actors-studio.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/12/land-of-smiles.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/11/boyle-identity.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/11/get-ready-for-susanne-boule.html

QUEEN OF THE NIGHT

[12.00 - French Time] Second live semi-final of La France a un incroyable talent (LFAIT), the French version of Simon Cowell's Got Talent franchise, yesterday evening on French private channel M6.

Like last week, 12 semi-finalists divided in two groups of 6. First group: Secrets of Moonwalk (Dance Group), Lola (Folk Singer), Tao (Martial artist and magician), Compagnie A Balles et Bulles (Jugglers), Sabrina (Contortionist), Rachid (Flame spewer). In each group the candidate who receives the highest votes from viewers is automatically qualified, and the jury must choose the other between the second and the third chosen by viewers. A candidate is "saved" by the judges at the end of the episode.

Second group submitted for the approval of the viewers and the judges: Skorpion (Dance), Gwendal (Singer), Fanny and Noémie (Dancers), Florian (Magician), Othentik59 (Dance Group), Céline (Opera Singer). The judges are of course: producer from Quebec Gilbert Rozon (founder and president of the Just for Laughs festival), actress/director Valérie Stroh and comedian and humorist Smaïn.

Three heavy trends for this fourth season of LFAIT (formerly Incroyable Talent): urban dance groups (with or without humour) - remember Diversity won Britain's Got Talent 2009. The search for the French Shaheen Jafargholi, this 12-year old singer who appeared in BGT and sung for the Michael Jackson Memorial Service. And the heaviest of all: the tributes to The King of Pop.

Secrets of Moonwalk mixes the urban dance group trend and the tribute to Michael Jackson and got Three Yesses, like Lola the folk artist. Tao (http://www.magictao.fr/) was amusing but he got one buzz from Gilbert Rozon (your humble servant don't get why). The martial artist/magician has a restaurant in Limoges, the place must worth a visit. La Compagnie A Balles et Bulles unfortunately didn't confirm their audition (two buzzes).

Rachid got a buzz from - who else ? - « direct and intransigent » Rozon. « He thinks it's Questions pour un Champion » said Smaïn of his colleague - amusingly the long-running Questions pour un Champion, adapted from Going for Gold (1), is another hot property of FremantleMedia, the production company of LFAIT. Note that Rachid is not only a flamboyant street artist but also a playwright and he is working on a a play called Hermes et la femme sans âge.

The highlight of this first group where no one really tried - except Rachid - to do better than in auditions, was Sabrina Aganier, 19, contortionist and graduate from the National Circus School of Montreal (http://www.canada.com/Torch+relay+brings+along+travelling+circus/2308380/story.html). There is no Got Talent in Quebec, just a dubbed version of America's Got Talent titled in French Du Talent à Revendre! No doubt that The Hoff would adore Sabrina.

Secrets of Moonwalk was N°1 qualified by viewers and the jury had to choose between Lola and Sabrina. Sabrina won a due qualification as she contributed widely to make this second semi-final a great show, with contenders of the second group like Skorpion. Skorpion (Brice Larrieu), 26, is a trained classic and modern dancer who dreams to create his own company. After what we've seen yesterday evening we seriously think that this is a damn good idea.

The most notable effort of the evening was from Fanny and Noémie because a back sprain of Fanny limited her dancing possibilities but she was on stage with her sister for a nice tribute to Chicago, the musical. Gilbert Rozon buzzed, I enjoyed the number because when I have a lumbago I can't even scratch my nose without yelling to death. And I like Chicago.

Florian will become a fabulous professional magician if he leaves his CDs at home (once is enough) and Othentik59 is out of the race to become the French Diversity. The Queen of Hearts of this semi-final is Céline, the wonderful Opera singer. She performed beautifully the famous Der Hölle Rache aria from Mozart's The Magic Flute.

Céline should not be compared to Susan Boyle. Her voice recalls the magic of Paul Potts, the first BGT winner. She deserves to follow his steps and Simon Cowell or Sony Classical should sign her at once. Skorpion was the choice of the viewers for this group, Céline the choice of the jury, and the judges saved Florian the Magician.

Next week: the finale. The competition is surprisingly open.

Verdict: 8/10

(1) http://www.ukgameshows.com/page/index.php?title=Going_for_Gold

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/12/smain-and-rozon-show.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/12/24.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/12/inside-actors-studio.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/12/land-of-smiles.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/11/boyle-identity.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/11/get-ready-for-susanne-boule.html

24

[11.31 - French Time] Episode 4 of La France a un incroyable talent (LFAIT), the French version of Simon Cowell's Got Talent franchise. Fourth day of auditions and 24 candidates to chose for the live semi-final of Wednesday 16.

Previously titled Incroyable Talent ("Incredible Talent"), the French GT is now La France a un incroyable talent ("France's got an incredible talent"). Production company FremantleMedia France and private channel M6 now clearly relate the French version to its British counterpart because of the extraordinary global impact of Susan Boyle. So there's this new title, a new logo similar to Britain's Got Talent, a new intro sequence... actually the theme and the visuals of BGT but with French landmarks, and even a new jury.

Only « direct and intransigent » producer from Quebec Gilbert Rozon (founder and president of the Just for Laughs festival) remains from previous seasons. Actress/director Valérie Stroh and comedian and humorist Smaïn are the new recruits. The unlikely duo Smaïn/Rozon ranks among the great tandems of the Cowell factory like Simon Cowell/Piers Morgan in BGT or Simon Cowell/Louis Walsh in The X Factor. In the GT franchise the part of the female judge is always ungrateful, ask Amanda Holden, and only Sharon Osbourne in America's Got Talent has the suitable personality to match with her male colleagues (Piers Morgan and David "The Hoff" Hasselhoff).

Submitted for the approval of the judges: a flame spewer stripper, a senior Ray Charles/Prince crossover (huh?), Mélodie and Marjolaine (dancer and singer), an autodidact juggler, a pig (a true pig, I mean...), a mental coach who can bend a metal spear with his throat (do not try this at home, children...), Hugo - a talented sopranist, or an oriental male dancer.

One of the main issues of Got Talent is editing. Thank goodness, LFAIT do not suffer of the Quantum of Solace type of editing of AGT but sometimes a sequence is "cut" to the point of frustration of the viewer like with dance group Afrokan (three Yesses) or magicians Zack et Brice (too quickly ejected). Talking about magic, Tao gave us a great number. The guy has talent and a fantastic sense of humour. Impressive also, a contortionist from Montreal named Sabrina - there's no GT in Quebec (« So sophisticated, so Quebecer » says Rozon).

To be perfectly honest, we were all expecting FremantleMedia to try shamelessly a local Susan Boyle but actually no one among the contenders can truly be dubbed "the French SuBo". However, thanks to Diversity (winner of BGT 2009) there is an overdose of dance groups this year. Another trend of this season is the tributes to Michael Jackson: Secret of Moonwalk, a dance group, mixes both trends. « That's why this show exists » says Gilbert Rozon and Simon Cowell should give £10 to a charity each time a judge of one of his shows says that.

At least Undercover could seriously begin to approach Diversity with its nice dance number with music from video games. But on the social relevance side we can bet that Othentik59 could be a proper French Diversity winner. Other heavy trend of LFAIT season 4: the French Shaheen Jafargholi - remember this 12-year old singer who appeared in BGT and sung for the Michael Jackson Memorial Service. Last week we had Gwendal, in this episode Joffrey. The 13-year old boy offered Gilbert Rozon an opportunity for a Simon Cowell impersonation and after the "suspense" of the commercial break his dilemma came to an end with a "Yes".

55 Yesses in 4 episodes, 31 down after the "debriefing", 24 survivors: Isabelle (Dancer), Les Echo-Liés (Dance Group), Agnieszka (Singer), Simon (Motorcycle acrobat), Rachid (Flame Spewer), Batuc'ados (Samba Group), Mohamed (Michael Jackson impersonator/magician!), Christèle and her dog, Michaël (Speed painting), Mélodie and Marjolaine, Othentik59, Florian (Magician), Secret of Moonwalk, Léa (Singer/Composer), Franky Filing (Ventriloquist extraordinary), So United Crew (Dance Group), Lola (Singer), Skorpion (Dancer), Tao, Céline (Singer), Fanny and Noémie (Dancers), Compagnie A Balles et Bulles (Jugglers), Gwendal (Singer) and Sabrina.

Brilliant episode, great lines from Smaïn (« You take the money »), Rozon and co-presenter Alex Goude (« Little pussy is dead »). All you can wait from GT even a surreal moment of enthusiasm of the jury for an "Instrument impersonator" who impersonates a baby cry (sorry?) with Valérie Stroh finding that "Super Original". And Marcel Azna, the Aznavour "lookalike", was sympathetic and moving.

Full disclosure: Written between coughs and sneezes by your humble servant, who will watch the semi-final this evening in an altered state.

Verdict: 9/10

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/12/inside-actors-studio.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/12/land-of-smiles.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/11/boyle-identity.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/11/get-ready-for-susanne-boule.html

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

Last May, after the final episode of Britain's Got Talent 2009 on ITV1, your humble servant (who guessed the name of the winner) joked that music and television mogul Simon Cowell should consider launching his own TV channel.

In June it was reported that Cowell was working with businessman Sir Philip Green in order to create a £1 billion new entertainment company - which would incorporate his ITV talent shows The X Factor (whose season finale aired last evening) and BGT, as well as other projects.

Now Simon Cowell rules out rumours that he could bid for ITV with Philip Green (http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/cowell-rules-out-itv-bid/5009069.article). « We’ve been approached by various people in the past who wanted to have a look at ITV and asked us if we’d be interested, but it’s so much work to do » he said in an interview to be shown on BBC2 Newsnight tonight.

Could ITV, which owes Cowell a lot this year (http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2009/dec/13/x-factor-itv-simon-cowell), become the jewel of the crown of his empire? The future of Simon Cowell, now the highest paid man of the US television industry and saviour of ITV, goes definitely beyond American Idol (where he's a judge), The X Factor or the Got Talent franchise - whose French edition currently airs its fourth season on private channel M6.

See also:

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a161891/cowell-green-plan-gbp1-billion-media-firm.html
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a191274/joe-mcelderrys-x-factor-win-draws-191m.html
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/media/article6955142.ece

INSIDE THE ACTORS STUDIO

[7.00 - French Time] Episode 3 of La France a un incroyable talent (LFAIT), the French version of Simon Cowell's Got Talent franchise, aired yesterday evening on private channel M6. This episode was build with a lot of dramatization around the publicized clash of the two male members of the jury - announced right at the start of the show. Keep in mind that in GT the true stars are the judges.

Now in its season 4, LFAIT (formerly Incroyable Talent) has a brand new jury: only « direct and intransigent » producer from Quebec Gilbert Rozon remains from previous seasons. Actress/director Valérie Stroh and comedian and humorist Smaïn are the new recruits. This year FremantleMedia France, the production company, and M6 seem to get the right formula for the jury and Smaïn is actually the good surprise of the show.

We already knew the man is a classy ad-libber that he's fun on stage. We were less convinced by his incursions in television fiction and in movies. After all, he played in the notorious terrible remake of a French movie classic (whose poster curiously vanished from his presentation this week). But his unlikely duo with Gilbert Rozon is as interesting as the tandem Simon Cowell/Piers Morgan in Britain's Got Talent or Simon Cowell/Louis Walsh in The X Factor.

Submitted for the approval of the LFAIT judges: So United Crew, another dance group - Diversity won BGT 2009 and it shows, a woman and her dog, a Country music dance family (who inspired to Gilbert Rozon a first snark to Smaïn), a "recordman", an electronic string quartet a la Escala, an impersonator who earned a Yes from Smaïn... and Smaïn got a « Will you stop to want to please everyone? » from his "direct and intransigent" Canadian colleague.

Make no mistake, the pair stole this third episode. The kid singing Show must go on, the 61-year old "intuitive dancer", or the dance troup "not pretending to be professional" (« And you're damn right » answers a cowellian Rozon) were there to pave the way for THE clash of the titans. Kevin & Blaise, a duo of "Fire charmers", lit the fuse (...) when Smaïn - who liked the number - revendicates his difference vs the [I quote] « American way » of Gilbert Rozon.

When the comedian and then the producer left the stage they broke the momentum of the episode. Puh-lease, guys! At least we were spared Simon Cowell doing a Charlie Townsend impersonation through an intercom like in America's Got Talent or BGT judge Amanda Holden dressed as a circus ringmistress (but Cowell is innocent for that one). C'mon, don't ever do that again.

All the magic of the show lies in the display of pleasant numbers and sometimes true talents hidden inside the nightmarish compendium which is usually GT. Breizh acrobatique, a group of seven amateur acrobatic gymnasts, gave us some poetry. Circus artist Correo was so "clouseauesque" that he was sympathetic with his big white balloon which recalls Rover in The Prisoner except that Correo has more charisma than Jim Caviezel.

The Compagnie A Balles et Bulles offered us an impressive jugglery number with skittle pins looking like a clockwork mechanism. The real Doctor Dolitle exists, his name is Benjamin and what he did with his dog and some ducks was extroardinary - not well handled the thing could have turned ridiculous. « Thanks to Smaïn for not buzzing » said co-presenter Alex Goude but Valérie Stroh and Gilbert Rozon did. « Gilbert can't dream anymore » added Goude.

The true revelation of this third week of LFAIT is Florian, 18 years, a magician who won three yesses manipulating CDs. It was original, the young man has style, the choice of the music for the tricks was elegant (a remix of The Hunt for Red October) and if he confirms in semi-final he would certainly fit into the price of the show this season: a worldwide tour with transformist Arturo Brachetti (and € 100.000).

A dancer named Skorpion was the climax of the episode.

Verdict: 5/10

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/12/land-of-smiles.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/11/boyle-identity.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/11/get-ready-for-susanne-boule.html

SEND IN THE CLOWNS

Big Top is an attempt by BBC One to launch a new family sitcom starring actress Amanda Holden (one of the judges of Britain's Got Talent) as the ringmistress of a small circus.

Invited by talk show host Paul O'Grady before the premiere of the show, she anticipated that Big Top would get a harsh reaction from critics: « They'll slate it. They'll slate me. They'll say, 'Why is she a talent judge? - She's in this show and she's not talented in it'. But it's fine » (http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a189622/amanda-holden-big-top-will-get-slated.html). This wish of Ms Holden to spare so many journalists and bloggers time and efforts is very kind, but what is actually intriguing is why the BBC commissioned Big Top in the first place.

« In this current climate who wants to watch a desperate family in their living room? » said Amanda Holden, talking to Hot TV. Well, er... that's not nice for Emmerdale and its fans: a double-length episode of the ITV1 soap opera (ITV1 is the home of BGT, by the way) peaked at 8.2 million viewers vs 3.3 million viewers for the first episode of Big Top (http://www.chortle.co.uk/news/2009/12/03/10110/big_top_is_a_big_flop).

Imagine what could Jon Culshaw and Debra Stephenson (The Impressions Show) could do with material like Big Top or Paradox...

See also:

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a189396/holden-my-show-is-credit-crunch-comedy.html

THE LAND OF SMILES

[7.08] Aired yesterday evening on private channel M6, episode 2 of La France a un incroyable talent (LFAIT) - the French version of Simon Cowell's Got Talent franchise - was an improvement from episode 1 and delivered what you expect from a GT show: supremely pathetic, extraordinary, ludicrous, impressive and, sometimes... real talent.

Previously titled Incroyable Talent ("Incredible Talent"), the French GT is now La France a un incroyable talent ("France's got an incredible talent"). Production company FremantleMedia and M6 want to relate the French version to Britain's Got Talent because of the SuBo Factor, of course. So there's this new title, a new logo similar to its British counterpart, a new intro sequence with the theme and the visuals of BGT but with French landmarks, and a new jury for this season 4.

The true stars of the GT franchise all over the world are the judges. Of the previous seasons of the French GT, only producer from Quebec Gilbert Rozon remains in the jury. Actress/director Valérie Stroh and comedian Smaïn enter. Of the trio, Rozon is the closest French-speaking version of Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan (judges of BGT) reunited. « He'll be direct and intransigent » says the presentation, and he can indulge himself to be: he's the founder and president of the Just for Laughs Festival and produces most of the francophone stage superstars of comedy.

Submitted for the approval of the LFAIT jury on Day 2 of the auditions were a Michael Jackson impersonator doubling as a magician (!), a man who does the cry of the pig, a teenage fire jugler boy, a human cannonball woman, a 80-year old corsican singer, female twins practicing rythmic gymnastics, a puppeteer, a club of laughers (huh?) or a guy who was... er, what was he doing, anyway?

The jury clearly finds its marks. Your humble servant was sceptical about comedian Smaïn as a judge - after all he played in the notorious terrible remake of a French movie classic. Outdoor for the spectacular and successful human cannonball number (a premiere in the history of the show), Smaïn has a funny discussion with a woman who lives near. He's a classy ad-libber and knows how to capture the sympathy of the audience.

Valérie Stroh and Gilbert Rozon have a more technical if not clinical insight. But even a natural personality like Smaïn cannot make forget we are tasting a Simon Cowell formula: "We're doing this job to discover true talents", "That's why this show exists" or "That's why we make this show" should be banned once and for all. I'm sure someone at FremantleMedia France must have seen Britain’s Got The Pop Factor... - Peter Kay's parody of Cowell's programmes.

Sometimes among the depressive and nightmarish compendium that can be GT emerges a true talent, like young singer/composer Léa, from Madagascar. Or Céline, the wonderful Opera singer (a female Paul Potts) in the climax of this episode 2 - there's always a climax in a GT show. But the suits behind the Got Talent franchise should beware of the analogy with The X Factor (even if X Factor 2009 owes a lot to BGT!)

My favourite numbers of this episode: Les Drôles de mecs, another group of humoristic breakdance (Diversity won BGT 2009, remember) and ventriloquist genius Franky Filing. « The production has lent me brand new material » says Franky and his "material" is actually the two presenters, Alex Goude and Sandrine Corman - chosen at the last second by the artist.

But what would be an operetta without a royal couple, hey? Les Romanesques (http://www.myspace.com/lesromanesques) is a curious Japanese pop performance duo with kitsch costumes, songs and choreography. Their song Zoon-Doco Bushi reminds of Neal Hefti and Anime theme songs. Odd but amusing, Gwen Stefani should love them.

Next week on LFAIT: Gilbert Rozon and Smaïn clash. Oh, c'mon! Seriously, folks...

Verdict: 8/10

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/11/boyle-identity.html

WHO IS NUMBER ONE?

Peter Kay's Animated All Star Band: The Official BBC Children In Need Medley is number one in the UK singles chart.

Comedian Peter Kay, who entered in both music and television History in 2005 for Comic Relief with his cult video cover of Tony Christie's Is this the way to Amarillo, shows his magic again (he should be given a Knighthood) with the most beautiful music video ever done.

In Peter Kay's Animated All Star Band, a star-studded cast of animated characters performs a medley including Pussycat Dolls' Jai Ho and The Beatles' Hey Jude: Thomas the Tank Engine, Fifi (from Fifi and the Flowertots), Postman Pat, Lady Penelope, Paddington Bear, Scooby Doo, Pingu, Peppa Pig, Bob the Builder, The Wombles, etc (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/2740124/Children-In-Need-charity-single.html).

Two years of preparation for this video shot in the studios of Chapman Entertainment (Fifi and the Flowertots, Roary the Racing Car) with the original voices of the 100 characters - Peter Kay is the voice of Big Chris in Roary and Jane Horrocks is the voice of Fifi (http://www.bbc.co.uk/pudsey/news/news201109.shtml).

While we're in a rare incursion into the music biz, the debut album of Susan Boyle - revealed by Britain's Got Talent, is number one in the UK albums chart.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a189070/peter-kays-charity-single-reaches-no-1.html
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a189068/susan-boyles-debut-album-soars-to-no-1.html

THE BOYLE IDENTITY

[7.02 - French Time] The French edition of Simon Cowell's Got Talent franchise, whose fourth season started on private channel M6 yesterday evening, is revamped to resemble to Britain's Got Talent, thanks to the global impact of Susan Boyle.

Previously titled Incroyable Talent ("Incredible Talent"), the French GT becomes La France a un incroyable talent ("France's got an incredible talent"). Production company FremantleMedia now clearly relates the French version to its British counterpart. So there's this new title, a new logo similar to Britain's Got Talent, a new intro sequence... actually the theme and the visuals of BGT but with French landmarks, and even a new jury.

The new title seems to reveal a dilemma: La France a un incroyable talent is a mix between the Got Talent brand and the old Incroyable Talent title. The concept is now known here since almost four years, FremantleMedia and M6 certainly don't want to lose the benefit of this implantation so they keep the Incroyable Talent but "La France a un incroyable talent" is too long. Maybe something like "La France a du talent" ("France's Got Talent") would have been much better.

Music and television mogul Simon Cowell knows how to pack an entertaining evening (helped by a great sense of dramatization) but the true stars of his shows, and of every talent show in general, are the judges. Of the previous seasons of the French GT, only producer from Quebec Gilbert Rozon (founder and president of the Just for Laughs Festival) remains in the jury. Actress/director Valérie Stroh and comedian Smaïn enter.

« This is the great return of the show which offers to everyone an exceptional chance to show their talents and change their lives. Remember, when in England Susan Boyle... » begins Alex Goude, who co-presents the show with Sandrine Corman (both for the first time). The Susan "SuBo" Boyle effect is indeed the key of the makeover and the rest is routine for a GT: variety, music, dance, eccentricity, pathetic, spectacular... With the same lines that made the salt of Britain’s Got The Pop Factor and Possibly A New Celebrity Jesus Christ Superstar Strictly On Ice - Peter Kay's parody: "That's the reason why we make this show" or "This show exists for people like you".

The auditions from the premiere gave us a Claude François fan (Claude François is in notoriety the French equivalent of Elvis Presley), a "speed painting" artist, a French cancan troup, a guy who sings the title song of Japanese anime series Saint Seya, a Brazilian carnival orchestra, etc. There was also a 15 year singer girl who held the public and the jury with her rendition of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah (a song you can hear in every modern US TV series in its Jeff Buckley version). « I must confess that when you arrived...» said Gilbert Rozon. Sounds familiar?

Some of the numbers were really depressing regarding the state of the nation but it's a feeling shared by every viewer of the world at a point of each episode of a GT. However Les Echos- Liés, a funny group of humoristic breakdance (remember Diversity won the 2009 BGT edition) and Rachid, an impressive flame spewer, already win my sympathy.

This season La France a un incroyable talent has a companion show called La France a un incroyable talent, ça continue (mentioned as "Incroyable talent, ça continue" in the M6 bumper!) and presented by Jérôme Anthony and comic Anthony Joubert (finalist of last season). No doubt that this duo has been inspired by Ant & Dec, presenters of BGT, but they would be better as presenters of the main show.

At least LFAIT (let's call it so) didn't try too much the SuBo/Kevin Skinner (1) stunt for the first episode, even if - in some respects - we were close with the lady who performed Calling you at the end. The real question is: will Susan Boyle bless French viewers with an appearance in the show? Maybe in the finale?

Verdict: 5/10.

http://www.m6.fr/emission-la_france_a_un_incroyable_talent/

See also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/11/get-ready-for-susanne-boule.html

(1) Singer, winner of the season 4 of America's Got Talent.

GET READY FOR SUSANNE BOULE

[6.49 - French Time] Shown since 2006, Incroyable Talent ("Incredible talent") is the French adaptation of Simon Cowell's Got Talent franchise. Tomorrow night on private channel M6 starts the revamped version of the show, now titled La France a un incroyable talent ("France's got an incredible talent").

In spite of the fact that your humble servant is still searching what can be France's "incroyable talent" there is absolutely now doubt that the changes on this new season (the fourth) are the result of the amazing global impact of Susan Boyle in Britain's Got Talent and of the wish of production company FremantleMedia to relate the French version to its British counterpart. So there's a new title, a new logo closer to BGT - we can suppose there's a new theme intro too - and there's even a new jury.

On season 1, the judges were Sophie Edelstein (artistic director of the prestigious Pinder Circus), Jean-Pierre Domboy (artistic agent), and producer from Quebec Gilbert Rozon (founder and president of the Just for Laughs Festival). For season 2 ballet dancer Patrick Dupond replaced Jean-Pierre Domboy and the trio remained for season 3. But this year only Gilbert Rozon comes back. Edelstein and Dupond are replaced by actress/director Valérie Stroh and comedian Smaïn.

Presenter of seasons 1 to 3, Alessandra Sublet - gone to television public service - is replaced by Sandrine Corman and Alex Goude. Interestingly La France a un incroyable talent will have a companion show called La France a un incroyable talent, ça continue and presented by Jérôme Anthony and comic Anthony Joubert. The ideal would have been to put the duo as presenters of the main show, like Ant & Dec in the Brit edition, but the idea comes probably from BGT anyway.

We'll see if this makeover will match the American and British versions without mimic them and if there's a SuBo Effect a la Française. World, get ready for Susanne Boule!

http://www.m6.fr/emission-la_france_a_un_incroyable_talent/

TOLDJA! (SORRY, NIKKI) - DIVERSITY WINS BGT 09

May the great Nikki Finke forgive me this not so humble use of her legendary "Toldja!" but I cannot resist (1): the fantastic dance group Diversity wins Britain's Got Talent 2009. On May 26, I wrote: « Dance group Diversity has the artistic and even the sociological relevance to win the series ».

http://talent.itv.com/videos/video/item_200288.htm

Congratulations to Diversity and thank you to the wonderful Susan Boyle (http://talent.itv.com/videos/video/item_200287.htm).

Update (May 31): 19,2 million viewers peak for the final! (http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/a157652/talent-final-peaks-with-192-million.html). Highest ever peak for a reality TV programme in the UK. Simon Cowell should consider launching his own tv channel...

Please see also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/bgt-semi-final-4.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/bgt-second-semi-final.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/bgt-first-semi-final.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/simons-got-disco-talent-sort-of.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/04/talent-and-diversity.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/04/talent-dignity-pride-susan-boyle-on-bgt.html

(1) Just for tonight, I swear!

BGT - SEMI-FINAL 4

Let's face it: Series three of Simon Cowell's Britain's Got Talent is more exciting and entertaining than the Hollywoodland sequel factory avatars of this spring (or even summer), than the upcoming US fall television season, than this fictional version of Animals do the funniest things that is Primeval current series (with Ben Miller as Stephen Mulhern). Or than the Doctor Who RTD/David Tennant Farewell tour.

Why? Because BGT 3 has it all: variety, music, dance, eccentricity, talent, humour, drama, action, annoying, pathetic, spectacular, suspense, etc... And of course the true stars of the talent show: the judges (Amanda Holden, Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan) and the hosts - Ant & Dec. Plus "the lady with something extra", Susan Boyle, who gave the 2009 edition a global impact which must already give headaches to the production teams of the foreign versions of the franchise.

Some can discuss ad nauseam, if they wish, of the singing merits of Ms Boyle but the fact is that her first appearance during the auditions of BGT was pure wonder and a truce in the continuing mediocrity of these recession times. And her second appearance, during the first semi-final, was enjoyable. Whatever the result of saturday may be (personally my favourite is dance group Diversity), regarding her talent and the life she had until now, she deserves to get something from her passion. The rest is the usual insignificance of la société du spectacle, and thanks to Mr Piers Morgan - a class act and a gentleman - for bringing a little balance in this craziness (1)

Honestly, the ghost of Geraldine McQueen (Peter Kay's character in Britain’s Got The Pop Factor and Possibly A New Celebrity Jesus Christ Superstar Strictly On Ice) was flying over Semi-Finals 3 and 4 but the fourth semi-final gave us really great moments. Saxophonist Julian Smith (http://talent.itv.com/videos/video/item_200263.htm) and the charming duo 2 Grand (http://talent.itv.com/videos/video/item_200264.htm, with a grandfather and his granddaughter, won their tickets to the final with brilliance. Normally your humble servant prefers when kids go to school rather than chasing celebrity dreams but I must admit Callum Francis (http://talent.itv.com/videos/video/item_200260.htm) is born for West End productions (2).

BGT is the ultimate remedy against tv boredom. And Susan Boyle is not leaving (http://talent.itv.com/news/story/item_100210.htm), but who could really believe she would anyway?

Update: Piers Morgan vs Craig Revel Horwood (http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/britainsgottalent/a157501/morgan-challenges-craig-revel-horwood.html). Morgan has my Yes.

Please see also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/toldja-sorry-nikki-diversity-wins-bgt.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/bgt-second-semi-final.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/bgt-first-semi-final.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/simons-got-disco-talent-sort-of.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/04/talent-and-diversity.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/04/talent-dignity-pride-susan-boyle-on-bgt.html

(1) http://www.officialpiersmorgan.com/2009/05/28/in-defence-of-susan-boyle/ + http://www.officialpiersmorgan.com/2009/05/29/reactions-to-the-fourth-semi-final/
(2) http://talent.itv.com/videos/video/item_200141.htm

BGT SECOND SEMI-FINAL

Season 3 of Britain's Got Talent has set new standards for Simon Cowell's Got Talent franchise in the country where the format originated (America's Got Talent being the first to emerge for motives external to the format itself). And now the makers of the US or of the French version will be obliged to deliver as good without copycatting this season's British lineup.

This task will be particularly hard for the French edition, which changes its name from Incroyable talent (Incredible talent) to La France a un incroyable talent (France's Got [Incredible] Talent) for its fourth season. Tip to the French producers: don't try the Susan Boyle clone - after the first appearance of the wonderful Ms Boyle your humble servant immediately had in mind that one or two of the overseas edition of GT would certainly try to xerox the BGT sensation of this season.

The winners of Britain's Got Talent second semi-final are dance group Flawless (chosen by the public) and singer Shaun Smith. Piers Morgan, a wise man, raised an interesting point (1) during the jury's choice - between Smith and excellent ventriloquist Gareth Oliver: the show is a variety show and Morgan considered Oliver had a place in the final, whereas Simon Cowell, first asked by hosts Ant & Dec, voted for Shaun Smith.

If a singer, especially Smith, wins this year what will distinguish Britain's Got Talent from the other Cowell properties, such as The X Factor or American Idol? In the UK there is for the genre a before and an after Britain’s Got The Pop Factor and Possibly A New Celebrity Jesus Christ Superstar Strictly On Ice (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVKZgaDYdUg&hl=fr), comedian Peter Kay's spoof of Reality tv shows. Even Simon Cowell admitted Kay's 2008 special for Channel 4 was "clever" (2).

Dance group Diversity has the artistic and even the sociological relevance to win the series but semi-finals go on this week on ITV1 before the final on saturday. Five has shown a documentary about Simon Cowell but ITV will eventually fund a statue of the man.

Flawless: http://talent.itv.com/videos/video/item_200240.htm
Shaun Smith: http://talent.itv.com/videos/video/item_200239.htm
Gareth Oliver: http://talent.itv.com/videos/video/item_200238.htm

Update (May 27): Semi-final 3 winners... Stavros Flatley - choice of the Great British Public (http://talent.itv.com/videos/video/item_200250.htm) and Shaheen Jafargholi (http://talent.itv.com/videos/video/item_200249.htm). My favourite act of the evening: Floral Highnotes (http://talent.itv.com/videos/video/item_200253.htm).

Please see also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/toldja-sorry-nikki-diversity-wins-bgt.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/bgt-semi-final-4.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/bgt-first-semi-final.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/simons-got-disco-talent-sort-of.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/04/talent-and-diversity.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/04/talent-dignity-pride-susan-boyle-on-bgt.html

(1) http://talent.itv.com/videos/video/item_200241.htm
(2) http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2008/10/25/x-factor-exclusive-simon-cowell-takes-swipe-at-peter-kay-s-spoof-single-115875-20836882/

BGT FIRST SEMI-FINAL

Sunday 24 was a big day for the competitors of the Can... Oops, sorry... for the competitors of the 2009 edition of Britain's Got Talent (http://talent.itv.com/) with the first semi-final of what is definitely the best version of the Got Talent franchise (even if America's Got Talent has The Hoff).

And the winners of the semi-final are: your humble servant's favourite, dance group Diversity, and the wonderful Susan Boyle. Whatever happens next saturday on ITV1, Diversity should become a scene phenomenon close to Blue Man Group (without the Fantomas faces) as they are so original, innovative and funny.

Diversity: http://talent.itv.com/videos/video/item_200221.htm
Susan Boyle: http://talent.itv.com/videos/video/item_200228.htm

Please see also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/toldja-sorry-nikki-diversity-wins-bgt.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/bgt-semi-final-4.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/bgt-second-semi-final.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/simons-got-disco-talent-sort-of.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/04/talent-and-diversity.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/04/talent-dignity-pride-susan-boyle-on-bgt.html

IT'S ONLY A MOVIE, INGRID (EPISODE 5)

Where Ingrid returns not orange but green. Ingrid... The Grinch Edition.

THE 2200

Let's call that the Bernie Lomax Syndrome, old tv shows can't rest in peace. Of course, remakes allow new generations to discover a character or a concept (http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2008/08/young-barnaby-jones-chronicles.html). Without remakes the only on-screen Batman ever would be Lewis Wilson in the 1943 serial and the 2005 version of Doctor Who would not be the best series in the History of television (until Voyage of the Damned at least).

And the worst thing than the remake of an old show is the remake of a British contemporary show for the US market. We could hope that the demises of Life on Mars US and of the remake of Eleventh hour (http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/primetime-pilot-panic-more-cbs-moves/) will vaccine American television executives but there's a Warner Brothers Primeval movie coming and even a US Primeval spin-off series(http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a156144/reports-primeval-spinoff-in-the-pipeline.html).

But now Hollywoodland doesn't just remake old shows, it "re-imagines" them, "reinvents" them, thanks to the success of Casino Royale - the 2006 James Bourne movie. And I suspect "reinvention" will be seen as the golden access pass to Penny Lane now that the new Star Trek is a worldwide phenom. The latest tv classic to be "reinvented" is V, the 1983 miniseries by Kenneth Johnson. The remake, produced by Scott Peters (The 4400), is due to be shown on ABC during the 2009-2010 season (1) and we can have a first look at the show through clips (http://scifiwire.com/2009/05/first-look-at-clips-for-a.php).

The original V was a political metaphor, It can't happen here or Jean-Paul Sartre's choice with lizards in orange mechanic outfits, and Brecht or Rod Serling in the shadows. A television event too: at the time the most expensive miniseries ever made, with stunning special effects, magnificent actors, an incredible soundtrack, the talent of Kenneth Johnson - one of the most brilliant television authors of his time (http://www.kennethjohnson.us/) - and some effective scenes still terrifying a whole generation by their single evocation. Sorry, but from what I see of the new V we're very (very) far from that. Monuments should stay untouched, and if the new V succeeds expect Alien Nation 2010 but experience shows that it's not a good idea to try V without Johnson.

NOT THAT ONE

We all make mistakes sometimes. May I please suggest that comedy genius Matt Lucas (of Little Britain fame) has made one with his "impersonation" of Britain's Got Talent sensation Susan Boyle for Heat Magazine (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/susan-boyle/5346071/Matt-Lucas-impersonates-Susan-Boyle.html).

Think what you want of producer Simon Cowell and his programmes (I personally believes he knows how to pack entertaining shows) but this was not funny at all and far from the standards of Lucas's duo with David Walliams. Susan Boyle may or may not win BGT (dance group Diversity is my favourite) but her first appearance on the show was really wonderful.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

Your humble servant is always amazed by your growing interest about this little blog and I was recently intrigued by the sudden affluence of visitors from a forum about the American version of Life on Mars (http://z3.invisionfree.com/Life_On_Mars/index.php?). I had to register to learn more and discovered that my use of the adjective "Unnecessary" to qualify their favourite show raised a honest, open-minded, fair, balanced and interesting four-page discussion.

No hard feelings for the Dead Pool quote as I often use it myself in private (preceded by "As a great philosopher of the 20th century once said") and the site administrator is a gentleman. The forum is also a "think tank" for a campaign to bring back Life on Mars US (http://z3.invisionfree.com/Life_On_Mars/index.php?showforum=1) so I mention it as some of you, faithful readers, are true fans of this version.

(1) http://abc.go.com/fallpreview/index?pn=v

SIMON'S GOT DISCO TALENT, SORT OF...

It's Saturday and Britain's Got Talent on ITV1. With a revelation this evening: who knew Simon Cowell was a Disco king? Well, sort of...

They call themselves Faces of Disco and it's a "Dance act with something a little bit different" (http://talent.itv.com/videos/video/item_200187.htm). Hilarious. Have a look also at this nice grandfather and granddaughter duo (http://talent.itv.com/videos/video/item_200186.htm).

Besides the talent show, journalist and tv personality Piers Morgan - one of the three judges of the BGT panel - has a blog on his official website (http://www.officialpiersmorgan.com/) where he writes "Daily Rants" about what makes news ("Celebs, Politics, Life" says the tagline of the blog). Latest of his "Rants": http://www.officialpiersmorgan.com/2009/05/15/15th-may-daily-rant/

Please see also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/toldja-sorry-nikki-diversity-wins-bgt.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/bgt-semi-final-4.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/bgt-second-semi-final.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/bgt-first-semi-final.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/04/talent-and-diversity.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/04/talent-dignity-pride-susan-boyle-on-bgt.html

TALENT AND DIVERSITY

Saturday is the day of Britain's Got Talent on ITV1, the show where Britain's ordinary people unite to annoy or enchant producer Simon Cowell.

And sometimes, for the highest enjoyment of the three judges, Cowell, Amanda Holden and Piers Morgan, true artists show the best of the best. Like Diversity, a dance group:

http://talent.itv.com/videos/video/item_200127.htm

Please see also:

http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/toldja-sorry-nikki-diversity-wins-bgt.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/bgt-semi-final-4.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/bgt-second-semi-final.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/bgt-first-semi-final.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/05/simons-got-disco-talent-sort-of.html
http://tattard2.blogspot.com/2009/04/talent-dignity-pride-susan-boyle-on-bgt.html