Be Excellent To Each Other

Given the surprising adoration for shows like X Factor on here, which are less about music and more about fame, "gossip", the clear exploitation of "drama" and "dreams", and the way experimentation, creativity and originality are all throttled in the name of moneymaking and shortcutting your way to a gold disc........ it's pretty depressing.


I take it you watch plenty of other lowest common denominating ITV shows too?

I like watching grannies fall over on You've Been Framed.

And, sadly, the "He's done fell in the water!" of Total Wipeout.

My initial response would be something along the lines of "Fuck off, you snobby cunt."

I like "Hole in the Wall". Look at the funny people! They're being all silly and funny!

Anyone that thinks you shouldn't be allowed to enjoy something because it's not aimed at a highbrow audience is an idiot.

I don't watch these shows so I'm clearly not a victim of it.

X Factor isn't a fantastic work of art of a cerebral journey that will challenge you at every step.

Neither is "Airplane!" or "Total Wipeout" (US version only... it's the commentators that make it funny, not the people falling over) or "Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail".

They're all still good.

Are the X-Factor contestants really significantly more contrived and stage managed than any other mainstream music? Also, it's entirely possible to watch something and enjoy the spectacle whilst still being fully aware that it's basically a cynical money making ploy.

There is nothing wrong with being 'low brow' (its kinda horrible using that word) - Harry Hill's TV burp is inherently low brow. It's also one of the greatest shows on television and is cutting and insightful, and treats the viewer with respect.

But there are many, many things wrong with Xfactor and a lot of TV.

We are only really victims if we choose to watch it though.*

I don't think dumbing down is the real issue. I think it is the lack of heart and emotion in the work produced and a lack of respect for the viewer.

* Edit, I mean, if you don't like it and still choose to watch it. Obviously.

I agree with the snobby cunt thing. I deride shows like X-Factor, Total Wipeout and University Challenge, but at least I watch them and enjoy them for exactly what they are... entertainment. There's nothing better than watching the x-factor and simultaneously baiting people on facebook.

I enjoy a good documentary, nature program or german porno as much as the next educated gent, but I also enjoy watching teenagers hit each other in the nuts and welshmen tenderising their flesh. I am a complex man after all.

I hate X-Factor and its ilk. For no other reason than the fact that I don't think it's on to essentially stranglehold the Christmas number one chart position and make some cunts a lot of money. Other than that, they can put what they like on telly. I get plenty of enjoyment on other channels.

Also, I think calling the OP a snobby cunt is a bit harsh. The post didn't come across as snobby at all.



That's pretty undeniably spot on. If you're "open-minded" enough to ignore that and enjoy the shows any way, good for you, but calling people who don't watch them "snobs" is a bit stupid.

I hate X-Factor, but that was one trollsome post - congrats!

I suppose the last line of the OP is a little irksome...

I object to the phrase "surprising admiration". Who here does that apply to?

And, yeah. Excellent trolling.

Yeah, that's the one. It didn't say "The X-Factor is stupid", "It said, the X-Factor is stupid. You all like stupid TV, you bunch of stupids".

hahahaha !

The hour after the X on Facebook is fuckin marvellous

All the birds come out in their droves to complain about the result and I get to wind everyone up

Oh you all admire it. Admit it!

I don't watch X Factor and shows like that, not because I give a hoot what other people think of my Tv viewing habit, but because I just don't find them interesting. I have been called snooty because when someone was gabbling on about the X Factor and asked what I thought of someone I hadn't heard of I said I hadn't seen the show, so to some folks it seems the only way not to be deemed stuck up is to ensure you watch Pop Idol.

I also don't watch soaps, but not because I don't want to watch 'low brow' (if you're going to term it that) TV, but because they don't interest me. When talking about TV and Pop Idol type viewing I was asked what I did watch. My favourite show is Question Time, Because I love David Dimbledore, I also like Anything with David Attenborough, This Week, Newsnight and University challenge, ah, and Harry Hill's TV Burp. And QI. But so what? They are just my interests. I don't understand what people enjoy in a lot of the TV they watch (soaps, X-Factor, etc because I find those shows boring, but then my sister finds my TV preferences very boring. Horses for courses and all that. I don't look down on her because she watches Eastenders, but if I say my favourite program is Question time that often elicits an ironic 'Ooooooooh!' and the gesture of putting one's nose up in the air, so there is an element of reverse snobbery, too.

I also like Ray Mears

I know, an aura of cool is around me.

See, the thread title had promise, as it is perhaps quite an interesting question.
Then you failed to ask anything, and just had a go at people

I do think it's a real shame they never carried on with Fame Academy, because they all seemed quite seriously talented and the Irish girl that came second was well fit.

Oooooooh!

Oh, Alex Sumfink? Yep. Very tasty. My lesbian mate's girlfriend looks just like her

I haven't seen any of those shows either. I have seen one episode of Strictly Come Dancing and quite enjoyed it, if that counts.

But, cuh, I "surprisingly adore" The X-Factor anyway. For shame!



P.S. Question time is for plebs.

Life has been utterly spectacular. I've loved every single moment of it !!

Imagine my suprise then when I was watching the birds episode and it said "And here we are in the Delaware Bay". Hmm. Sounded familiar.

Then when they showed the horse shoe crabs I realised it was where I used to live lol.

Yes it was in the Delaware Bay, but it was actually the beaches of Fortescue NJ where my ex's uncle restored a schooner.

They close the beaches to protect the wildlife. The horse shoe crab is a protected species. Not that it's of any value.. You can't eat them and there's nothing to make money from but their eggs feed a protected species of bird

I know, boring, but I love that show !

I think the first part was a bit irksome as well to be honest...
The 'surprising adoration'? My interpretation of that phrase is that given the fact we are all capable of smart and intelligent conversation and debate, it is surprising that we all blindly adore a tv show which you feel is for stupid people.

Not surprising. I mean if you can see past the end of your nose it's incredibly entertaining.

Bang to rights though. We do all clearly adore it! Right?

That's why I watch Strictly lol. Ola FTW.

No, Sioned.

It is, actually. It's like political discussion made easy, and I am sure some people who have a serious interest in politics might look down on it as current affairs being 'dumbed down', but it's what I enjoy watching, so stuff 'em.

Also, I love Dimbledore's tie collection.

Well I do, I know that much.

Infact when I realised this coming one was the last for the year I was a bit bummed. Then I noticed that the results show is on for two hours on Sunday and breathed a sigh of relief.

I have it bad. I utterly love it. Saturdays are about football, Strictly and X. And if it wasn't for the X on Sunday it would be an incredibly drab day.

Mind you you must remember I am pretty new to this. I watched Pop Stars in the late 90's with my ex wife when she was living here but then we went off to the USA. First X I watched was last year's, so it's all still new and exciting to me given that 99% of U.S TV is curry pumps.

I took it more to mean "please tell me I'm not the only one who watches this shit". I mean, he even has one of those glittering fuckwits as his avatar.

Anyway, to answer the question, I don't think I could be considered a victim of any kind of telly, apart from when I have to sit through adverts. I only doss in front of it for about an hour a week, and it's usually to watch Harry Hill or QI or Life, none of which are aimed at a very specific demographic.

Is that a name? Or are you 'owning' me in Irish?

Not considering this is the second thread of his that just complains about the X-factor, the last one specifically just hating on Cheryl Cole.

Fair play to you!

As I say I've never actually seen it, so didn't know I adored it. Therefore it is surprising to me, not just to MarzSyndrome.

It was meant to be, then I found the actual spelling. Sinead Quinn was her name. Google images is telling me that she was rougher than I remember, unfortunately.

No. None.

Oh, right. Even so, I'd argue anybody who actively hates any celebrity has still very much been subsumed by sleb culture.

In any case, it's looking more like the correct response to the thread title might be "it's just you".

L-LOL

I was trying to remember the last time ITV tried something different and ambitious. Sadly it's been 20 years!



If Interceptor had been commissioned by Channel 4 it would have run for years! Although granted The Crystal Maze would have never happened.

The Crystal Maze remains to this day one of my favouritest tv shows ever. There wasn't a thing wrong with it, aside from the advert breaks

Ten Pole Tudar(er?)(or?) when Zardoz retired.

maybe, but he did have a lot to live up to. He pretty much did a Zardoz impression throughout

When I was a kid I used to like that show where Tony Robinson would both narrate and enact scenes from the Bible. May have been called 'Milk & Honey' or something similar.

I don't think he was bad. It was just impossible to top the previous host:

Mrs Chinny once worked with someone who went on the show but who wouldn't speak of her experiences at all.

Then last year we were watching an episode and we suddenly found out why:



The shame must still burn!

I'd be far more interested in X Factor if it was bands that sang their own songs.
As it is, I dislike it quite a lot.

How did he do with the Sodom and Gomorrah section?

OMFG, that was hilarious.

It's like she's trying to glitch real life.