IT’S the top four stage on The X-Factor SA and some people do not even know that the programme is on TV. The talent show is an adaptation of the international series yet in some cases they may as well be two different brands. There’s no doubt that we have had several memorable performances, but as with any maiden voyage, there have been problems on the way that took the X out of the equation. In this instances, X equalled Z.
Timing
Saturday nights are always tricky. You could be the most inactive person under the sun, but come Saturday night you’ll find yourself doing anything other than watching TV. So, in turn, you miss The X-Factor and someone should have thought about this. There is a reason why the good movies screen on a Sunday evening, the assumption is you are at home.
Controversy
Natalia Kills, who is a judge on The X-Factor New Zealand, is under fire for using the F-word in front of the kids at the show. While we don’t condone this behaviour, in TV speak, it does bring in the publicity. Our version is rather safe and comes across as lukewarm compared to the international version.
Budget
Once you become acquainted to the international way of doing things, you become accustomed to that and expect nothing less. But, when it comes to the adaptation of big shows from international shores to ours, there is the feeling that the budgets are slashed. It shows on The X-Factor SA.
Judges’ Feuds
Again we are not advocating violence or any TV-unfriendly behaviour, but can the judges really be open about how they feel? We get that they get along in the small music industry and have cross- pollinated their talents before, but they need to put that aside and show us their true colours. Perhaps next time we should have people whom we know don’t get along. AKA and Cassper Nyovest, maybe?
International Acts
Let’s not be ungrateful here. We did have John Legend and Kirk Whalum on the show. However, compared to how international stars handle themselves on such shows, these dudes gave half-baked performances.
Voting
Since the show is aired in two parts, we see the acts from 5.30pm and then decide on whom we like through voting. Later that evening, the results are announced and we find out who had the least votes. This sounds incredible and immediate, but going back to our timing issue, if you missed it on the day, you really have no say thereafter.
Prizes
A lucrative Sony Music Entertainment recording contract sounds like something we have heard before from shows of this nature. In the future it would be great to add names of renowned producers, songwriters and A&R people to the prize so that the musos fight to the death knowing that someone more experienced, not an intern, will craft their album.
TV Mode
JUDGES Arno, Oskido and Zonke all have years of experience in the music industry but none in TV. What people neglect to acknowledge is that TV is a different beast compared to the stage. Also, with shows like The X-Factor, where screen experience is needed, the judges lack that TV wisdom that Cheryl Cole (Fernandez-Versini) or Simon Cowell have.
It is the first season, so we will be lenient in our observations, but should the show return, some, if not all, of these concerns need to be addressed.