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Original poster

To hate how people use personal and national tragedy, to promote their act. (Especially on Britain's Got Talent..)

59 replies

purplebush · 17/04/2018 10:22

Firstly, the magician in 2016 who played on the lost lives of many soldiers, and played on the public's heartstrings, by bringing in old soldiers and beaming pics of war heroes on the wall. (He won even though his act was as boring as fuck.)

Then the 'missing peoples choir' came on last year with their pics of lost people being beamed on the wall behind them. (They were very average, and didn't win.)

And this year we have magician Marc Spelmann, using his difficulty to conceive (with his wife,) and his wife's battle with cancer as part of his act, to win sympathy and attention.

Obviously, I am sorry for people who have suffered heartache and loss, but I just find using personal tragedy and national tragedy to promote your act, in incredibly poor taste. It's taking the 'sob stories' to a whole new level!

Spelmann has already been fast-tracked to the semi-final, after predictably being given the golden buzzer, and he will almost definitely be in the final. Contrived bollocks IMO.

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Original poster
purplebush · 17/04/2018 11:18

@dancinggoat

What's worse is the fact they tell people who have mild learning difficulties or a mental health condition that they are amazing. Put them in front of a panel and audience who either laugh , Boo or tell them they are no good. The contestants kick off as they've been pumped up to feel they are fantastic and can't understand why they are getting this response. Great tv made.

It's cruel and I can't believe it's allowed to happen. It's like a Victorian travelling circus - awful.

All this ^ well said.

Agree with monstera, that the Japanese guy was hilarious! Grin

Agree with @sparklesocks post too up there ^

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Judashascomeintosomemoney · 17/04/2018 11:20

Then the 'missing peoples choir' came on last year with their pics of lost people being beamed on the wall behind them. (They were very average, and didn't win.)

I agree with you mostly but not really re the above. I don’t think they used missing people to promote their act. They were the friends and family of the missing and they used the show to highlight the issue and hopefully reignite leads. I think it was instrumental in reuniting more than one family, who, for whatever reason, had felt unable to take the step before.

Heighwayqueen · 17/04/2018 11:24

We call it 'tragic back story' in our house. I'll tape shows like that so I can fast forward through the stories

AgentProvocateur · 17/04/2018 11:27

These shows are the visual equivalent of Take A Break magazine - exploiting not very intelligent and sometimes vulnerable contestants for entertainment.

Original poster
purplebush · 17/04/2018 11:29

Fair enough comments re the missing peoples choir, but I still think anything like this should be kept away from so-called talent shows...

Also pisses me off how they put at least 2 or 3 awful acts through to the live shows, purely for 'entertainment,' and pass on talented acts.

@heighwayqueen

I'll tape shows like that so I can fast forward through the stories

90% of the time I do too, but we watched it live the other night.

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Biker47 · 17/04/2018 11:37

The magic tricks he did were very basic and easy to work out as well, I don't know how he managed to get a golden buzzer out of it, I'm assuming it's the sob story that sold it.

MissionItsPossible · 17/04/2018 11:39

The only thing worse is the Pride of Britain awards when sob stories are used to promote celebrities. Like there was this family who had some sort of tragedy and they got given an award by Peggy, Phil and Grant from Eastenders because y'know... they're fahhhmily Hmm

And yes, I also recommend Chart Throb by Ben Elton. I read it halfway through the 2nd or 3rd series of X Factor and I've never watched it in the same way again. Apparently Simon Cowell was furious with Ben when it was released because he had let come behind the scenes of X Factor.

Original poster
purplebush · 17/04/2018 11:44

Dislike pride of Britain too ...

I will try and find Chart throb. Never heard of it. Ben Elton's is funny and talented though, so I look forward to seeing it!

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MissionItsPossible · 17/04/2018 11:45

@purplebush

It's a book, not a show! Dead Famous is another good one (based on Big Brother)

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 17/04/2018 11:47

YANBU.
To be honest I find those magic tricks where they say write a word down and the magician guesses it very fascinating but also very boring if that sense. I think Queen Lizibibbin would be bored out of her tree.
If I had to swear under oath.
It was very magical where the little girl guessed Simons random word. However has this family not been through what they had. I highly doubt he'd have got the golden buzzer.

Original poster
purplebush · 17/04/2018 11:49

Oh it's a BOOK. Thank you. Smile

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Titsywoo · 17/04/2018 11:52

DH knows of Spelman and he is already a professional magician who makes a pretty penny out of it. Not sure why he used such simple tricks to be honest and DH thought the whole thing was a bit pathetic. I mean his story is sad but I hate it when people use things like that in these shows.

Original poster
purplebush · 17/04/2018 12:00

@babyspider

To be honest I find those magic tricks where they say write a word down and the magician guesses it very fascinating but also very boring

Yeah, I am getting tired of that type of act. Where they say say 'write down a number, pick a playing card, pick a colour, pick an animal, pick a country, pick a girl's name beginning with C,' and so on.

And then they say 'I told my granny to tell me her fave teacher's name from 60 years ago, oooooh it's CATHY the name YOU picked and she wore a RED SKIRT every MONDAY.' And then I asked my auntie Flo where she went on holiday for her 50th birthday, and she said 'AMERICA' which is the country you picked. Then I told my dog to put his paw on a playing card A YEAR AGO, and Da Da DAAAAAAHHH It's the 3 of hearts. THE CARD YOU PICKED!' GASSSSSP!'

As a pp said, this type of act just drags and drags and is so boring. And I don't know how they do it, but I really don't care. Confused

@titsywoo

DH knows of Spelman and he is already a professional magician who makes a pretty penny out of it. Not sure why he used such simple tricks to be honest and DH thought the whole thing was a bit pathetic. I mean his story is sad but I hate it when people use things like that in these shows.

Not shocked at all to hear he is already a professional making money out of it. His agent probably made some deal with ITV. I think that happens a lot on these shows.

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PlasticWatch · 17/04/2018 12:10

I've read Chart Throb brilliantly funny and thanks for the Dead Famous recommendation I've just bought it!

PlasticWatch · 17/04/2018 12:11

As a pp said, this type of act just drags and drags and is so boring. And I don't know how they do it, but I really don't care. confused

I do! How do they do it? Though I agree the sob stories should be dropped.

Fridasfridgefreezer · 17/04/2018 12:15

YANBU. Mawkish crap.

ShatnersBassoon · 17/04/2018 12:16

It's all very mawkish, but some people (Amanda Holden) lap that shit up.

I thought the magician was very difficult to watch, not because he had a sad story, but because he was a complete dick.

eggsandchips · 17/04/2018 12:58

I always find it quite odd how some people on the show talk like they are the only person on the planet to have lost someone close to them.

Therefore they should win. Bizarre.

ThymeLord · 17/04/2018 13:01

Do people really think Susan Boyle has the "voice of an angel"? I always think of her as an average cruise-ship style singer.

ValleyClouds · 17/04/2018 13:35

One of these shows somebody who did very well attended school with some family members of mine.

Much was made about them living in "poverty"

It was nonsense and they were no worse off than their peers

Ickyockycocky · 17/04/2018 13:42

Totally agree OP. It makes me switch off.

ANameforToday · 17/04/2018 13:53

I think Peter Key had it right years ago with his Britain's Got the Pop Factor, plenty of sob stories and R Wayne getting back in when his Nan had a heart attack.

Fridasfridgefreezer · 17/04/2018 13:56

I was trying to remember that Peter Kay show. Perfect parody.

Shoxfordian · 17/04/2018 13:59

Yeah I agree as well.
Another recommendation for Dead Famous, its really funny.

Original poster
purplebush · 17/04/2018 15:07

@fridasfridgefreezer and @Anamefortoday

The Peter Kay send-up was "Britain's Got the Pop Factor... and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly on Ice..."

Brilliant. :)

To hate how people use personal and national tragedy, to promote their act. (Especially on Britain's Got Talent..)
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