Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Telly addicts

Related: Film discussion forum.

Original poster

Simon Cowell The Next Act

31 replies

habin · 11/12/2025 23:19

just binged this on netflix. Not sure how they’ll make as big a success of the band as the X factor did. Lauren seems like something of a diva. Can’t believe they had to go looking for a record deal after they were picked: Talk about anticlimax! I guess it was a sure thing with Simon and Netflix behind them though. What a house Simon has, gorgeous.

OP posts:
RampantIvy · 12/12/2025 07:24

I'm going to watch it. I know one of the lads who is in it.

Dontjudgeme101 · 12/12/2025 08:36

I watched it and finished it last night. I loved it

bluescreens · 12/12/2025 08:55

I watched it but found it a bit flat. I think since the death of Liam Payne, there’s a lot of attention on the music industry and questions about how early fame might wreck someone’s life. It was hard to see these young 16 and 17 year olds be catapulted into this crazy world and then, once the label takes over, although he said he’d always be available for them, Simon’s job in all this was done.

I hope the labels and managers can find a way to safeguard kids like these from some of the habits and vices which come with it.

FreeOnFriday · 12/12/2025 14:10

I’ve just finished watching and really enjoyed it. It’s quite frightening that they’re about to be thrust into the industry at their young ages though, and if I was their parent, I would be very apprehensive.

Some of them do seem like the kids that were annoying as hell at school. You don’t get removed from school easily these days, but hopefully this will change all their lives for the better. I’m not sure how they’ll all get along as there was quite a mix of personalities and it’s a large group.

I really liked Lauren, the total opposite of a diva from what we were shown. It was sad to see Simon talk about Liam Payne and talking to his parents.

They all sounded really good at the end when that were singing Bye Bye so they could be the next 1D.

RampantIvy · 12/12/2025 14:10

He made the final 12, but was then sent home. I'm gutted for him.

Bumblebee72 · 12/12/2025 18:09

Just started watching this. The beginning is odd - everyone being brought together for something new, when the something new is just the same own Cowell formula of auditioning people for a boyband.

FreeOnFriday · 12/12/2025 18:16

RampantIvy · 12/12/2025 14:10

He made the final 12, but was then sent home. I'm gutted for him.

Oh no. But he did well to get so far so you never know what might happen in the future for him.

Christmaschristingle · 12/12/2025 23:02

How many houses does he have ??

JadeSeahorse · 13/12/2025 09:22

Binge watched this during the night as I couldn't sleep.

Really enjoyed it and I think they sound brilliant together although there are obvious concerns with how young they all are with the eldest only being 19.

Thegala · 13/12/2025 09:58

His homes are amazing.

Simon seems to be so disengaged from Lauren, it's like she is just another one of the multiple people milling around their home, chef, housekeeper, assistants, make up artist, driver, etc.

I think the days of mega fame for boybands is over, but so many talented young guys, I am sure there will be a few breakout artists from it.

amoosebouche · 13/12/2025 10:03

Have watched the first 3 episodes, he comes across very well although Lauren seems like she's his therapist rather than fiancee. The homes are unreal and yes how many does he have!! I like how they edit it so you don't see who they are talking about when they aren't keen on someone, it seems kinder and softer than reality music shows in years gone by. Some of the boys have beautiful voices, interested to see who makes it through!

Moonstone20 · 13/12/2025 21:06

I’ve watched it all. I do like Simon Cowell, he owns how eccentric he is. I think they should have had a higher age limit for this though, 16 years old is just so young, a few of them really do look like the children that they are.

AgapanthusPink · 14/12/2025 12:52

I actually hope the band do well. They do sound good and generally seemed like lovely talented lads. I did wonder though if we’re all not just ‘over’ the talent show boy band thing. I was a bit shocked some of them were 15 when they started the process. Just so young. I was also pleased that they removed the humiliation part of the audition process and we didn’t see the people they were making negative comments about.

I definitely didn’t see Lauren as a diva. I actually felt a bit sorry for her as everything just seems to revolve about Simon. The bit where she got upset about him questioning how long her son’s (his step son’s) graduation was and did he have to stay for the whole thing was sad and I got her frustration. She seems to put herself out for him and his foibles but he didn’t want to put himself out for a few hours for something that meant a lot to her.

Also his surgery is just awful. I did wonder if he looks in the mirror and actually likes it. The eyes in particular make him look really creepy.

JaquiRussell · 14/12/2025 18:17

* Spoilers in my comment so don't read of you've not seen it all *

That being said I still have 30 minutes left so it could all change but I cannot believe Josh was put in the band. I feel his attitude is poor, he's too immature and he looks terrible. I feel so bad for Hendrick constantly trying to get him and Danny to grew up and behave.
My heart breaks for Nicolas and John who are both incredibly talented and the camera just loves them.

I see Simon is trying to go up against K-Pop who have huge sized bands, but I think 6, aka minus Josh would have been just fine.
Can you tell he infuriates me 😆🤦🏼‍♀️

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 14/12/2025 18:31

I watched it all and really felt that Simon doesn’t understand that the old winning formula is a thing of the past. Even the lack of interest in the beginning showed this. I can’t see them being a success.

BlondeBonBon · 14/12/2025 18:35

I thought he made the right choice except for Nicholas who I couldn’t warm to. All great singers

WallaceinAnderland · 14/12/2025 18:45

It was awful. He didn't do anything different and ended up with a boring band and no record contract. Why release the Netflix series without a launch of the band?

It was just a big ego stroke for him because he's missing his youth.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 14/12/2025 18:55

Nicholas was open about wanting it as a stepping stone to other things, so basically go solo asap - not ideal. They wanted him for his look, it was that shallow

WallaceinAnderland · 14/12/2025 22:51

And how dull. Oooo, this one has long hair. All the others have the same hairstyles so this one must be a rebel 🙄

All that show did was illustrate that Simon is even more out of touch than he thought he was. There he was talking about tiktok and kpop and his band has no social presence. Their insta was only created 4 days ago and there are 8 posts.

AgapanthusPink · 15/12/2025 08:28

@WallaceinAnderlandI agree SC is out of touch but the band only launched on 10 December at the same time the Netflix documentary dropped so makes sense for Instagram/Tiktok go live the same day. Before that no one would have heard of them.

Original poster
habin · 15/12/2025 10:05

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 14/12/2025 18:55

Nicholas was open about wanting it as a stepping stone to other things, so basically go solo asap - not ideal. They wanted him for his look, it was that shallow

I was surprised that he openly admitted that before being selected and it felt like the other guys didn’t like him much because he’s quiet and serious about music and not a jack the lad like some of them.

OP posts:
BlondeBonBon · 15/12/2025 11:15

I thought the chap with the guitar was excellent but certainly a solo artist, being creative

WallaceinAnderland · 15/12/2025 16:57

AgapanthusPink · 15/12/2025 08:28

@WallaceinAnderlandI agree SC is out of touch but the band only launched on 10 December at the same time the Netflix documentary dropped so makes sense for Instagram/Tiktok go live the same day. Before that no one would have heard of them.

It should have been launched with a single. Could have been xmas no. 1

As it is, all they have is a youtube video and 9 social media posts.

SC's whole aim was to rival Kpop

PeonyPatch · 16/12/2025 18:05

I have just started watching this. I worry it’s gonna flop

ResusciAnnie · 16/12/2025 18:10

Thegala · 13/12/2025 09:58

His homes are amazing.

Simon seems to be so disengaged from Lauren, it's like she is just another one of the multiple people milling around their home, chef, housekeeper, assistants, make up artist, driver, etc.

I think the days of mega fame for boybands is over, but so many talented young guys, I am sure there will be a few breakout artists from it.

No way I really liked their relationship! I liked her, not just some quiet beautiful ornament.

I love this show, basically Pop Idol from his perspective and bit of reality show/selling sunset vibes. Like it. I also like that it’s a chance to see actual real voices - majority of singing on social media and YouTube nowadays is autotuned, even sometimes actual live gigs have so many affects on and tracking; it’s nice to hear actual human, imperfect voices.

I think Simon seems really nice and genuine and RAab too would be a great person to get in the room with - any of the boys will have learnt so much during the process. Even just to say they’ve sung in front of SC would be pretty cool. I’d be so happy if DS got a similar opportunity (he’s currently 8 😁). Ahhhh, such young fresh enthusiastic people with their lives ahead of them!

Swipe left for the next trending thread