Photosales
niJobfinder
niCarfinder
Home Delivery
Propertynews
X Factor judge Simon Cowell pulls off a PR master-stroke with Jedward twins
But does twins' survival mean ratings come before talent?
Tuesday, 10 November 2009
More pictures
He’s been accused of hypocrisy, branded a coward and slated by viewers for saving the Terrible Grimes Twins.
Simon Cowell’s rescue act caused the X Factor’s website to crash as fans of Lucie Jones posted indignant messages criticising the music mogul.
After all, he’s been their harshest judge since the live shows began and even threatened to leave the country should they go on and win.
So his weekend decision raises several questions. Was it really as big a shock as everyone is saying? Or was this a Machiavellian master-stroke on the part of the most influential man in the entertainment industry?
According to a number of local music experts, Cowell knew exactly what he was doing and that his decision to go to deadlock was a cynical ploy to keep the much-talked about twins in the show.
Warren Higgins, who runs a London music PR firm which looks after acts such as Snow Patrol and Lady Gaga, said John and Edward were too valuable an asset to the show to lose.
“I don’t think the result was a farce, I think it is a perfect example of Simon Cowell knowing exactly what he is doing,” he said.
“He is saving an act that is keeping his show in all the newspapers and on everyone’s lips.
“It’s entertainment for the family and as much as it pains me to say it, Jedward provides that element.”
Belfast music publicist Jeff Robinson, who looks after local acts including General Fiasco, said Cowell was just maximising the PR potential. “It’s all about the drama,” he said.
“Everyone thought the twins were going home and then Cowell threw them a lifeline, despite his views week after week.
“But it’s all about the ratings at the end of the day and John and Edward are the big news story of this series.”
Gennaro Castaldo of HMV said the lack of consistency from the judges posed questions about the show’s integrity.
“We know the X Factor is as much about creating fantastic Saturday night entertainment for TV as it is discovering new talent, but, for the sake of consistency, that doesn't mean it shouldn't try to adhere to the same judging criteria each week so that we know whether it's the public's or the judge's votes that really count,” he said.
“We also need to know whether contestants are being judged on their performance on the night or, rather, their ability and commercial potential based on their contribution through the series.
Whatever the reason for Cowell’s change of heart, a staggering 15.4m of us tuned in on Saturday night to watch the talent show. It doesn’t matter who walks away with the recording contract this series — there’s only real winner, and that’s Simon Cowell.
- Text Size
Also in this section
- Kylie's golden moment in Cannes
- GI Joe gets new marching orders
- Nicole Kidman: Don't pigeon-hole me
- Kendrick happy with film choices
- Oldman joins RoboCop remake
Comments
134 Comments
Simon Cowell did not pull of a masterstroke by saving jedward
He in fact destryed his and the shows credibility.
I really have enjoyed watching all of the shows from the very first one, but no more, I am done
Posted by Mike | 14.11.09, 20:05 GMT
louis jedward can win i think im thir bigist fan i meen it
Posted by philip | 14.11.09, 14:12 GMT
Come on all you people!
The show is for fun, entertainment, hardly music!
If it were music based, why would the judges panel consist of a pop stars relatively unsuccessful sister, a 'spicegirls immitation' girl band backing singer(totally doable, however!), a failed showband manager, who finally found success when pop music finally turned to rubbish, and a tone-deaf businessman who drags around a second rate, one hit wonder, token '80's popstar on his arm(anybody for a verse of 'So Macho'?)?
It's 'Hi-5' for teens.
The musical hall of fame of the future:
Beethoven's piano,
Elvis' rhinestone dungarees, Hendrix' guitar,
Rhidians powder-puff,
Jedwards' pseudo mohawks?.......I don't think so!!!!!
It's tv folks, only tv.
Watch, enjoy, laugh and cry if you must, but always remember to switch off the set before you go to bed!!!!
Posted by Rock O'Sense | 14.11.09, 02:55 GMT
i should have listened to what my son said when x factor first started,its a show for forgotten pop stars!trying to get back! and a money spinner for simon cowell, hes always said the programme was a fix and we are all stupid for watching it and wasting our hard earned money voting.last Sunday proved him right, say no more!
Posted by Ann | 13.11.09, 13:42 GMT
...and in other news: there was outrage after a television show that asks the public to vote for their favourite, saw a contestant with the least number of votes being voted out! scandalous! whatever next? the MP with the most votes being voted into government? the person with the least number of votes being voted out of a jungle based tv show? Fact: if you wanted lucy to stay in, you should have voted for her. Simon Cowell is a businessman. He put the vote to the public, the public failed. Get over it.
Posted by Just a Girl | 13.11.09, 12:59 GMT
i thought the show was about the best singing act, seems i was mistaken,after saturday night i changed the chanell lucie should have got through. jon and edward have been great fun but its got out of hand,simon shoul have picked her.ive been watching the show since the start.sorry to say i wont be watching any more simply because its doesent seem to be a sining comatition any moor.
Posted by evelyn sommerville | 13.11.09, 00:02 GMT
Why is Simon Cowell taking all this flack! Louis Walsh put those awful twins through above much more talented singers - from that point on we can assum Louis was not really interested in talent - the public vote to keep them in week after week - to the detriment of talent. Simon put three extremely talented singers through - perhaps that was his cunning plan all along to win with talented people - what an evil genius!
Posted by Talent fan | 12.11.09, 09:36 GMT
xfactor is going to be a down fall,if they twins stay on come on simon this is a good show not a money show people r trying to be sometihng singers maybe there a pair off jokes so let get the show on the road we want singers not a pair of clown x
Posted by xfactor | 12.11.09, 02:31 GMT
I quite like them ;))
Posted by mike | 12.11.09, 01:28 GMT
For all those people that complain to Ofcom... seriously get a life!
If you don't like, it don't watch it! People say its not fair that they are still in the show, that they can't sing or dance.... well neither can a large majority of those who audition and it doesn't stop people from watching these episodes. Not only do they watch those who are auditioning make fools out of themselves, but they take pleasure in laughing at them...so whats the difference? Instead of wasting money phoning Ofcom to complain about a TV show, maybe you should donate the money to charity...that would be more worthwhile all round!
Posted by Carol | 11.11.09, 21:11 GMT
The JED'S are funny and entertaining. i think they would make great presenters of kids tv shows. They have no singing talent. but big personalities. Olly should win, the rest are boring.
Posted by pollymo | 11.11.09, 20:53 GMT
Oh please people when will you every learn? As someone else pointed out, the so called public vote is a great big con. The outcome is already decided and whoever will make the most money for Simon will win. Sat night generated a bit of controversy so more people will watch this week and more will vote. Stop voting folks, you're being taken for a ride.
Posted by Realist | 11.11.09, 16:32 GMT
Do John and Edward remind anyone else of Bevis & Butthead?
Posted by Ian S | 11.11.09, 15:48 GMT
Will you lot get over it and leave Simon alone you r a lot of bloody old moaners love Simon
Posted by wilma | 11.11.09, 15:04 GMT
Simon Cowell is hungry to win, hungrier than in the last two years - plain & simple. He is inconsistent, but not "inhuman", says what he does when he thinks it regardless of how it contradicts what he might have said earlier. Most of the time it makes sense at the time he says it.
Posted by Odette | 11.11.09, 13:26 GMT
At the end of the day the outcome is based on the public vote....Simon would have been critisized either way he would have went
Posted by cher | 11.11.09, 12:46 GMT
He didnt vote anyome of. The public voted the girl of and kept the twins in. SC did nothing but let the people decide.
Posted by Joe | 11.11.09, 12:28 GMT
money money money thats what its all about every decision SC makes has the jingling of money attached, we are the fools for voting. if we quit hed soon buck his ideas up what happened to 'what the public wants the public gets?'
im voting for the twins on saturday.....
Posted by lee | 11.11.09, 12:26 GMT
John and Edward bring a much needed entertainment, performance quality to the droopy, boring normality of the X Factor. Simon Cowell, though he did save John and Edward (albeit not purposefully), is an absolute idiot for thinking that the likes of the arrogant Jamie ‘Afro’ Archer and Danyl could possibly beat people like Stacey and Joe, who have real, raw talent. John and Edward bring fun to this recently boring, mediocre show! They deserve to be there as much as, if not well more than, the guy with the afro and the really terribly cocky and self-centred Danyl.
Posted by rebeccabieber | 11.11.09, 12:16 GMT
Disappointed that Simon has shown his true colours & proved that he's only interested in ratings rather than X Factor as a singing competition. Leona lewis is one of the few real stars to come from such a show; the idea of the twins winning & building even a tiny singing career is more than a joke.
Posted by Kim | 11.11.09, 12:16 GMT
134 Comments