Superstar....anyone watching?

[songanddanceman2]

Because it's humiliating for anyone who has a great talent and an established career to have to audition on a reality TV show for a role they want to play. This is not just a case of 'they would have had to audition anyway', the big difference is that ALW media whore reputation is making respectable artists jump through stupid hoops.

I for one am THRILLED the first episode flopped hard

[ClapYo'Hands]

A bit narcissistic, SADM. I don't think it's "making" anyone do anything, they don't HAVE to audition, but the fact is they did because it's a role they want to play anyway but this audition just happens to be on TV.

[songanddanceman2]

'Narcissistic'? That's ridiculous, if West End performers want the role (which will be a big one and many people would love to play) they have no CHOICE but to audition through this stupid TV show or they simply don't get to audition, meaning West End performers either get on board with this way or they can't audition for stuff they do for a LIVING!

The bottom line ALW does this s**t to sell revivals of his shows, no artistic reason at all. Now if he want's to be a fame whore and a media joke that's fine, but when artists are having to audition this way now as well to get a job in one of us half hearted revivals i just find it a shame.

[ClapYo'Hands]

I find your argument inconsistent - you claim these stars have no choice with the audition process for this "big role" which "many people would love to play", but then you claim the revival is half-hearted.

I personally don't agree that any of the revivals have been half-hearted (and I've seen all of them with the exception of Joseph) and definitely don't agree that Lloyd Webber is a "fame whore" or a "media joke" it just strikes me that yours is a more personal axe-grinding.

[songanddanceman2]

Thats because you are a fan of his.
Of course he is a fame whore, anyone can see that, he is far more interested in becoming a TV personality now than writing brand new musicals, the shows he revives are well known shows of his that are a brand and easily marketable.
The Joseph revival was a limp version of the original Palladium revival, Wizard of Oz was pretty poor etc.

The revivals are half hearted, it does not mean the roles are not good roles or the original show is not a good show. I quite like Superstar (even though the book is a mess) and i also love Sunset and The Beautiful Game, i don't hate the bloke i just don't have blinkers on when it comes to the fact that he has become a money grabbing media whore

[ClapYo'Hands]

"i don't hate the bloke i just don't have blinkers on when it comes to the fact that he has become a money grabbing media whore"

Actually, I think that appears to be exactly the case.

[songanddanceman2]

How? you are making no sense

[devonian.t]

Oh come on!

How can anybody deny that ALW chases media attention at every opportunity. He has admitted as much himself- he has described his media "wheezes" at length.

Perhaps the revivals have been half-hearted because commercial ambition has dwarfed artistic achievement?

My instinct is that it is deeply disrespectful to insist that the only access the established professional performers have to this role is via a public cattle call, which has already shown itself to be deeply disengenuous- for example, describing a West End star as a part-time bartender.

Perhaps the original concept of finding new talent from unconventional sources had a worthy purpose, but this latest development shows an intense disrespect for theatre artists.

[rockyhorrorfan]

I think the fact they refer to a West End star as a part-time bartender proves that they are trying to con the public into thnking they're discovering a new talent. If the members of the public who are not regular theatre-goers think one of the auditionees has plenty of experience then they won't vote for them.

I do agree with SADM that established West End performers shouldn't have to lower themselves by auditioning on this show.

[zyx987]

Oliver Tompsett has posted a facebook update describing what he thinks of the process and I guess this is what most performers feel.

Sounds like he didn't get through though which is disappointing.

[Princeton Returns]

From Oliver Thompsetts facebook. Im was not a massive Oli fan but I think this is brilliant, very well written and interesting, especially reading between the lines. Huge props to Oli for writing this and my opinion of him has completely changed

http://www.facebook.com/oliver.tompsett.3

"Thanks for all the Support on my appearance on "ITV Superstar" I had an amazing experience & audition for the show & met a fantastic talented bunch of guys whilst taking part. from what I have seen of the 1st 2 Episodes, ITV seem to have shown a fair representation of everyone they have featured. I can neither confirm or deny that I am still in Superstar or if.... I HAD TO PULL OUT DUE TO ROCK OF AGES COMMITMENTS....

Remember ITV & ALW have had to choose 10 guys for the LIVE audition shows. It is not in the viewers or their best interest to give "Air Time" to those that they didn't or that they couldn't take to the final stage,no matter how wrong or right they may have been for the part of Jesus.

In the real world of auditioning sometimes people get overlooked & sometimes others get given an opportunity to shine, this process is no different. I know a handful of guys on top of the boys that went for "Jesus" that weren't available to audition in the first place that would have made a brilliant "Jesus's" So you see its not always about who's best... its about "right guy, right place , right time" I'd hate to think of all the jobs I would've have lost out on if we were all available at the same time

All the boys I met at "Jesus School" deserved a shot & what everyone else thinks about the finalists is irrelevant because ITV & ALW ultimately decide, & are better placed to make that decision than anyone else.
The guys I met on "Superstar Island"came from far & wide & with varied experience in performing. What I love about the "TV searches" is that it gives the raw talent of this country that don't necessarily have the luxury of an agent or professional training behind them the chance to muscle it out on a level playing field with those like myself lucky enough to have both. I have never asked for a free pass for anything & do not want to be treated any different than the next guy & that was an attitude that was shared amongst most of the boys in the last 40 of Superstar.

I had such a laugh & have enjoyed watching the Tv Programmes immensely even if I was terrified I was gonna look like an idiot!

"Jesi" I salute you each & every one of you finalist or not,was brave enough to put themselves on the line & be criticised on national TV in the hope that we might learn something or even better achieve a dream of singing ALW incredible score. BUT! . . . . to those who think that its beneath them to audition in such a manor in front of the nation & show that your only human and share your warts and all? I have only this to say " TOO CHICKEN? "

[DeNada]

Regardless of the artistic quality of said revivals, I think the only one that was truly half-hearted was Joseph - digging an old set out of store and reviving a production whose director had unfortunately died and so couldn't really add anything to it.

Sound of Music was a good revival. Oliver! was certainly spectacular to look at. And while Wizard of Oz isn't great it's never adapted well for the stage - and ALW wrote several new songs for it, which doesn't suggest a complete lack of interest.

While Superstar is coming across as a "lowest common denominator" TV show to an extent, the final production might not be too bad. Mel C was nominated for an Olivier, after all. Fingers crossed...

[Paterson]

I don't think it's humiliating for fairly established, but not particularly famous, theatre performers to "have to" take part in a public audition in order to get a part they really want. It only becomes humiliating if they have to do something specific on the show that is humiliating, or are somehow humiliated by a bad edit. I've not seen anyone humiliated in any of the previous shows (and I didn't watch every episode, so I'm willing to be corrected). I'm not one of those people who laughs at contestants who come fifth on a tv talent show or calls them a loser.

I say this as someone who is confident that ALW loves a bit of press attention - and has done for some time. Watching that three part series on BBC4 a few months ago opened my eyes to how he's always been a man with one eye on marketing.

The biggest risk for any auditionee is that if they don't get it, everyone who knows them will know they tried and "failed". There is a risk that you give a duff performance on a bad day and that's what people will remember you for, but that's the risk anyone vaguely famous risks each time they appear on tv.

Jonathan Ancell has arguably humiliated himself, but only because he was already famous (and acted like an idiot). I don't think anyone is calling him an idiot for entering, or for not winning.

Clearly, there will be some performers who only want to perform on stage, and don't want to have any public profile beyond the theatre programme. Those people won't want to apply for this role, but I don't think they'd be wanted either. There is an expectation now that theatre performers will do tv promotion, and if they have enough success, they'll take the opportunity to do press to promote their show. Elaine Page certainly wouldn't be the star she is today if she'd refused all media.

[bob8rich]

Just watched tonight's show. The choices ALW made in some of the people he put into the top 10 and some of those he left out is something of an atheist's dream. It proves there is no God lol.

[Princeton Returns]

He made some very odd choices. I'm glad Tim got through, shame Nathan did though.

[jaqs]

It's never about the 10 best, several are there for the purpose of being voted out.

It's interesting inthe metro almost all of them are listed as actor/singer/performer as they should be and not barman/concrete secretary/binman.

http://www.metro.co.uk/tv/905162-superstar-guide-to-the-ten-finalists

[The Scorpion]

Regardless of the artistic quality of said revivals, I think the only one that was truly half-hearted was Joseph - digging an old set out of store and reviving a production whose director had unfortunately died and so couldn't really add anything to it.

Sound of Music was a good revival. Oliver! was certainly spectacular to look at. And while Wizard of Oz isn't great it's never adapted well for the stage - and ALW wrote several new songs for it, which doesn't suggest a complete lack of interest.

I agree that Sound of Music did have a certain amount of artistic ambition behind it; it was obvious that production was in some ways a childhood dream come true for ALW. As for Joseph and Oliver, however, BOTH were copycat revivals of what had previously been at the Palladium and I would agree with songanddanceman2 that they were half-hearted and all about the £££.

[peachesr82]

I'm not totally enamored of many of them at this point, it's going to take the week for me to warm to any of them fully. I do know I don't want to see a Jesus with a beer gut.

[Phantom of London]

Just watched tonight's edition and they do the same format they do all the time 'good cop/bad co'p, as always on the first week it is good cop where no one could do anything wrong, to settle them in, next week will be a lot harsher.

As for The Lord being a media whore, which is very true, but a very course and disrespectful way to communicating your wrath against him, yes the man is very eccentric and communicates this through the media.

I don't know where they get all the superlatives from.

[abitoftap]

If you ignored the judges, it WAS the X factor in every other respect.
Is Simon Cowell (who was sued by Simon Fuller) suing?

[peachesr82]

My worry is how many people voting for this actually know the show and the role they're casting. It seems to be pitched very X Factor-y and the danger is that by including the wider public not just theatre going public like those on this board, that might drop down the list of priorities. Does that make sense?
There are very few of the final line-up that look to me like they could lead 12 disciples and cope with a Tim Minchin Judas. I mean really would you be inclined to hang on every word some of they say? I wouldn't.

[ClapYo'Hands]

It is, as always, a "vote for your favourite singer" competition, with a little bit of "who looks most like Jesus?" thrown in...

[Paterson]

It seems to be suffering from them being keen to make it different from the BBC shows, but also different from X Factor, whilst being in the same studios as X Factor.

I really miss Graham, as I loved his relationship with the Lord, and he always seemed to know when it was appropriate to take the mickey and when to be serious. I don't think they could have found anyone half as good as Graham, so I feel sorry for Amanda being subject to comparisons, but she's too reliant on the autocue.

The judges comments last night were fairly bland. You expect them to be positive on the first show, and I don't blame them for that, but they will need to be more constructive once the show gets underway properly. By constructive, I do actually mean giving them pointers on how to improve (ie admitting something wasn't perfect) and not pretending they are perfect.

I read a rumour, which is very possibly rubbish, that one of the final 30 who got chucked out before final 20, has been recruited to play Peter.

[jaqs]

Over the rainbow was filmed at fountain studios too.

No exit song, no challenge videos ( I know time is too short with the daily show),
Seems theyve taken out every part that was fun or interesting and it's a straight xfactor with better talent and worse judges.

[Scarywarhol]

This is a moronic idea, and Webber should be utterly ashamed of himself. Whoring his old works into tattered camp is a poor substitute for innovation, and this isn't even really his show. Tim Rice's sensibility and penchant for skepticism are what make the show as compelling as it is, despite its enormous flaws. This show's existence is a testament to the fact that Webber has either forgotten or never even understood JCS's deep and strangely sincere irony, despite the fact that he wrote its music!

[The Scorpion]

This is a moronic idea, and Webber should be utterly ashamed of himself. Whoring his old works into tattered camp is a poor substitute for innovation, and this isn't even really his show. Tim Rice's sensibility and penchant for skepticism are what make the show as compelling as it is, despite its enormous flaws. This show's existence is a testament to the fact that Webber has either forgotten or never even understood JCS's deep and strangely sincere irony, despite the fact that he wrote its music!

Couldn't agree more!