# Well, here's how Britain's Got Talent shook out... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 30, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-how-britains-got-talent-shook-out/498205 "2009-05-30T21:25:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![illuminati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47774/32.png) [@illuminati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/illuminati)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-how-britains-got-talent-shook-out/498205/21 "2009-06-01T14:54:43Z")
> [@glee](#): > > You do need to monitor if anyone is getting upset. > However Holly did recover and clearly enjoyed the whole experience overall. > Plus Shaheen and Aiden (both finalists and about 12 years old) had no problems. > . I think Aiden broke down after Simon was overly critical of his performance (he had less than 24 hours to come up with a whole new routine) Shaheen kept his head and coped with the pressure well but I believe he has had professional experience (Thriller musical). If the kids are amateurs then they should not be subjected to the same level of criticism as the adults. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-how-britains-got-talent-shook-out/498205/22 "2009-06-01T16:04:55Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > More likely, the change in the odds showed a lot of bets placed _during_ their performance. It’s what the smart kids were doing while the rest were waiting for the phone lines to open… Actually, I don’t think it would have taken much money to move the price from fourteens to twos. I can’t imagine the market for this event was very strong. It’s not like it was the Grand National or the Derby. ---
**Author:** ![Hrududu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Hrududu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hrududu)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-how-britains-got-talent-shook-out/498205/23 "2009-06-01T17:45:37Z")
Its a shame that most of the news reports led with “Susan Boyle lost” rather than “Diversity won” I think it was a big mistake for Susan to sing I Dreamed a Dream again. Her semi final performance of Memory was woeful I thought. So when she went back to her audition piece the question being asked in my house was “Is this all she can do?” Diversity on the other hand performed three completely different routines. And its a hell of a lot harder to come up with a new dance routine than learn a new song. The thing that they had was creativity. Little things they dropped in like the little boy surfing across the other dancers and of course the other little kid getting buzzed off. Highly entertaining. In my opinion they were far more talented than Susan, and unless they are going to change the show to Britain’s Got Backstory then the most talented should win. Although after saying all that my heart was really with Stavros Flatley. Nobody on that show entertained me as much as they did. ---
**Author:** ![maplekiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@maplekiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maplekiwi)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-how-britains-got-talent-shook-out/498205/24 "2009-06-01T22:02:25Z")
> [@Hrududu](#): > > Its a shame that most of the news reports led with “Susan Boyle lost” rather than “Diversity won” I think it was a big mistake for Susan to sing I Dreamed a Dream again. Her semi final performance of Memory was woeful I thought. So when she went back to her audition piece the question being asked in my house was “Is this all she can do?” Agreed. Shaun Smith also went back to his original song & did really badly (& the final screening on a Saturday when the teens were all out probably didn’t help either. > [@Hrududu](#): > > Although after saying all that my heart was really with Stavros Flatley. Nobody on that show entertained me as much as they did. I loved them the 1st 2 tiimes but by the third time I was over it. Saying that, I hope they come up with a new routine & keep performing. I loved Diversity & Flawless & would have been happy to see either win. Or young Aiden for that matter. I still think 13 should be the minimum. As someone else said, Shaheen is a professional entertainer. Hollie, Aiden & Natalie all broke down & the young girl from 2 Grand also looked quite stressed waiting for the results to come through.for her semi. & that is the kids we have seen. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-how-britains-got-talent-shook-out/498205/25 "2009-06-02T00:44:37Z")
I only watched the final - it’s not my usual sort of show - but I did really enjoy it. Diversity were simply astonishing. It’s hard to believe those routines were put together by an amateur choreographer, and they were as tight as professionals. The littlest boys were adorable, especially the one who looks like a boy version of Scary Spice. Stavros Flatley were a great fun novelty act. They really looked like they were having fun, and it was infectious. Susan Boyle sang quite well, but it didn’t seem all that special to me. Shaheen had a great voice - shame he’ll probably lose it when his voice breaks. If we’d chosen the top three, it would have been Diversity, Stavros Flatley and either Shaheen or Flawless (I felt bad for them, coming on first when it barely seemed like the show had even started). The saxophonist might well be brilliant, but he didn’t show it by playing really easy on-hold music. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-how-britains-got-talent-shook-out/498205/26 "2009-06-02T17:42:20Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > Plus, look at past winners of AI, and compare them to some of the runners up from the same year. Neither Clay nor Reuben have tore up the charts, but the latter’s definitely done a hell of a lot better, and Daughtry is at least on my non-AI-watching radar while I have no idea who actually won the year he lost. Actually Clay Aiken is the third most successful act from American Idol. His first two studio albums went to #1. His Christmas album went to #2 and his third album went to #4. Only Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood have bested him. Doughtry comes in fourth. Over all the burn out rate for American Idol winners and losers is about the same as any other pop idol. Make one or two albums, sell the singles, then fade out from the scene. Being on AI makes it easier to get the contract, but even a first or second place showing isn’t gonna guarantee you a top ten single or album. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-how-britains-got-talent-shook-out/498205/27 "2009-06-02T19:41:35Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Actually Clay Aiken is the third most successful act from American Idol. His first two studio albums went to #1. His Christmas album went to #2 and his third album went to #4. > > Only Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood have bested him. Doughtry comes in fourth. > > Over all the burn out rate for American Idol winners and losers is about the same as any other pop idol. Make one or two albums, sell the singles, then fade out from the scene. > > Being on AI makes it easier to get the contract, but even a first or second place showing isn’t gonna guarantee you a top ten single or album. Let’s not forget Jennifer Hudson was only one of the top 12 but has earned an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, and a Grammy. So maybe she doesn’t rank as the “most successful” for album sales alone, but she’s carved out a helluva career for herself. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-how-britains-got-talent-shook-out/498205/28 "2009-06-02T20:17:40Z")
> [@maplekiwi](#): > > I loved them the 1st 2 tiimes but by the third time I was over it. Saying that, I hope they come up with a new routine & keep performing. I think Stavros Flatley’s problem will be performing a routine longer than 90 seconds. They looked totally knackered after their act, and if it had lasted any longer it’s quite possible they would have found themselves in the intensive care unit of the nearest hospital attached to a drip. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2009, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-how-britains-got-talent-shook-out/498205/29 "2009-06-21T02:04:55Z")
Simon Cowell [takes responsibility](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1194302/After-Britains-Got-Talent-backlash-Simon-Cowell-finally-admits-Sorry-I-did-make-mistakes.html) for some of the controversies and fallout re: Hollie Steel & Susan Boyle. ---
**Author:** ![maplekiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@maplekiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maplekiwi)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2009, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-how-britains-got-talent-shook-out/498205/30 "2009-06-21T02:46:14Z")
Hmmm interesting article. I’m amazed that there hasn’t been controversy about the way the Singing Souls were held up to ridicule. They were only about 16 or 17. While there spokesperson was a rude little madam, the other 2 certainly didn’t deserve to be treated like that. I’ll bet they were teased at school for weeks. - Disclaimer. I’ll admit I laughed as hard as anyone else at the Singing Souls. Doesn’t make it right. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2009, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-how-britains-got-talent-shook-out/498205/31 "2009-06-21T03:12:33Z")
> [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > I think Stavros Flatley’s problem will be performing a routine longer than 90 seconds. They looked totally knackered after their act, and if it had lasted any longer it’s quite possible they would have found themselves in the intensive care unit of the nearest hospital attached to a drip. Agreed. They could have a year or two of very short performances at a few events - weddings, etc., plus a few comedy clubs, burlesque clubs and a few TV spots. Something towards the college fund for the kid, and fun in the meantine. As long as they kept the routines short enough that the dad didn’t die. 15 minutes of fame, some fun, meeting famous people, lots of family bonding and a little extra cash. A healthy result, really. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/well-heres-how-britains-got-talent-shook-out/498205.md?page=1)