<p>Hearing Rachel cry to her Mom last night into someone’s live mic “But Mommy, you promised!!..” just about killed me. You are then reminded behind all the hair and makeup that indeed this is a very young girl in a grown up world. Yes, I believe she very much wants to be there, however it really made me believe there should be an age limit. There was absolutely no excuse for Nichole’s immature behavior. Give me a break! Turning your back on the camera and hiding your face?! You are getting paid big bucks for this honey. I sort of understood when Paula pulled this crud of not wanting to vote when she had two of her groups going. Nichole didn’t have a stake in this personally. She should have done what she was paid to do…JUDGE. What a fool.</p>
<p>If I were Josh, I’d be very concerned that my mentor just got a chorus of boos from the audience over her actions. Nicole is not a very well-liked person right now and I wonder if this will negatively affect him next week. Will Simon or the voters retaliate (particularly Simon)? I’m okay with the voters having the final say on Thursday night, providing Nicole had done the job she was paid to do. Unfortunately, she didn’t do her job. </p>
<p>Those Nicole Voodoo Dolls, that Simon “jokingly” suggested when mocking Nicole, may now become reality.</p>
<p>The show needs to up its age limit. What with Astro poutingly refusing to perform, Drew not ever having heard a word of criticism about her singing and decomposing whenever she was judged critically and now Rachel crumpling in a heap and sobbing her guts out when she’s eliminated–as another poster said, it’s like watching a train wreck.</p>
<p>But maybe that’s what the producers call entertainment…</p>
<p>ellemenope, you said it exactly right. These 13-15 year-old kids don’t have the backbone yet to be able to deal with this stuff. They are very mature when things are going their way, but quickly break down (in glorious drama) when the cards flip against them. They are cute, they are talented, but they need too much extra coddling to really be stars (yet). It’s unfortunate that this show tried to capitalize on the tween vote, but right now I think they’ve lost that crowd. </p>
<p>Rachel’s breakdown was awful to watch, especially after that sing-off performance. She sang for her life, but yet in the end the votes weren’t there. She may have been crying because she was surprisingly eliminated after that great performance, but the truth of the matter was that she had the fewest votes. It’s unfortunate that Nicole is taking the blame for this … I predicted Rachel should go even without this drama. If Nicole had still made her vote as she did and stood behind it, the crowd may not have booed her so spectacularly. Instead, she cowered and hid and then the crowd really booed her. Even Nicole with all her bravado and confidence isn’t really that strong a person. It just goes to show you that a stage persona is really not who someone really is. This is entertainment first, and reality second.</p>
<p>Looking at the raw emotions of the youngest members, I get a tiny sense of why so many kids in the entertainment industry end up messed up. This is just a sampling of the toll it can take when you don’t yet have the scaffolding of maturity to deal with being batted around (which is probably inevitable in this kind of career). </p>
<p>The young kids make for great entertainment/ratings for the show, but likely aren’t going to get a contract because they aren’t yet there (and maybe also because the powers-that-be know it takes a lot more work to care for them). So in that sense, they end up just being used and spit out. There is probably a good reason other shows have always had an age limit. I’m not sure Cowell gives two hoots about emotional pain.</p>
<p>I forgot to watch.</p>
<p>I watched it last night. I agree - the show needs an age limit because the younger performers, regardless of their performing ability, have shown that the emotional toll on them is too high. The contestant crying their guts out on stage isn’t good for anyone, especially the contestant.</p>
<p>Judges? These people don’t act like judges, especially Nicole who has no business being there and can’t handle it emotionally - even worse than Paula who’s bad enough. The whole idea that the judges should be advocates for particular performers doesn’t make sense. It creates a built-in bias that a judge shouldn’t have. </p>
<p>But the whole show is really about selling commercials and the producers must think this is a good way to generate viewership and thus sell higher priced commercials. As long as people watch I’m sure they’ll continue to try to create as much drama, whether real or artificial, as possible since that seems to attract viewers. </p>
<p>
Maybe if enough people do that next season due to disgust at the worthless judges, underage contestants who shouldn’t be there, and the poor format of a judge being a contestant’s advocate, the producers will get wise to it and make some needed changes.</p>
<p>Disclaimer - I wouldn’t have watched the show at all but the W had it on. She doesn’t like the way it turned either.</p>
<p>^ I lost inteterest without Astro, but I heard Mary J Blige was going to be on.</p>
<p>Along with all of the other Nicole bashing going on here, I have to say that her own “breakdown” at the end was beyond irresponsible. She was bawling at the equivalent level of Rachel. We’re supposed to feel sorry for her??? Because she was put in a tough spot… having to decide between the two?? Pul-leeze. </p>
<p>The show annoys the heck out of me. The trumped up (or real… who knows/who cares?) pi**ing contest comments between/among the judges are so trite, so boring, so time-wasting. The judges “deciding” after the sing-off is simply not working - each one chooses his/her own mentee and too often that means there’s no real judging at all at this point.</p>
<p>I can only tolerate the show because I have been a DVR/fast-forwarder from almost the beginning. I enjoy the talent, but nothing else.</p>
<p>At this point, I’m rooting for Chris Rene because he’s got the uniqueness and the writing skills. And, I guess, because Josh’s last couple of numbers haven’t sent me. But I could go with Josh.</p>
<p>As to Melanie - wonderful voice, but I’m not sure whether she’s been pre-anointed and that bugs me. Anyone notice that the Caribbean accents was damped down last night? I replayed her comments during the Hair/Makeup/Wardrobe madness segment a few times and couldn’t really be sure (she spoke so quickly and softly even when I pushed up the volume), but I thought it was diminished. Which, of course, would fit with all of the earlier comments here that this was a “produced” element of her persona.</p>
<p>With regard to Melanie’s accent; she might be playing it up, but accents are commonly turned off and on, depending on who you are with. I knew my husband for a long time before I ever heard his accent. The first time I hard him speak to his sister on the phone, I didn’t couldn’t even tell he was speaking English! He came here at eight, and quickly learned to suppress it. After Melanie first “let go”, we talked about which one he considered “real”, and he wasn’t sure. I asked which one he used in his dreams.</p>
<p>absolutely Melanie is manipulating the accent. I am also a DVR fast forwarder. Only way I can tolerate it. Mary J Blige was good last night, even DH who was working in the same room stopped to listen to her and commented. For my money Josh has a good voice but anyone can sing someone else’s material. I am impressed with Chris because he writes his own stuff.</p>
<p>I wholeheartedly agree with the comments. The show has quickly become a train wreck and is painful to watch.</p>
<p>Simon is convinced that lowering the age limit was a good idea, I hope he rethinks that for next year (if there is a next year). These poor kids are being thrown into a situation they are definitely not ready for. Rachel was saying that she was alright, and then when reality hit her, she became a little baby (which they really still are!), so we shouldn’t be shocked when they break down.</p>
<p>Nicole should be ashamed of herself. Abdicating a decision is just spineless. </p>
<p>I’m still thinking Chris Rene will win, but I’m not sure why I am still watching this show!</p>
<p>Young contestants on other shows did handle it well. Think Jackie Evancho or Anna Graceman. They also have very young contestants in the international shows. </p>
<p>[Britain’s</a> Got Talent Final 2011 - Ronan Parke - (HD) - YouTube](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>
<p>[Jack</a> Vidgen - Australia’s Got Talent 2011 Audition! - FULL | AUSTRALIA’S GOT TALENT 2011 WINNER! - YouTube](<a href=“Jack Vidgen - Australia's Got Talent 2011 Audition! - FULL | AUSTRALIA'S GOT TALENT 2011 WINNER! - YouTube”>Jack Vidgen - Australia's Got Talent 2011 Audition! - FULL | AUSTRALIA'S GOT TALENT 2011 WINNER! - YouTube)</p>
<p>Jack Vidgen won, but Ronan Parke lost in the finals. He kept his composure and did not fall on the floor in such embarassing displays. They might be kids but this happened after WEEKS of being on the show with assistants, mentors, and parents. It seems that everyone around them made the possibility of losing … impossible. Pathetic! </p>
<p>Perhaps all the praise hurled at the so-so performers on the US version of X-factor contributed to the misguided sense of entitlement of Astro and Simon’s girls. Fwiw, the international shows seem to have much stronger performers than we get to see in the US. In this show, we got Josh and Melanie who was sent home. Chris Rene is likeable and unique, but the rest of the bunch? Meh! Everyone who was sent home so far could have been sent home in the first two/three weeks based on their performances. They only lasted because there were even worse acts such as Stacy, Leroy, or the Dixie Wannabes. </p>
<p>This show could have been over weeks ago by pitting Josh against Melanie.</p>
<p>I think the mentoring and team rah rah aspects of this competition may have lots of potential to inflate the contestants’ expectations, as well as pressure to do well and win. IMO the youngsters’ may have taken all that a little too literally.</p>
<p>I just hate the atmosphere, the over-production of this show.</p>
<p>The over-produced acts are what I hate most about this show. I keep hoping that the larger-than-life choreography and special effects are going to end, but it just keeps reappearing week after week.</p>
<p>Don’t get me started on Jackie Evancho. She may not have broken down in tears but she has no business singing like she’s singing. She had better make millions while she can because she may well be ruining her voice - a different kind of abuse. The repertoire is entirely inappropriate and the lower jaw/lip wobble, indicative of tension, is painful to watch. Charlotte Church had that jaw tension and she destroyed her voice.</p>
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<p>The show has already been picked up for next year…</p>
<p>Round 1: Chris Rene; Melanie Amaro</p>
<p>Round 2: Josh Kracjik; Melanie Amaro</p>
<p>Let’s see… who didn’t get mentioned above? Marcus probably going home. He’s run out of lives (saves), now that it’s all about votes.</p>
<p>Marcus, bye bye!</p>
<p>Umm, tonight was overall refreshingly less over-produced - much more intimate with the singers, esp Josh n Melanie.</p>
<p>Paaaauuuuulllaaaaaa, were you really in tears over that song by Josh??!!!</p>
<p>I gave Chris Rene a Round 2 win along with Josh. Melanie always sounds great, really great… but I just don’t see any uniqueness with her. Sorry if that is not a word.</p>
<p>Shrinkrap, thanks for the insights re accents. Makes total sense and I learned something.</p>