Enough with sob stories?
I totally agree with you , I watched this segment of the show as I was looking for something worthwhile to view on the T V . This was a fairly average performer ( I say this as a former magician ) who’s resorted to a cheap , lousy stunt to cash in and piggy back on his child’s misfortune one can see the amount of media attention he’s gotten no doubt soon to followed by paid magazine articles etc , etc , Shows like this are gut cringingly sickening , every emotional ploy is used to make the next round , if a kid with cancer gets you there that seems to be just fine , I wish I was a judge on that show as I would call them on it 2
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I honestly think the producers focus less on who really has talent and go for who can sell more. I remember one of the talent shows I was watching America's got Talent and they choose Grace VanderWaal over a couple that had some stunning performances. While she is a good singer I really thought she wasn't exactly as stand out as the others. But hey, they want what sells and sob stories do indeed do that....or talented kids. 2
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The sob stories rule the American scene, too. They even invaded the Winter Olympic coverage with a competitor whose granddad had recently died. I understand the desire to add human interest, and trying to evoke an emotional reaction, but there is a better tack to take. In the US, there is a game show called The Wall that only has contestants who have done some significant service or made some sacrifice for the good of others. The stories about these people are just as schmaltzy as the sob stories on shows like Britain's / America's got Talent, and they elicit the same sort of emotional response, but they are oriented toward encouraging and rewarding POSITIVE behavior. Instead of putting the spotlight on misery and victimhood, The Wall celebrates empowerment and virtuous action. Ideally this will encourage viewers to make life better for others, and perhaps reduce the number of people who have lives that can be portrayed as sob stories on other shows. 2
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Yes, but the show is also a contest. A contest where everyone has a chance and either makes or breaks it depending on their performance. What it isn't, is a sob fest where the guy with the wettest tears wins. Yes, the voters have to vote but it's not fair to the people who actually did well for someone with zero talent and amazing cry-on-command skills to win. 1
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