Britain's Got Talent

If you have watched the Today Show earlier this morning, or Keith Olbermann's two days ago, or just read this thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1104241

you know who Paul Potts is.

And I have to wonder whether he would even have a chance with our "own" American Idol.

Or, if he had, and won, would Cindy Sheehan, Al Gore and others be so mad at the obsession with American Idol.

I have never watched this show but was "educated" by Olbermann's daily updates (I have no idea who won, not that it would matter to me).

However I've always thought that one reason why we send soldiers to the front - whether the cause is justified or not - is that the rest of us, back home, could continue our normal life including, yes, watch brain numbing TV programs.

If my last name was Mengele, I wouldn't name my kid Joseph. If my last name was Hitler, I wouldn't have kids at all.

Do you know how hard it was to find a good paying job in America and put a roof over your head with a name like Babyslapper F. Hitler? It couldn't have been easy, sister, it couldn't have been easy.

Just made me smile a smile I will keep all day. Thank you. Just the most beautiful sight in the world.

I assume you're referring to 'Pol Pot' (but I had to think about it - I've seen the name Paul Potts several times without making the connection before you said there was something about his name); but when the guy was born, no-one in the west would have heard of Pol Pot.

as the lack of attention paid to those serving, those who have served and what the heck we are doing there in the first place. I don't think of TV viewing as a choice between watching AI versus watching meaningful reporting on and coverage of the occupation of Iraq -- mainly because there IS NO meaningful reporting on and coverage of the occupation of Iraq. And that isn't the fault of AI.

Surely we could have opera singing phone salesmen and a democracy at the same time.

can take a toll on you - mentally and physically.

We have had even here, DUers who just gave up - after the 2004 elections. Who said they have been active for 30 years, or so, and just could not go on.

I don't remember their names and perhaps they came back after the 2006 elections.

Each one of us, who is active in various areas, needs to find ways to release the pressure either by going to, I don't know - Fiji if you can afford - or sitting aimlessly in front of the tube.

So no, he'd have made it through the screenings, but since his singing isn't the typical computer-generated-lyrics pop shit he'd be voted off first.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blwyFKn2aLk

Compare it to the first one to find out what a few weeks of coaching will do for a fellow with talent.

He's got potential, that's for certain. It's still a far cry from doing an aria to having the stamina to sing the whole opera. However, the change in his technique in just a couple of weeks makes me think he'll get there.

(Also, given his apparent age, I doubt his parents had heard of the notorious homophone name when they gave him what was a very nice first name.)

with a choir.

But what was nice at the audition was the way the judges were transformed from skeptics, even condescending, to being in awe, even giddy.

He does not have to sing a whole opera. In addition to singing capabilities opera singers have to be able to act, of course. This is why Pavarotti was so amazing. If you sat at home and saw the camera zooming on his expression you could be captivated by him.

He can just have concerts where he sings his songs.

As I am typing I now recall a concert by Sherrill Milnes. He identified each piece that he was singing, but not the several encores.

I sat close enough and just by the expression on his face I knew that he was Iago.. as was confirmed by the review the next day.

On America's got talent, people do all kinds of things.
Sing, dance, etc.
Who is to say that fella wouldn't have done well?

just shows you what I know about popular culture.

Mericans are so closed minded sometimes (ha!). I mean here is a show trying to find unusual talents and the judges keep shooting down anything out of the ordinary. The audience cringes at anything outside mainstream experience.

Personally I say tank the judges and the contest and just bring people out to share their talents and passions. Everything doesn't have to be a contest for crying out loud. Celebrate the diversity. Don't beat it into submission.

If it does, then it does have to be a contest, from the TV company's point of view. They wouldn't give up extra profits.