Pop Idol gets off to flying start

By Michael Osborn BBC News Online

The talent show that discovered Will Young and Gareth Gates has started from scratch in a bid to find a second "Pop Idol".

The same old scenery is back in place, with chirpy Geordies Ant & Dec presenting, and the familiar judges' panel - including blunt-talking, high-waistbanded baddie Simon Cowell.

The search is on to find another Pop Idol

Some 20,000 wannabes from up and down the land flocked to the auditions, and this first show was a heady mix of talentless no-marks and glimpses of possible gold in the hunt for a new singing star.

It's the dreadful disasters that provide the most entertainment at this early stage - a hapless young man who belted out a tortured version of Survivor's Eye Of The Tiger had the panel in hysterics.

One disturbing young lady turned up in her underwear for the benefit of love magnet Mr Cowell, while Morwenna's visible assets could not disguise her tuneless voice.

An early star of the show was Rachel, an irrepressibly chirpy Liverpudlian with a comic gift of the gab whose personality secured her a place in the next audition.

Talented, handsome Scotsman Craig was a bundle of nerves, but the usually unforgiving Cowell singled him out as a finalist - the blond lad is clearly one to watch in coming weeks.

It's the floods of tears and dashed dreams that occasionally make this show uncomfortable viewing - but is a timely reminder of how fame is an almost unattainable dream.

But Pop Idol's makers will not have nightmares about the success of the show's return, as Saturday nights in the coming weeks will at last have some unmissable viewing.

So what did you think?

This debate is now closed. Please see below for a selection of your comments.

Fame Academy is my preferred viewing, though it is a shame that I have to choose between the two. The format for FA is different this year, hope this does not have a detrimental effect. The live streaming is great, but this year the interactive options are not there - perhaps this is something that will come later in the series.
Lynda, UK

Thanks ITV for bringing us such brilliant telly. Pop idol definitely outshines Fame Academy any day.Had me in stitches even after the show had finished. Classic telly!
Robyn Gayle, England

Fame Academy beats Pop Idol hands down.... it is real entertainment and talent. Pop Idol thrives off bad talent and embarrassing young talent (or not talent). It is a shame that they treat people this way. Fame Academy on the other hand has a bit of originality in terms of the people, they can song-write and play instruments.... Fame Academy all the way!
Dave, London

Both are as bad as each other. Certainly, record companies are quite capable of manufacturing their own products without any help from the BBC. How about a show that features real musicians and songwriters instead of karaoke kids?
Martin, UK

I think it's a damn shame that Fame Academy gets such bad press. It is clearly a much better programme than Pop Idol, and deserves a chance with the audience. Magazines like Heat which back Pop Idol with huge articles and don't even give Fame Academy a mention are fuelling this unfair divide.
Rob, UK

Fame Academy is a bit boring but Pop Idol is funny. I know that Simon can be hurtful but a lot of these kids cannot sing at all. It would be more hurtful for them to get through and be laughed at by a larger audience. Simon is being cruel to be kind and if people were honest they would admit that the majority of time he is right. He has made his fortune by being the way he is and knowing a winner when he hears one.
Eileen Nolan, England

The BBC are missing two things that ITV have that make Pop Idol unmissable for me - Ant and Dec Emma Rycroft, England

I decided to give them both the benefit of the doubt, and watched Fame Academy until 7:15, then switched over to Pop Idol. During the 10-15 minutes where both shows were on, I found myself flicking back to BBC One to see how the other, more talented contestants were doing in Fame Academy, and at least six times while watching Pop Idol I had to press the mute button.

Yes, Fame Academy has better talent, and the students could obviously go quite far with the right management, but the BBC are missing two things that ITV have that make Pop Idol unmissable for me- Ant and Dec. But I will still watch as much Fame Academy as possible, as I don't need ear muffs to listen to it!
Emma Rycroft, England

I like Fame Academy, not the TV programmes, the live feed. The mechanics of vocal coaching, rehearsing, song-writing, etc fascinate me (and the jamming sessions are great). I'd like to see a better quality interactive offering. As for the TV show, getting the audience involved early by voting all the students in was a good idea.

The new format of the "live showdowns" disappoints me since it gives no room for the variety and duets of last year. Richard Park seems like a Simon Cowell wannabe - that irritates me: it is unnecessary. FA should fight the battle on its own terms, not try to out-PI PI. And finally, David Sneddon has had one number one, one number two, his third single is out and he wrote all the material himself - he may not be to everyone's taste, but I don't think he's "bombed and gone back to Scotland".
Jackie, UK - London

Fame Academy promotes artists that do not exist anymore. Artists that write and sing their songs. Pop Idol just finds the best singers and the winners will have songs written for them by the best in business. I think Pop Idol works because it reflects the way the modern music industry works.
Robert Parker, UK

Why don't we have a little twist on it? Instead of Pop Idol, that is for mainstream pop music, how about MC idol, or rapper idol, or, classical musician idol, something for alternative musical styles? Well if they will insist on giving us so many reality shows, why don't they have a little twist? How about a show about TV producer idol, or screenwriter idol?
Ellie Sutherland, UK

While Pop Idol is showing the audition stages it will be watchable, if only to cringe from behind the sofa at folk who apparently have no idea that they are not talented singers.

Once it gets to the studio stages, it will be dull as ditchwater (as before) and I'm sure there will be plenty of lemmings to buy the singles afterwards.
GMcD, Scotland

Fame Academy is my preferred viewing, though it is a shame that I have to choose between the two Lynda, UK

Pop Idol! I loved the first series and don't think it can be bettered because it had everything - great drama, great laughs and, above all, a great winner. However, PI2 is still very funny, Ant & Dec are great (the presenters play a big part) and, quite simply, it's done really well. FA is dull - it didn't capture the public's imagination nearly as much as PI last time and it won't second time round.
Kayleigh Ryan, England

Pop Idol. Simple as. Fame Academy is a wannabe pop idol and BBC have just made it more classy. Good on ITV for wanting to be tacky! It's more fun that way! Wooo!
Martyn, UK

One of the problems with Fame Academy is that Cat Deely and Patrick Kielty don't have any chemistry between each other and the programme on the whole is rather repetitive. Whereas with Pop Idol at its current stage, it had me in hysterics with some of the poorer contestants although I may lose interest as it gets to the voting stages. Then again Fame Academy tends to focus more on the musical side of things in those respects.
Robin Blamires, Canterbury, UK

Pop Idol is the original and the best Charlotte, UK

I think Pop Idol is great - seeing some of those aweful singers in the inital heats is great fun. It's a good job Rocky Balboa never heard the version of Eye of the Tiger last night - otherwise he'd have been down on the canvas straight away, out for the count with laughter!

However, once it becomes the dire version of Stars in their Eyes (where the task of the singers seems to be to sound exactly the same as every other pop star) I will switch off! At least Stars in your Eyes doesn't drag on for 10 weeks!
Paul, UK

I used to watch both, but now they are both on at about the same time I'll be watching Pop Idol as it's more entertaining, and although Fame Acadamy is more sophisticated, it's just boring!!
Phil, UK

Pop Idol is the original and the best. Whether this series produces stars as talented or as popular as Gareth and/or Will, I don't know, but Pop Idol is entertaining, funnier and better than Fame Academy. Simon Cowell and Ant & Dec are the main reason behind this, as well as the contestants. Fame Academy need presenters and judges more like this instead of a Simon Cowell wannabe as the 'headmaster'.
Charlotte, UK

I would rather walk the three miles to the video shop than watch either of these shows, but on the rare occasions that I am too lazy, I admit that both are mildly entertaining.

However, along with many others, I have a problem when BBC money is spent duplicating what is ALREADY provided by the commercial sector.

In what way does the public need both shows, and aren't Endemol making enough money already without help from the licence fee payer? Does anyone know how much the Fame Academy deal is worth to them?
Kwaku Kululu, England

I definitely would watch Pop Idol in the earlier stages over Fame Academy but as the series goes on I watch them both equally. In the earlier stages I love to watch the fools in Pop Idol whereas I find Fame Academy slighty boring. Pop Idol is definitely more addictive than Fame Academy!!!
Ellie Child, UK

Fame Academy really is the fluffy bunny of this genre Dan Garraway, England

Oh please, Pop Idol is in a totally different league to Fame Academy! The first Pop Idol was a TV phenomenon which had the whole nation talking and Fame Academy is clearly trying to cash in on its success and as a result it ends up looking like a poor imitation.

Compare the success of David Sneddon to that of Will and Gareth who have become household names. He's had nowhere near their amount of success. I also dislike the Fame Academy judges, there is little chemistry between them and they are obviously trying to be like Simon when they hurl insults at the students.

FA may "nurture talent" but that doesn't make for interesting television. For me, it's Pop Idol all the way!!
Claire, Wales

Fame Academy really is the fluffy bunny of this genre. The booing from the crowd when the judges come on. Sorry, but that's Pop Idol's side of things. Try getting some judges who have an ounce of character and it may get somewhere. Pop Idol is pure, unadulterated entertainment of the lowest common denominator, but it doesn't pretend to be otherwise. Fame Academy's trying attempt at the alternative, doesn't work.
Dan Garraway, England

They are both awful - why do TV execs and the public continually have a blind spot and are unable to descern the difference between talent and ability?
Derick Naylor, England

Definitely Fame Academy, although letting them only sing for one minute may be a mistake. Also, I think the headmaster trying to do a Simon Cowell may wear a bit thin after a while Rob, UK

Fame Academy is a serious search for talent and as such will never win over Pop Idol (especially the early shows in each series). Pop Idol is all about car crash TV - no one cares about the good singers at this stage, it's all about the horror stories and it's that that makes the show entertaining. Fame Academy is too up itself, and too dull. The Beeb is capable of so much more, lose the academy, no-one cares about it.
Mike Large, UK

Fame Academy is trying to be Pop Idol but without the crass commercialism. However, this is the reason why it fails, since the genre of music (middle of the road, clean cut pop pap) that it promotes is absolutely crass and absolutely commercial. At least the winners of Pop Idol can be assured of multiplatinum record sales... and as a result the contestants of Fame Academy come across as Pop Idol rejects.
Simon West, UK

I'll definitely be watching Fame Academy. I much prefer the variety of music and the encouragement of individuality and instruments compared to pop clones. Plus, in Fame Academy the show is actually centered around the contestants. Pop Idol has merely become the Simon Cowell Show where the other judges compete to steal his attention and Ant and Dec try to nab as much camera time as possible, as usual.
Emma, England

Well there is an obvious lack of talent among the programme producers and schedulers. Perhaps we should get the chance to vote them out.
Geoff Harrison, UK

I think it's a damn shame that Fame Academy gets such bad press. It is clearly a much better programme than Pop Idol, and deserves a chance with the audience Rob, UK

For entertainment value it has to be Pop Idol for sure. Both programmes are full of contestants who I would never want to hear sing in my life, but at least in Pop Idol you get to see them cut down to size and told the truth. Fame Academy is so sycophantic in comparison, it comes across like summer camp for talentless kids who all want to cry and bond together. YUK!
James Tully, England

Definitely Fame Academy, although letting them only sing for one minute may be a mistake. Also, I think the headmaster trying to do a Simon Cowell may wear a bit thin after a while. Going on last night's comments, he'd have all of them chucked out...maybe it's the heat (he was sweating rather a lot!)
Rob, UK

We pay our Licence Fee for this drivel? It's about time the Government throw out the BBC's right to charge forcing them to come up with original ideas and not recycling second hand annoying rubbish.
Mark S, Scotland

I find FA a bore, they should all stick to stage school! Sam, UK

Pop Idol! It's much much better than fame academy, sorry BBC. I like the Fame Academy Live Streams though, and I watch them throughout the week. But why are you making it harder for us putting Fame Academy on at the same time as Pop Idol? If you want Fame Academy to get higher ratings then reschedule to another night because I'm with Pop Idol all the way!!
D2K, UK

I'm bored already! We have too many wanna-be celebs on TV that have talent of gnat, I waste my life away watching them. Show me some real genius and I'll watch again. Otherwise my TV isn't going to be on the BBC or ITV this Autumn! Who feels the same! Vote with your remotes people!
Dave, UK

What a pathetic spectacle - it is no more a talent show than an excuse to ridicule people for being ordinary for the delight of the braying mobs of slack-jawed viewers of such tawdry tripe. Hughie Green is spinning in his grave!
Simon Fanshaw, England

So we are yet again to be tortured by the usual mix of "wannabes" and "has beens" on a Saturday evening. Come on schedulers where are we going with these sorts of programmes?
Steve, United Kingdom

They're both great programmes and should be watched equally. It's interesting to note that there is a better quality of student in Fame Academy this year. I'm betting there is going to be some great renditions of classics.
Abid, UK

I'm watching Fame Academy. I had thought this years' entrants would be dull, and then on Wednesday saw Alex perform, and her angsty look and sultry, passionate vocals will have me hooked until the end.
Flash Wilson, UK

Pop Idol is open to people from all walks of life, which is fairer and more enjoyable to watch. I find FA a bore, they should all stick to stage school!
Sam, UK

Fame Academy by a mile. How many of the Pop Idol clones have individual styles, write their own material and play an instrument? Yes, both series feature cover versions, but at least FA will feature the students' own compositions in the weeks to come. So far, Alex is my favourite to win. She has that 'something' that gives you goosebumps when you hear her sing, and that 'something' is a rare and genuine talent. Pop Idol simply pales by comparison.
Chris White, UK

Will definitely be watching Pop Idol as it is far more of a journey than Fame Academy. From the auditions to the end, you really feel like you're on the emotion rollercoaster with the contestants on Pop Idol. Fame Academy so far seems pretty much the same as number one; there is a chasm of difference between the contestants with 3 or 4 of them being outstanding and the rest being pretty average. I don't think the Fame Academy format makes it compelling viewing and as much as Richard tries to be Simon Cowell, he's just NOT!
Melanie, UK

I'll be doing the intelligent thing; watching neither, and staring at the paint on the wall drying as a more entertaining option. Shame on the BBC for reporting this utter waste of time as news on their web site. Not that you'll publish this of course.
Mark Wilson, UK

Fame Academy is a very poor relation to Pop Idol. David Sneddon bombed and went back to Scotland. The real problem for me with Fame Academy is Patrick Kielty who has no interest in the show other than to promote his own interests and it shows. Also please drop the contrived audience cheering at various stages in the song - it is so unconvincing and does not convey the excitement you are desperate to show
David Stewart, UK

It has to be Fame Academy. Its a more classy show. Pop Idol was great first time around because of Will not being the typical formula pop star that would normally get through. ITV has been awash with identikit 'pop star' shows with bland people. Fame Academy has a larger range of singers from different sections of music. More depth & variety - except for David Sneddon of course!!
Annie, England

I loved the first series of Pop Idol - but this time it'll be Fame Academy all the way! Fame Academy seeks out and finds true all round talent. Gareth wouldn't have got past the first week !Fame Academy gives us live streaming and lets us get to know the contestants. Leaves big brother standing!. Fame Academy has it all.
Val Donnelly, UK

Last year, the quality of would-be stars in Fame Academy was streets ahead of the ones in Pop Idol. It's too early to tell this year, but hopefully Pop Idol's picked up some tips from Fame Academy this year.
Guy Liddell, England

After a long day at work, it was just what i needed. I sat down, remote control in one hand and a drink in the other, but which one was it? Cowell's Big Pants 'Pop Idol' or perhaps the all singing and all dancing school of 'Fame Academy' - no contest, 'Pop Idol' won hands down. The BBC should stick to what it knows best, good quality drama and entertainment, not reality pop TV. The format of 'Pop Idol' has become in a way a religious viewing, we love to hate Cowell, and we love to mockery the 'Pop Idol' contestants, that's why it's good and why I shall be watching wherever possible.
Matt B, UK - Sheffield

I personally will not be happy to pay my license fee if the BBC continues to make mindless drip-feed TV such as Fame Academy. What happened to the cutting edge comedy BBC2 used to be famous for? Where has the originality gone from British TV? We've reached the point now where the talented writers and performers have been drowned out to make way for hordes of clueless reality-TV wannabes (and a plethora of DIY/gardening shows).
Ben Woodhouse, England

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