Why Not Have the Pollyanna Show...Not Fame

Fame Forum

I think fame has majorly missed the boat with this triple threat stuff....if we were to really see performers who are truly triple threats the process of the show should have created a forum (kinda like the other cheesy miss america stuff) that at least give the viewers the opportunity to se individual talents what ever they may be.....NOT IN A GROUP NUMBER....yeah we are seeing individual singers....but we might as well have called the show american idol fame....because all we see individually is the singing part.....where is the acting.......and most cant dance and that is why they do group numbers.....and then they pick on those that dare to be bold by suggesting stripper poles should have been provided........i think the show falls way short of what "Fame" is all about and what the intent of the original production of "Fame" the TV series really portrayed......Not triple threats but kids who had potential and who had that potential groomed into the ability to go out and o what they enjoyed the best.....performing for the love of the craft.....NOT FOR TV RATINGS.........NOT TO SEE HOW MUCH MONEY COULD BE MADE......AT THE EXPENSE OF THESE HOPEFUL VERY TALERNTED KIDS THAT ALL HAVE THE ABILITY IF GIVEN THE CHANCE TO SUCK UP TO JOHNNY WHATS HIS NAME......IF ONLY HE WOULD MAYBE REMEMBER WHERE HE CAME FROM AND GET DOWN OFF HIS HIGH HORSE AND DO MORE FOR MANY INSTEAD OF HIS CHOSEN FEW....it always comes down to the almighty buck....and of course carnies being horny....and the need for poles for stripping.....and bozo dj's who think they can even recognize talent other than the labels they read when he plays johnnys favorites on his station......WOULDN'T IT BE NICE IF WE HAD A PANEL OF EXPERTS FROM EACH FIELD THAT WAS TO BE REPRESENTING EACH PORTION OF WHAT IS TO BE CALLED A TRIPLE THREAT....LIKE A TRUE DANCER......MAYBE SOMEONE LIKE A REAL VOICE COACH WHO IS NOT INTERESTED IN PROMOTING RECORDS......AND MAYBE A BROADWAY PRODUCEWR WHO CAN TRULY UNDERSTAND AND RECOGNIZE A THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE.........BUT THEN THAT WOULD BE BORING ....NOT SELL COMMERCIALS.........AND WHAT ELSE IS LIFE ALL ABOUT BUT A RACE TO SEE WHO CAN MAKE MORE MONEY FASTER......

MAYBE "FAME" WILL REALIZE THEY NEED TO REMEMBER WHERE THEY ALL CAME FROM!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh my god, you are a bitter person to criticize so many people in one post. First of all the original tv series was just that... a tv show and therefore that show was all about ratings. Second, these kids in this show do love what they are doing..they are artists who have a national venue to showcase their talent to the country..this gives them a chance to do what they love....to perform in front of people and to share their God given talents with millions. Third, the judges are very humble in my opinion. Mr. Wright is a very successful man who has lead many in their careers to success.. it seems to me that he knows what he is talking about.. He is very fair in his comments and I think his being a part of the show brings credibility considering he has managed the careers of mega superstars...justin t, p.diddy, britney spears, dream, backstreet boys and nsync just to name the ones I know of off hand. Frankly, if I were being judged, I would be happy to see a person who could actually make somethng happen for me rather than some no name dancer or voice coach...please ...those are the people you call up to help you prepare for a audition for a man like Johnny Wright.
Fourth, I think carnie wilson adds flavor to the show. I don't agree with some of her risky comments but overall i like her personality. As far as JO JO, I was skeptical at first because I didn't think a DJ would be a good judge but after the first two shows I think he is well spoken and has insightful comments.

The only thing I agree with you on is that it would be nice if our world didn't revolve so heavily around money; however, the sad truth is that it does. So if these kids are going to perform, why not allow them to have the chance to make money to support themselves and eventually their families so they can live secure lives? I think people remember where they came from and I don't understand how you can make comments like that when you don't even know these people and what they are like. I've met Johnny Wright and Jo Jo before and frankly from those brief meetings I felt that they were very down to earth, and both listened to what I had to say. I happen to be a back up singer and Mr. Wright helped me make a very important contact for my career. He didn't have to do that, but he was nice enough to take my demo package and deliver it to the group I was trying to sing for. I met him and his wife at a concert (both of them were very nice) and he was very nice about taking the time to give me some advice. Most music executives won't even give you the time of day. So I can say first hand, you are wrong about that.

Overall, I love fame. I think it is fun and it looks like the contestants are having fun. They are so fortunate to have such an exciting opportunity

THANK YOU chattykathy! i didnt want to be first one to offer a different view for the author. quite frankly, i was skeptical about the judges the first night, i thought they were being hilarious! but thanks to shimster who shared a second link (thread: updated fame website) where you can view a recap of the judges' comments. as i have posted in another thread: i found out that johnny wright does have a good point of view, technical approach and a lot of good calls. as a record producer for many successful artists, he KNOWS what he's looking for, that's why he's a good choice for a judge. jojo wright is the neutral one, always careful, a bit too nice. and carnie, well, i havnt heard any insight from her yet that would have been too hard for us to think of. too bad AI Smutty feels that way toward THE WHOLE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY. but what can we do? lobby to shut down all reality tv shows? i read somewhere that the most effective and most relevant use of a forum is to offer a solution not just sensationalize an issue. im glad to hear positive and uplifting views from someone in the middle of the sad realities of life.

I wholeheartedly AGREE that Al Smutty was really harsh for no good apparent reason. I think the judges are fine, i mean in reality the show isn't even about them and it shouldn't be about them...it should be about the contestants, not the judges trying to make comments to get famous. i have read a lot of comments about the judges not being good, but it seems to me everyone is comparing the judges to AI where the focus is TOO much on the judges. The real judges here are us..when we get to vote and the real stars are the contestants. The judges are just supposed to give their opinion and hopefully a little helpful advice. I think it is cool to have a manager and record producer on the panel like johnny wright because like chatty kathy said, he can make things really happen and has a track record to prove it. He is not just some unknown or "has been" in the recording industry. He is really doing things with super famous and successful artists. I think that would be exciting for the artists to get to perform for him. Carnie is somewhat entertaining and funny, I don't think she is the very best choice for a judge, but she has been in the trenches and knows what it is like to be a recording artist and I think that is important. I think some comments should be edited like the "horny" one, but maybe some people liked it. JoJo is kinda silly and some of his comments are a little inappropriate like "will u marry me" but most of his comments are pretty good and he calls it like he sees it. He listens to music all day everyday. He gets requests all day everyday..He knows what the people like, he is probably the closest representation to what the actual public likes because he hears it everyday.

This show has talent, that is the bottom line. If people are making money off of it, then so be it, but at least these kids have a chance to do something really exciting for the summer and one of them will have the opportunity that so many only dream of. What is so bad about that?

nice thoughts noorlalv. as ive said in another thread, i realized johnny wright is really a good choice for a judge. he has made success stories out of a lot of artists, and he does that as a profession, what better qualifications can u get. and he seem very modest of his influence in the entertainment industry, unlike randy jackson who boasted to one AI finalist "DONT U KNOW WHO I AM?"

WOW, I didn't catch that statement by randy jackson! ooo that is really bad. Well in watching johnny over the past two shows, it seems to me he is not there to "become famous" like some other judges. I think why some people think he is not a good judge is because he is kind of understated but that is probably because he is not usually in front of the camera and he seems to not care to try to make "tv comments" as much as just making his own personal comments. who knows but I couldn't imagine him making a comment like randy jackson. if he did, I would no longer be a supporter of his!

i have one word for johnny wright: professional. he is never personal in his comments, always the technical approach. he doesnt dwell in empty, unconstructive feedback like: "will u marry me?" or "is anyone else horny here?" oh well, just a personal thought -- slice it, dice it, throw it in the blender...

I agree with you Candyafter6. Wright is professional, no doubt and I am sure he is looking carefully at the talent for future prospects. I thought it was interesting in the last show when the girl who sang "Black Velvet" was a great dancer but her overall performance was uncomfortable and Debbie Allen started to defend the contestant to Wright's critique. Wright did not back down but stressed his point further. I thought that was cool that he was not intimidated by the show being Allen's baby.

that is not so if anyone knows talent it is DEBBIE ALLEN

yes i think debbie allen knows talent, but i think she made a mistake having michelle sing Black Velvet and dance like she was in a strip club. It just was the wrong choice for Michelle and I think even Debbie Allen can make a mistake. that was a mistake. I think if Michelle would have been encouraged to sing a song that she felt comfortable with and not be choreographed to dance like a stripper, she may have moved on.

i luv debbie allen and its true she knows talent when she sees one. but knowing that the talent show is her baby and the finalists are, after all, her chosen ones, i think she took on the role of a supportive mother figure, which is why, i think, we might never hear any criticism from her after each finalist's performance.

mv68: i missed that part where debbie shot back at johnny wright in defense of the finalist's performance! IF SO, (candyafter6 scratches her chin and raises an eyebrow) THAT confirm's my thoughts about debbie refraining from making criticism towards the performers (but not sparing the judges!)

noorlalv: in fairness to randy jackson, he shot back the infamous "DONT YOU KNOW WHO I AM" verbal jab to an AI semifinalist because she bad-mouthed randy with a "U DONT KNOW WHAT UR TALKING ABOUT" sort of stuff when randy gave her a negative comment. thought i just wanted to put more light on randy's outburst.

i think michelle did great

i think she did too. i was rooting for her at the auditions. but i felt that she could have showcased her singing talent a lot better with a different song. my thoughts earlier, the song was too sultry for her otherwise wholesome qualities.

jamisen song was the same

Yes Patti. I see your point but Jamison had something about her that pulled off that kind of image. It is a shame that someone as talented a dancer as Michelle could not have showcased her talent in a better package. I am sure she will have many audition offers as a result. Anyone could see she was a talented dancer. How is Ryan doing now? I feel the same for him.

my thoughts exactly. randy, without putting much thought in his retort, let arrogance show in his words.

LOL guys @ Randy!

In his defense though, I will say that was agaisnt the infamous Juanita Barber who had to be the most obnoxious contestant in AI history! But at the same time she provided a LOT of laughs for us at another message board I was on at the time, and we still talk about her to this day, LOL

After Randy said "Do you know who I am" she shot back with "Do you know who *I* am?" and he was like "No", lol

But I really don't like Randy anyway, mainly because he comes off as just plain *dumb* what with not even being able to put together a coherent sentence without all thouse dude's dawg's and dope's

thats why i am more favorable with johnny wright's technical approach. randy may be in the same profession as johnny, producing big stars and the like, but he doesnt provide much prespective in his comments unlike johnny. just to abundantly make it clear, these are just my humble thoughts on these two judges' APPROACH and not their personality. and again...slice it, dice it, throw it in the blender...

reality voy: i didnt even remember that AI semifinalist any longer until you brought it up. too bad she chose to be remembered with that ungracious exit instead of being regarded with fondness like the others who didnt advance but still kept their poise.

i remember her. she was a rough diamond, so to speak. she could have had promise but her performance was overdone. on top of that, she made a notorious exit (her ego very understandably trampled by the judges' comments).