Mentors, What's the point?

[Niamh.]

Since the voting figures revealed that Janet topped the votes each week and was pretty much on course to win, it made it even more clear to me that the mentors really can't push the act that has the best chance of winning. I mean surely Kelly knew that Janet was her best chance of taking it? So she was either told to deliberately **** up Janets chances or it was more important to her that Janet lost then one of her acts triumphing? :conf:

What does everyone think? I think, I seriously need to stop watching this show :bored:

[Jordan.]

I think Janet messed it up for herself tbh & the bad press she was getting didn't help

[Niamh.]

I think Janet messed it up for herself tbh & the bad press she was getting didn't help

Well, she did and she didn't, I think a combination of ****ty song choices (which a mentor is supposed to help with) and very negative comments from the judges and apparently bad relations with Kelly, chipped away at her. She was a nervous wreck the last few shows (imo of course ;) )

[Marsh.]

But they weren't aware of the voting results until last night, were they?

[Niamh.]

But they weren't aware of the voting results until last night, were they?

No, I don't think so. But it was quite obvious that Janet was her best shot, since she never hit the bottom 2 till very late in.

[Marsh.]

I think it was very clear in the show though that Kelly saw Misha B as the star and her best chance of winning. Amelia was awful in week 1 and Sophie was crap.
Especially towards the beginning Misha was far and away the best but public perception about something we don't have the facts on changed it for her.

It's wrong of her to neglect other acts like Janet though but when looking at her category Misha is the standout choice on first impressions.

[Niamh.]

I agree that Misha was very talented,and I'm sure kelly spotted that but she was in the Bottom 2 3 times, each time she was saved she had the lowest votes, so even if she was the most talented of the girls, it was fairly obvious, that she was never going to win it, where as Janet had a great chance of doing so but Kelly seemed to have totally neglected her best chance.

[stewart64]

I think the mentor thing may have originally been to give the show a distinction from Pop Idol and try and avoid copyright issues. I preferred the Pop Idol foremat and agree with the OP, what is the point.

[Tom]

I'd like it if they could but they can't drop the celebrity mentoring otherwise they're left with Pop Idol with no age limit and groups, plus a huge legal bill

I really liked the current panel until the live shows and I think if they didn't have their own categories I would have continued to like it. Also, if the contestants could choose their own image and songs it would be betterbecause the live shows ultimately disappoint. BUT, and its a huge one, giving the acts the control means the producers lose it and they can't stitch up certain acts to make others progress further. Just look at Janet's voting pattern to see that! had it not been for the sudden turnaround in week 6 and picking on everything, she quite clearly would have won

[Niamh.]

I think the mentor thing may have originally been to give the show a distinction from Pop Idol and try and avoid copyright issues. I preferred the Pop Idol foremat and agree with the OP, what is the point.

Yeah, I've said this in another thread as well, but I believe that they either need to have mentors and a set of completely impartial judges or just revert back to having no mentors, like Pop Idol. Gary especially, was disgraceful this year with his comments that were so biased and tactical at times.

[Niamh.]

I'd like it if they could but they can't drop the celebrity mentoring otherwise they're left with Pop Idol with no age limit and groups, plus a huge legal bill

I really liked the current panel until the live shows and I think if they didn't have their own categories I would have continued to like it. Also, if the contestants could choose their own image and songs it would be betterbecause the live shows ultimately disappoint. BUT, and its a huge one, giving the acts the control means the producers lose it and they can't stitch up certain acts to make others progress further. Just look at Janet's voting pattern to see that! had it not been for the sudden turnaround in week 6 and picking on everything, she quite clearly would have won

I agree 100% Tom. What I can't understand though is, why not let them do their own thing and leave who wins in our hands? What's so wrong with that? It's frustrating watching them bring down the people who they don't want winning, and pushing their choice on us.

[muchadoaboutnothing]

Personally I believe that having X-factor over two nights spoils it. As the public are paying to vote there should be no bottom two where the judges decide - and if that had been the case I'm pretty sure there would have been a different outcome.

[fruit_cake]

Personally I believe that having X-factor over two nights spoils it. As the public are paying to vote there should be no bottom two where the judges decide - and if that had been the case I'm pretty sure there would have been a different outcome.

I agree, I can't be bothered to watch it two nights in a row. I'm not against mentors completely but I do agree there doesn't seem much point in them other than to stir up the public.

[Niamh.]

Personally I believe that having X-factor over two nights spoils it. As the public are paying to vote there should be no bottom two where the judges decide - and if that had been the case I'm pretty sure there would have been a different outcome.

I agree with this, again, it's just another example of them manipulating both us and the results, this is why I never vote in X Factor because it's not really our choice, no matter who has the lowest votes, the producers will pick who goes and who stays.

[fruit_cake]

I thought if there were any purpose in mentors it should be to make sure that what happend to Janet, doesn't happen! They should act like a safety net for when the public obviously get it wrong. How wrong I was

[Niamh.]

I thought if there were any purpose in mentors it should be to make sure that what happend to Janet, doesn't happen! They should act like a safety net for when the public obviously get it wrong. How wrong I was

Yeah, or another idea would be, keep the Bottom 2 and have the sing off but reopen the lines for the 2 after they've done it and let the public vote for who they want to save between them.

[MTVN]

I suppose the idea of having mentors is just to make it more interesting really, and provide a bit of competition between the judges as well, it might not be the fairest way of doing it but I think it's the most entertaining

[Kate!]

The show could do with a complete revamp, it's gone quite stale really. I think it would benefit from a year off, let's have something like the competition for a group, on the lines of the Girls Aloud selection process as a one off, then bring it back, that would give them loads of time to come up with fresh ideas.

[Jords]

I personally think people need to stop taking the show so seriously and enjoy it more, and if you think there is any trace of 'sabotage' just vote for your favourite. Mentors make TXF unique from just a normal singing contest, it adds more competition and allows them to form more opinions in which we get an insight. I do however think that if youre in the B2 for the third time you should automatically get eliminated.

Also I was a big fan of Janet the first 5-6 weeks but then I just got bored with her as it was more of the same old and she forget her words on more than 1 occasion. The aim of the live shows is to find the best act at the END of the show, eliminating the weaker acts and finding those who are constantly improving or delivering. Janet became the weakest when it came to the final 5 as well as not showing any improvement. Yes she was a favourite at the start, but opinions change - be that of worse of her or of better of others (more of the case - Little Mix, Marcus and Amelia).

Misha B should have left before Janet even though Misha is more talented for the simple fact that it was Janet's first and Misha's third time in the B2.

[MusicXian]

But they weren't aware of the voting results until last night, were they?

Thenjudges are the biggest weapon for the production of the show. We are told that they do not know the voting results, but I think the producers tell them what to do with their acts to ensure them either being pushed for the win or being made to go out. If by now you still do not believe this then more fool you. In 6 weeks of judges voting to save an act, in 5 of them they kept the act who was bottom of the public vote. Coincedence? Me thinks not.

[Jords]

Oh and just to add it definitely wasnt any sabotage imo, her position in the votings went -

1st - 1st - 1st - 1st - 2nd - 3rd - 4th

Which screams loss of interest as it wasnt a gradual decrease, if it was sabotage itd be a much dramatagic change 1st - 1st - 1st - 1st - 4th/5th or less

[Niamh.]

Oh and just to add it definitely wasnt any sabotage imo, her position in the votings went -

1st - 1st - 1st - 1st - 2nd - 3rd - 4th

Which screams loss of interest as it wasnt a gradual decrease, if it was sabotage itd be a much dramatagic change 1st - 1st - 1st - 1st - 4th/5th or less

I don't see how that proves it wasn't sabotage. The sabotage was picking away at her, it wasn't one big scandal like the Misha B is a bully thing, so she'd have lost a few fans each week, so if anything, it proves the opposite.

[Jords]

It was the combination of same style week in and week out (works for an album for solid fans but on TXF its boring), a couple of very weak performances, her attitude changing - I felt she had a chip on her shoulder (probably down to her hanging around with Misha and her attitude rubbing off - VT's and Xtra Factor showed they were quite pally), and the fact others were improving and having stand-out performances - Little Mix's E.T. and Dont Let Go (Love), Marcus' Reet Petite, and Amelia's China In Your Hand... shifting fans away from Janet towards them 3.

Kelly favoured Misha B, but didnt sabotage Janet... Amelia coming off Top Girl proves that even if her attention was all on Misha it was audience opinion that had the final say.

[nanaimo]

just let the public vote count every week, the judges can be give their opinion and constructive critism but thats all, judging by the results after all, the top 3 should have been Little Mix, Janet and Amelia, so basically week after week the public are being screwed out of their hard earned cash when voting, if you pay to vote then the majority should decide not 4 people who have their favourites, Like Gary thinking Frankie could sing and even predicting him to win and very obvious kelly was only interested in Misha B, if she had interest in her other contestants she wouldn't have stood for the clever editing to make Janet look bad and not rushed off a few minutes after Amelia not getting into the last 2, instead rushing off to support Misha B at G-A-Y, if theres a god Kelly will not be back next year.

[Niamh.]

It was the combination of same style week in and week out (works for an album for solid fans but on TXF its boring), a couple of very weak performances, her attitude changing - I felt she had a chip on her shoulder (probably down to her hanging around with Misha and her attitude rubbing off - VT's and Xtra Factor showed they were quite pally), and the fact others were improving and having stand-out performances - Little Mix's E.T. and Dont Let Go (Love), Marcus' Reet Petite, and Amelia's China In Your Hand... shifting fans away from Janet towards them 3.

Kelly favoured Misha B, but didnt sabotage Janet... Amelia coming off Top Girl proves that even if her attention was all on Misha it was audience opinion that had the final say.

My point being that the Mentors are supposed to help with the song choices, that's the whole point of this thread. What's the point in her having a mentor if she's not giving her songs that aren't samey or when she does give her unsamey ones they don't work (apart from Kiss Me)

personally I don't think she had a chip on her shoulder from hanging out with Misha, rather she was dis heartened at the lack of help she was getting from her so-called mentor, even the newspapers had rumours of the rift between them (which I for one thought looked obvious in how they were with eachother)

[nanaimo]

Janet had terrible song choices and you are right if Kelly was a good mentor she would have forseen the problems and not allowed them to be performed, bad mentor to be honest.

[Niamh.]

Janet had terrible song choices and you are right if Kelly was a good mentor she would have forseen the problems and not allowed them to be performed, bad mentor to be honest.

Exactly, I mean mm bop for example, surely, she should have said, "No, Janet, we need a different song", when she heard that in rehearsals?

[nanaimo]

mmbop was the worse song choice in xf history, it belongs in 1997 and should stay there.

[Jords]

Considering 3/4 of Kelly's girls made the Top 6... thats half... she was a **** mentor but people dont base it on that.

Also you say about song choices Niamh but in your opinion Under The Bridge was amazing... the week she went... I think its definitely down to the 4 points I stated in the other post.

[Niamh.]

Considering 3/4 of Kelly's girls made the Top 6... thats half... she was a **** mentor but people dont base it on that.

Also you say about song choices Niamh but in your opinion Under The Bridge was amazing... the week she went... I think its definitely down to the 4 points I stated in the other post.

Well, she had an extremely strong category, infact the 4 girls that didn't make the live shows were equally as good as the ones who did imo. If she had been a decent mentor she should have won, they were by far the best category.

Well, that's because The Red Hot Chili Peppers are my second favourite band though, and I adore that song. I realise that it's not poppy enough for X Factor and again, Kelly failed her there, she should have told her that the general public probably won't like it.

[Mystic Mock]

But they weren't aware of the voting results until last night, were they?

They secretly know the results but act like they never knew until this point.

[Mystic Mock]

They have mentors so they can sabotage fan favourites,while also helping the ones who wouldnt have won if it wasnt for the mentors.

[Niamh.]

They have mentors so they can sabotage fan favourites,while also helping the ones who wouldnt have won if it wasnt for the mentors.

lol, that's it in a nut shell I reckon JF :joker:

[robb]

Correct...in fact for someone (elf) who 'liked Janet for 6 weeks' they sound about as convincing as Kelly' don't they!!
In fact Janet had to squash rumours of a rift with Misha BECAUSE of KELLY'S BIAS. She could have said a lot about Kelly, but didn't. Amelia was also given short shrift, from all reports, later.
For whatever reason,(and song choice /theme didn't in any way help) JANET HAD TWO OR THREE AVERAGE weeks, yet still picked up votes. Amelia was re-introduced (though she had a bottom 2 week too), and LM were starting to pick up votes. Janet WAS KELLY'S best bet, but was undermined both by her lack of support and the manipulative remarks of BARLOW. You could see the worry on her face when it was BARLOW'S TURN TO CRITIQUE HER. In the end you had the feeling that JANET DIDN'T WANT TO BE THERE. In fact her last performance was her coolest. She KNEW they would save 'the great XF judges hope' Misha. She knew she was out......

[muchadoaboutnothing]

just let the public vote count every week, the judges can be give their opinion and constructive critism but thats all, judging by the results after all, the top 3 should have been Little Mix, Janet and Amelia, so basically week after week the public are being screwed out of their hard earned cash when voting, if you pay to vote then the majority should decide not 4 people who have their favourites, Like Gary thinking Frankie could sing and even predicting him to win and very obvious kelly was only interested in Misha B, if she had interest in her other contestants she wouldn't have stood for the clever editing to make Janet look bad and not rushed off a few minutes after Amelia not getting into the last 2, instead rushing off to support Misha B at G-A-Y, if theres a god Kelly will not be back next year.

I totally agree with you nanaimo. I mentioned something similar on an earlier thread. Why do they bother getting the public to vote if the result of that voting is not going to be taking seriously and judges decide on who they THINK should leave? I believe (but maybe wrong) the week that Johnny Robinson was booted by the judges he (JR) actually didn't have the lowest number of votes which is unfair on those who voted to keep Johnny in. The same could be said for others kicked off by the judges who actually didn't receive the fewest votes. I can't help thinking that some of this years show was a fix.

[Jords]

Correct...in fact for someone (elf) who 'liked Janet for 6 weeks' they sound about as convincing as Kelly' don't they!!
In fact Janet had to squash rumours of a rift with Misha BECAUSE of KELLY'S BIAS. She could have said a lot about Kelly, but didn't. Amelia was also given short shrift, from all reports, later.
For whatever reason,(and song choice /theme didn't in any way help) JANET HAD TWO OR THREE AVERAGE weeks, yet still picked up votes. Amelia was re-introduced (though she had a bottom 2 week too), and LM were starting to pick up votes. Janet WAS KELLY'S best bet, but was undermined both by her lack of support and the manipulative remarks of BARLOW. You could see the worry on her face when it was BARLOW'S TURN TO CRITIQUE HER. In the end you had the feeling that JANET DIDN'T WANT TO BE THERE. In fact her last performance was her coolest. She KNEW they would save 'the great XF judges hope' Misha. She knew she was out......

Why would I lie about liking Janet? :joker:

She was my top favourite going into the lives shows... the only performance that really stood out for me though but is one of my favourites was Every Breath You Take :love:

Seriously, stop doubting everything just to make your 'argument' sound better LOL.

[GypsyGoth]

I think Janet was evicted because she forgot the words twice and not because of her mentor.

[nanaimo]

I think Janet was evicted because she forgot the words twice and not because of her mentor.

But Kelly didn't want to see any of her two girls go, she was told if she abstained Janet would go home automatically, if she didn't want to send them home directly, why didn't she just say i love "Ya'll" but i can't to this to either one of you so i am going to take it to deadlock and let the public decide, she didn't and she knew exactly why the public couldn't have the power.

[GypsyGoth]

But Kelly didn't want to see any of her two girls go, she was told if she abstained Janet would go home automatically, if she didn't want to send them home directly, why didn't she just say i love "Ya'll" but i can't to this to either one of you so i am going to take it to deadlock and let the public decide, she didn't and she knew exactly why the public couldn't have the power.

True but if Janet sang better it would have been Marcus against MishaB in the bottom two. Forgetting your lyrics in a song contest is pretty bad.

I think Kelly preferred Misha over Janet, so it was no surprised to me that she saved Misha.

[Jords]

After all that though I look forward to an album. Its just when it comes to TXF I like diversity and strong performances... and Im sure she wont be chippy with Misha no longer around.

[BBfanUSA]

Looking at mentors. I've noticed that's there is some biased opinons on the american version. Personally they should just either eliminate the acts with the least votes every week. With the mentor's save that can be used to save just one act once like Idol or after the singoff like someone said have a public vote between the bottom 22 and results are revealed at the end of the live(Should performance show next week except for semifinal and final

[Marc]

I really really really don't think the judge's messed up her chances of winning.. it's becoming an annoying get out claus to cover up the fact that the girl wasn't that good and she got boring! Sophie went, she got boring, Craig went, he got boring, The Risk went, they got boring.

:idc: Stop playing the 'everyone one was against Janet' card.. :bored:

The girl isn't that good.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I would prefer to see a series without the judges as mentors, but instead as just judges (like other shows like SCD, DoI) so they can work with vocal coaches and all the production people in the background to pick their songs and outfits etc. Some clear advantages this year with Kelly and Misha B, Tulisa and Nu Vibe (LOL so sh*t) and Tulisa's rant to Misha B.

[Marc]

Looking at mentors. I've noticed that's there is some biased opinons on the american version. Personally they should just either eliminate the acts with the least votes every week. With the mentor's save that can be used to save just one act once like Idol or after the singoff like someone said have a public vote between the bottom 22 and results are revealed at the end of the live(Should performance show next week except for semifinal and final

I do like that touch in AI but I don't know if the producers will allow it, letting it become so like another singing competition. But I do like that idea! It casts aside any bias, annoying bickering and moaning from contestants. And certainly eliminate any chance of people like Katie Waissel, Misha B, Kitty from overstaying their welcome.

[joeysteele]

From the voting figures,it was clear that Janet was the front runner from the start. I still stand by my view that these daft themed weeks actually in the end stifle the best in an act rather than bring the best out of them so I like the idea of the acts choosing their own song as someone said earlier.

Gary in particular for Janets last 3 weeks started to really get at her and I have always had doubts that one or more judges didn't have at least a small 'hint' at least as to who was getting the most votes week on week.

Gary certainly turned on Janet. I think it's time for X Factor to follow 'strictly' and make it all down to the public votes as to who goes week by week,do away with the sing off,which is a waste of time since the sing off was originally to be a save yourself exercise ruling out the previous problems of the song sung the night before.
In Janet's case, she was judged on the night before too,with the stumblimg of the words for whatever reason so really a sing off was unfair.

I don't know about having mentors but Kelly has been a terrible mentor, Gary chose an awful act in Frankie to go in the live shows,Tulisa did well with Littlemix but badly with the Risk,Louis gets the worst category year on year and I doubt any other mentor could have put any different acts into the finals than Louis did.

Time to have much broader themed week if they must have them, by all means a type of music themed week and maybe songs from a decade too but an artist themed week is a poor show now. I would also like to see an original week where the act has to compose something themself or have someone specially compose a song for them to be judged on too.

Also if an act is in the bottom 2 that should be noted and if they are put there 3 times by the public then that week they automatically go out,clearly the public don't connect to them, as with Katie last year and Misha this year, however Janet on her first time ever even near the bottom 2, went out despite that and whatever the reasons,to me that was unfair and does raise questions as to the quality of mentoring and moreso as to the judges power as to the decsion as to who goes home any week.

As to Janet against Misha in the sing off, if the votes were added up over all the previous weeks, at that time Janet would have beaten Misha out of sight on them,that really is something that needs to be taken into account as to who goes out of the show.

Gary,to me, saw Janet as real competition,(rightly so), for his acts, Misha in the bottom 2 so many times he knew she wasn't going to win anyway so he couldn't wait to vote Janet out,that should be unacceptable and the rules need to change.

[Marc]

There needs to be a structural change to TXF.

No themed weeks, or at least make them much more loose.

[joeysteele]

There needs to be a structural change to TXF.

No themed weeks, or at least make them much more loose.

I totally would go along with that Marc.

[Niamh.]

There needs to be a structural change to TXF.

No themed weeks, or at least make them much more loose.

also, get rid of the judges deciding who stays and who goes, either lowest votes go straight out or let them do the sing off and re open the lines again for the bottom 2

[joeysteele]

also, get rid of the judges deciding who stays and who goes, either lowest votes go straight out or let them do the sing off and re open the lines again for the bottom 2

It's hardly a surprise that I would agree with you too but for the record I really think it's time this is the case. Definately remove the judges power once the 'live' shows commence.

[Niamh.]

It's hardly a surprise that I would agree with you too but for the record I really think it's time this is the case. Definately remove the judges power once the 'live' shows commence.

Yeah, It just really pisses people off when they save someone 2 and 3 times over people whose first time it is in the bottom, it's almost saying **** you to the voters imo.

[Jords]

also, get rid of the judges deciding who stays and who goes, either lowest votes go straight out or let them do the sing off and re open the lines again for the bottom 2

I like that idea, announce at start of Result Show who is B2, re-start votes for the 2 acts, then allow voting whilst the guest stars perform.

Either that or have a limit that the judges have a maximum of 3 saves during the series to save the bottom act(sometimes the bottom act really doesnt deserve to go and it was just a poor/forgettable performance that week... The Risk for example). And instead of a vote system, have it an open debate amongst the 3 where they must come to a majority decision of 3-1 or 4-0

[Niamh.]

I like that idea, announce at start of Result Show who is B2, re-start votes for the 2 acts, then allow voting whilst the guest stars perform.

Either that or have a limit that the judges have a maximum of 3 saves during the series to save the bottom act(sometimes the bottom act really doesnt deserve to go and it was just a poor/forgettable performance that week... The Risk for example). And instead of a vote system, have it an open debate amongst the 3 where they must come to a majority decision of 3-1 or 4-0

Yeah, that's where them doing a sing off would help then, I reckon the voting public are more likely to vote on that then on the night befores performance.

The judges could have what they did on American Idol, where they have one save and can use it to save someone but only once through the whole thing.

[BBfanUSA]

I do like that touch in AI but I don't know if the producers will allow it, letting it become so like another singing competition. But I do like that idea! It casts aside any bias, annoying bickering and moaning from contestants. And certainly eliminate any chance of people like Katie Waissel, Misha B, Kitty from overstaying their welcome.

I agree with that

[Marsh.]

Thenjudges are the biggest weapon for the production of the show. We are told that they do not know the voting results, but I think the producers tell them what to do with their acts to ensure them either being pushed for the win or being made to go out. If by now you still do not believe this then more fool you. In 6 weeks of judges voting to save an act, in 5 of them they kept the act who was bottom of the public vote. Coincedence? Me thinks not.

Considering there's a 50/50 chance of saving the bottom one each time it's not impossible. And I find your response very rude in its wording.

Of course The X Factor is staged to a certain degree, the judges don't mentor to the level that they are made out to. And yes, the producers have final say on what happens. But to say the votes are fixed is very cynical indeed. Especially when you start thinking the producers want to purposely push a lesser favourite for the win, and sabotage a popular one. There's simply no reason for it. If an act is popular they are more likely to bring in revenue when the show is over.

If the producers fixed the voting as much as they are accused of doing then Misha B would have made that final without a shadow of a doubt.

[Tom]

Thenjudges are the biggest weapon for the production of the show. We are told that they do not know the voting results, but I think the producers tell them what to do with their acts to ensure them either being pushed for the win or being made to go out. If by now you still do not believe this then more fool you. In 6 weeks of judges voting to save an act, in 5 of them they kept the act who was bottom of the public vote. Coincedence? Me thinks not.

I believe the judges know what the outcome of the public vote is and the producers attempt to sway them to make better TV. It definitely happened when Simon was on the panel anyway, otherwise I don't think theres any way that he would have let it go to deadlock when it was Ruth v Girl Band or Bad Lashes (forgot which) after Ruth did her Purple Rain performance, and Simon really liked her. Another example is when it was Jedward v Lucy, apparently he was pushing Cheryl to save Jedward so he could keep his 'credibility', send it to deadlock and Lucie leaves the competition, show gets in the headlines due to shock exit but Cheryl refused to do it.

[robb]

I believe the judges know what the outcome of the public vote is and the producers attempt to sway them to make better TV. It definitely happened when Simon was on the panel anyway, otherwise I don't think theres any way that he would have let it go to deadlock when it was Ruth v Girl Band or Bad Lashes (forgot which) after Ruth did her Purple Rain performance, and Simon really liked her. Another example is when it was Jedward v Lucy, apparently he was pushing Cheryl to save Jedward so he could keep his 'credibility', send it to deadlock and Lucie leaves the competition, show gets in the headlines due to shock exit but Cheryl refused to do it.

Didn't Ruth do Purple Rain against that other girl who was an early fave?

Anyway, I agree with you. I think the judges know EXACTLY who has done well in previous weeks. The Daily Star told us WEEKS ago that Janet had won the first 4 public votes, remember? THEY WERE PROVED RIGHT. I am conviced that to even things up in favour of the poorly supported Misha, who the judges wanted in the final, they put Janet on at the start of each show and Misha on at the end, until the semi anyway. That as much as anything cost Janet her place. We all know about the importance of the running order. Further, Barlow's criticism of Janet started around the same time, gradually eroding her confidence. The fact that Cowell supported Little Mix for weeks is also an indication of them knowing how each act is doing, and influencing the 'outcome'.

[robb]

True but if Janet sang better it would have been Marcus against MishaB in the bottom two. Forgetting your lyrics in a song contest is pretty bad. Didn't Little Mix too??

I think Kelly preferred Misha over Janet, so it was no surprised to me that she saved Misha.

She obviously DID PREFER Misha over anybody, not just Janet! But she didn't have to 'save' Misha. She knew that BARLOW would vote Janet out too. The fact that they knew Misha was one of the least liked acts this year didn't stop them influencing the outcome of the sing-off in her favour every time.

[fruit_cake]

She obviously DID PREFER Misha over anybody, not just Janet! But she didn't have to 'save' Misha. She knew that BARLOW would vote Janet out too. The fact that they knew Misha was one of the least liked acts this year didn't stop them influencing the outcome of the sing-off in her favour every time.

she didn't know Gary would save Misha unless it was completely fixed beforehand.

[Mystic Mock]

she didn't know Gary would save Misha unless it was completely fixed beforehand.

Of course its fixed beforehand otherwise it was quite convient last year when Katie was bottom of the votes that the other act would be voted out 3-1,and when she scraped 2nd from bottom then it would go to deadlock.