The One and Only...

I don't know if anyone else here has caught the first two editions of this new BBC "talent" show? Here's the premise: 12 performers sing for viewers votes presenting themselves as 'tribute' acts to their favourite stars. There's a Frank Sinatra, a Madonna, a Cher...etc. The winner will (hopefully) be the best sound-a-like and will win the ultimate prize of appearing at a famous Vegas venue later this year.

ITV did a similar series which ended a few years ago and this is the BBC's version of Stars In Their Eyes. Thankfully, with 'Stars' we got a new set of performers each week and only that week's winning act went through to the grand final. Unfortunately, with 'One and Only' we are stuck with the same performers week in and week out (minus the one who gets voted off).

Why unfortunately? Because the BBC must have bent over backwards to find the 12 acts who are appallingly least like the stars they are depicting. There is not one single act that could stand on a stage and be mistaken for the real thing for as long as the blink of an eye. This is like the worst amateur talent show on any night of the week down at your local pub. They are so poor I found myself cringing as each new act was introduced.

I tuned in a little late so missed the start of it. But there was this fat bloke sitting at a piano and singing. I was so convinced at first glance it was Matt Lucas from 'Little Britain' that I was waiting for the joke. Then I realised that we were supposed to be taking this seriously. This was an Elton John tribute act! From that point on it just got worse. Dusty Springfield not only didn't look, act or sound like the real thing, she couldn't even sing in tune. And just when I thought it couldn't get any worse up pops a white guy doing Lionel Ritchie (no...honestly!)

If you haven't seen it be grateful because words cannot possibly describe how bad it is. Try sticking pins in your eyes as an alternative form of entertainment on a Saturday night. Believe me, it'll be less painful. This is possibly the worst talent show in the history of television.

Moving To A New Home

Regular readers of this column might like to know that it has now moved to a new permanent home on the Internet as part of the Television Heaven Forum, which is part of a much larger television community where you can sign up to add comments, start a discussion on any number of TV related topics or ask that TV related question that has been nagging at you for ages.

The new home for Mike Spadoni's View From America can be found here:

http://tvhforum.proboards81.com/index.cgi?board=mikespadoni

New posts will be made here commenting on television in general but not exclusive to US shows.

Please note - all posts previous to this are attributed to Mike Spadoni unfortunately my name has replaced his on previous posts. I am trying to find out how to change it back!