but as far as I'm concerned, Simon Cowell is a evil demon who has succeeded in dulling the minds of a generation, convincing millions that over-egged R&B wailing is how one should sing. I thought I would only have had to endure his ever so punchable face on my TV screen for a year or two, but he is hanging on in there like a particularly virulent and adaptable virus...

In your second para, you appear to have inadvertently missed out the words "to live" between "the will" and "when Joni Mitchell comes on".

because when Van the Man appears in his Elvis jumpsuit and karate-kicks his way through Caravan that will to live will most surely reappear. Otherwise, if you still prefer X Factor...well, you're a lost cause.

.... don't mind Strictly (the wife loves it).

Love my Joni Mitchell.

Is there any difference in the record-industry cynicism (Apologies if not correct Patrick) between Simon Cowell and Columbia on the release of the new Bob Dylan Bootleg Series Release? - How much for the 3 CD version???

Will probably never buy anything that he's had anything to do with but I think he is probably the most straight forward person on the box. He works in the music business. Its not art, its business. He appreciates hard work and effort and will pick based upon how many it will sell and how good the long term prospects are. I respect his honesty.

The other three judges are complete tossers though.

I watch it. Feel pretty much the same way as Leedsboy about Cowell.

Can't be arsed to be more specific - you can fill in the details yourself.

Given the options available these days (on-air, Sky +, DVD) why would anyone ever watch something on TV that they don't like? I don't want to watch Simon Cowell, so I don't. If you do want to, ok, off you go.

I enjoy it on different levels. First I admit to enjoying the 'Bedlam' aspect of watching the deluded trying to impress in the auditions. Then I watch it as something for the whole family to enjoy together.

But also I do like the genuine point of the show where we watch a hopeful young amateur becoming a star. In this series there are two young women (in Mrs Cashley's team) who look very promising.

Yes I despise the songs and, especially, the arrangements where everyone is groomed to be Mariah Carey, but overall good TV.

I spend most of the time moaning and grumbling at the TV when it's on - mainly about the ridiculous amount of blubbing and cheesy background music - the forced tugging of heartstrings and using people's personal tragedies for emotional effect.

We've discussed this on other threads and it is so crass - I'd love to see someone just say "you know what, I'm really happy - great to get this far, really enjoying living it up in Cannes for a week - if I don't get through, that's life I'll just go back stacking shelves in Tescos - great!"
Instead you get endless blubbing and wailing - and that's just from the guys!

However, I do watch it if I'm in and I think Simon Cowell knows his stuff, he generally gets it right.
His comments are of course sometimes a bit harsh but honest and he seems to have a real enthusiasm for those he believes have the talent.
Don't forget he's working in the manufactured pop world where image and maleability is high on the agenda, he's not Alan McGee.

but the auditions are hilarious when you see the no-hopers turning up and making arses of themselves. Why?

My gripe is the timing of it so every year we can now predict the winner will get the Christmas number one. Takes all the fun out of guessing who will have the coveted spot; a cheesy ballad, a novelty song or Cliff (what's the difference - Ed.)

and as stated above it is good family entertainment, good trash tv. I don't find Cowell offensive, in fact it's nice to see someone on tv who says what he thinks.

The one thing I do find offensive is that the kids on it do seem to think this is their only chance in life and if it is a no then their life is going to end. Unfortunately, for obvious reasons the programme does everything to try and perpetuate this myth, which is clearly wrong.

thinking of auditioning next year. If only to sing a Jonathan Richman number.

I do enjoy it, and the forthcoming live shows are my favourite bit.

Next year, there can't possibly be anymore Dannii Minogue. Cheryl Cole is much better. What can Dannii possibly add? Where's her talent? They only got her to get closer to Kylie. At least Cheryl's been through the whole process herself.

... has been a staple of light entertainment TV since its invention, and that's fundamentally why I watch it, even though I'm no more likely to buy a record by any of the contestants as the man in the moon, and I believe even Simon Cowell is on record as saying that he wouldn't listen to hardly any of the records he's been responsible for...

Mind you, I could do without:
1) The early "Freak Show" rounds - I know everyone's volunteered to appear, but I find much of this stage of the show cruel and unnecessarily exploitative,
2) The artificial "rivalry" between the judges
3) The endless flogging of sob-stories (single-mums "doing it for my baby", ex-drug addicts, dead parents etc.)
4) And yes, the crap music.

Popstars and X-Factor were fun to watch at first but only as entertainment telly. They had drama and thrills and unlike The Wire and The Sopranos if you missed an episode you weren't up the creek. Familiarity breeds contempt though, and the sheer repetition of the same old sob stories, the same old put downs and the same old parade of wide eyed enthusiastic nonentities can wear a viewer down.

Turning point for me was when Michelle McManus won Popstars. Plainly voted the winner by an elderly audience who thought it was brave of a nice lassie to take on a shower of skinny minnies, none of them were ever going to buy her music afterwards. Ditto Steve Brookstein, looked like a wannabe flash bloke who'd show a divorcee out on the lash a good time if she was experiencing a moment of weakness, never looked like a star ever.

When the drama got repetitive and cruel and ultimately boring the show took a dive amongst wannabe intellectual smart arses like myself. It can't be long though till everyone else gets bored though. It's the only explanation I can offer for Britain's Got Talent, telly companies know that this show cant last much longer...

I also watched the first three series of Big Brother obsessively. I am not proud of this at all.

My opinion of Simon Cowell has been raised by his annual attendance at our local RSPCA dog show in Brighton where he is a judge. He takes time to speak to all the owners (and as the competition is open to everyone with a scruffy mutt, there's a lot of them), is pleasent to anyone who approaches him and doesn't just bugger off after five minutes but hangs around all afternoon. Blows his Mr Nasty image right out of the water. He's still got terrible taste in music though.

he once appeared as Wonderdog. Fact.

... here in Hartlepool, as one of the girls in 'Bad Lashes' (Natasha Khan's lawyers, take note) who've caused a bit of a stir apparently on the show is from the town. Front page news, too.

Suppose it helps when your family is well known in the housing industry of the town. There is even an X-Factor poster of them in the bank window across from my office.

When it's on TV, I can ignore it - when it's in your eye line whilst doing the 9-5, it's annoying.