Simon Cowell: The New Jim Jones?

A report has revealed how the makers of Britain's Got Talent have been warned by a mental health charity that the humiliation and ridicule suffered by some contestants - which is more of a selling point for the show than talent - could lead to self harm or suicide.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2010/may/30/britains-got-talent-suicide-fear

Hmmmmm. Ignore for a moment the immediate query as to whether it is the "performers" on the reality TV show or us as its viewers who are going to be reaching for the cyanide, and wonder how many fragile and vulnerable souls would gladly follow Simon Cowell down to the lake at dawn for a bit of ritual jeering before drinking some of that delicious kool-aid he's so kindly prepared.

I, for one, would gladly down the whole batch of Simon's magical fizzy and feel good fame-shake if it meant that people might stop endorsing Britain's Got Talent by tuning in. The whole vacuous, vain, debase and despicable freak show is made with money that could have been spent on discovering writers, directors, designers, editors, musicians, producers and actors, and as more and more shows like it earn massive viewing figures and mounds of advertising revenue, the chances of television in this country ever being able to rival the creative output of the HBOs or the Showtimes in the states are dwindling more and more.

It is not in our cultural mindset in this country to sacrifice the easy buck in order to support creative talent. Not in television, not in music, not in film. Only in theatre is there a sense of corporate support for artistic ingenuity and integrity. But the ratio of those that watch Britain's Got Talent every week to those who had a chance to see Jerusalem last year is growing every week, and it will continue that way unless we switch it off...

Switch it off.

Off.

Thank you x

We Don Need No Steenking Blogs!

Post 1. Bound to be tosh. I'm already embarrassed for it, this post. The poor thing, it didn't see it coming. But then again you have to start somewhere, and like the great Keith Harrington once said: if someone gives you lemons...fuck 'em.

So, with a view to ploughing ahead unfettered and steamrolling my way through the aisles of decency, here is a list of ten noteworthy things that I have visited, watched, heard, negotiated, experienced, enjoyed, digested and remembered in the past week or so:

1. Japandroids @ the Garage in Islington
2. Work To Do by The Average White Band
3. Californication Series 2
4. The French Open
5. Gordon's Wine Bar
6. Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant
7. Great British Menu
8. Brothers by Black Keys
9. Annie Proulx' Close Range
10. Pitchfork.com

In this haphazard spirit of cultural titbits, I will hopefully encourage myself to experience more and more of what my surroundings have to offer, and also tickle the tasebuds of the few unfortunate fuckers who happen to stray here. I am, if nothing else, a man of consistent passion, for art, for love, for life, and I write this in the hope that others of a similar spirit will join me in celebrating the brilliance that lies behind, above, below and in front of us.

Hold strong brothers, and we will weather this storm.

See you soon x