Yuku free message boards

Simon really needs to cut out the winks to the contestants, especially to the young crying guys. It's a little creepy.

Alexandra, the ex-semifinalist, was the only memorable one from the second episode. And enough with Fly me to the Moon. That's 2 seasons in a row where there was a young Sinatra/buble wannabe in the finals and the one in the last season won.

Seems to me they always focus on the younger contestants. Are there no good older singers? They might as well forget it if they're over thirty.

And regarding the Xtra Factor, the host has been replaced again. I don't understand the point of replacing Fearne with Holly since they are both practically identical kooky blondes.

Found a couple of news items:

Osbourne won't work with Minogue again
Tuesday, August 19 2008, 11:34 BST

By Daniel Kilkelly, Entertainment Reporter

Rex Features
Sharon Osbourne has refused to work with Dannii Minogue ever again following their feud on The X Factor last year.

The TV personality quit the ITV1 talent series in June following a row over pay and was replaced on the judging panel by Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole.

Reports of backstage tension between Osbourne and Minogue provided one of the biggest talking points of last year's series. Though the pair initially denied the suggestions, Sharon later accused Simon Cowell of hiring the Aussie star for her looks alone, while Minogue claimed that Osbourne had tried to bully her behind-the-scenes.

In a new interview, Minogue admitted: "I was so shocked when Sharon said she was leaving. I didn't think she'd ever go, but I was very relieved. She kept saying she didn't want to work with me again, so it's a relief not to sit next to someone who has those feelings and is so rudely vocal about it.

"We all have people we don't get on with, but we stay out of their way. For her it was always more dramatic than that, and it was so uncomfortable. The atmosphere is so much better this year."

Despite tabloid claims that she is now rowing with Cole, Minogue has insisted that there have been no "nasty" incidents between them.

Cowell tired of 'X Factor' sob stories
Sunday, August 24 2008, 11:27 BST

By Daniel Kilkelly, Entertainment Reporter

Simon Cowell has admitted that he is tired of contestants using "sob stories" to their advantage on The X Factor.

The show's chief claimed that the programme is being refocused this year to concentrate on talent alone following criticism of the 2007 series.

"We are attempting to move away from focusing too much on the sob stories," Cowell told the Sunday Mirror. "This year, it's all about trying to go back to raw talent.

"The stories got out of hand and people were starting not to believe them. It had got to the stage that people were trying harder to gain sympathy than to get praise for their singing."

Cowell added that he is keen to see how the public reacts to wannabe singer Rachel Hylton, who shared the story of her troubled past in the first audition show.

"I'm curious to see what happens when she comes to the public vote. It's like a test of forgiveness," he said. "Are people willing to forgive someone who has made mistakes? She's truly a stunning singer."

Irish judge Louis Walsh named the introduction of "sob stories" as the show's biggest mistake at the end of the last series. He said: "This is supposed to be a talent show, not Jeremy Kyle."