TV Show Review - The X-Factor USA - great entertainment

The X-Factor USA is a new American talent show where the contestants can compete to win $5million as well as a recording contract. This format has been used successfully in the UK for a number of years under the producers Simon Fuller and Simon Cowell who have both proven themselves to be excellent talent scouts.

The show features a panel of four judges and the line up for the 2011 season features Simon Cowell himself, after he left his previous role on te UK show to be a judge for the American x-factor. He is great fun to watch and has a name for being quite a nasty character for the acts that he doesnt think are very good. Other Judges include Paula Abdul who is a singer from the 80s, Nicole Scherzinger who was in the group called the Pussycat Dolls and is now a solo singer as well as a man known as L.A., who has worked with many singers in the past to help them to launch their career.

The show starts by giving the viewers a glimpse of the auditions for the show. The auditions are held all over the states and the best and worst auditions are aired. This is one of my favorite parts of the show as I like to have a giggle at te acts who are misguided and believe they have the ability to sing when really tey just cant. The judges opinions are also interesting to hear especially when they disagree and often they will have arguments.

After the auditions comes the bootcamp where the best of the auditionees are cut down further and split into girls, boys, over 25s and groups. Te judges are ten each given a random group to mentor and coach.

Each group then goes to their mentor's house and the groups are all cut in half again. Sometimes I feel that the judges make the wrong choices and send the wrong acts home.

At the live shows ths is where the competition really takes off. Each week, there is a thee and each contestant mst sing to stay in the show. The public votes off the act they like the least. The judges have ther own competition between themselves to see who will be the mentor to have the winning act.

All in all I think this is a great show that shouldnt be missed!

The Vampire Diaries: What makes it so addicting

I’m one of the million people, who became addicted to The Vampire Diaries, despite the fictional story; this show has become one of my favorites among all other TV Series whether internationally or locally. I’m always updated to the latest episode of this show, I have watched season one repeatedly and I don’t think I will ever be tired of watching the second season again and again.

What’s good with the show is its great roster of actors and actresses who made the series worth watching.

I specially love Ian Somerhalder’s character as Damon Salvatorre – a bad ass vampire who fell madly inlove with his brother’s girl friend Elena Gilbert as portrayed by Nina Dobrev. Damon is my favorite character, he is the foremost reason why I like this series; I love his sense of humor, witty remarks, and good-looking-bad-ass attitude. I like the fact that despite him being a seemingly soulless character a weak human girl has made him defenseless and humane.

Stefan’s character – a good vampire brother of Damon, whom the Elena chose, is also quite good.  His character was played by an equally good looking Paul Wesley. I have noticed though that more people love Damon-Elena tandem compare to that of Stefan-Elena’s.

Nina Dobrev’s double character portrayal is exceptionally great too. Her sweet, fragile but strongwilled character as Elena, gives her a very effective heroine side and despite her selfishness, I also love her flirty-bad little character as Katherine because she really gives spice and thrill to the show. All other characters, vampire, human or werewolf are also remarkable.

The series’ story is set at a very historic Mystic Falls where everyone knows each other and people almost literally grew up together.

The TV Series is an adaptation from the novel of L.J. Smith with the same title, and as much as I love the TV version I have notice its huge difference from the novel, the only thing they adapt exactly are the names of the characters, their roles and affinity is not exactly based on the book.

One example is the role of Caroline - in the TV Series she’s the Sheriff’s daughter who fell inlove with Matt and later on turned into a vampire, in the book however Caroline is not a daughter of the Sheriff, not Matt’s girl and definitely did not became a vampire. Also if you read the book, Elena has a little sister and a strong willed best friend named Meredith, in the series Meredith’s character is totally not included and Elena has no sister, she instead has a brother named Jeremy.

Yet despite its obvious difference from the book series I fell addicted to this show, i have read the book and I liked it but the TV adaptation is more endearing and heart turning and I hope they will create another season when the second season ends.