Blog

November 2009 – Rachel Cass writes…

Simon Cowell - brave or stupid?

For a clever man who has built his reputation on being honest at all costs, Simon Cowell certainly risked his public image this week by making such a hypocritical u-turn on Sunday’s X Factor results show.

His controversial move to put the decision out to the public vote – and thereby keeping the totally talentless twins in the competition over Lucie Jones – showed the programme is not about discovering new and fresh talent as we are all led to believe, it’s about ratings and money.

Mr Cowell has described John and Edward as ‘vile little creatures’ and even threatened to leave the country if they win. At every opportunity he also emphasises that X Factor is a singing competition and not a talent contest (although clearly Jedward don’t qualify for either). So to then turn round and say he would rather see the twins perform again over Lucie was a totally transparent bid to rack up the ratings.

But that’s where Simon Cowell is so clever. A record 16.6 million viewers tuned in to see Sunday night’s show and that’s mainly because of all the Jedward hype which he has expertly helped to create. He knew what he was doing when he launched his no holds barred attacks on the boys – it makes great TV against Louis’ undentable (and totally unfounded) confidence in his act. And you have to admire his honestly in saying that Lucie wouldn’t have won.

I may not like the way he manipulated the show but look who got all the front pages on Monday when there are so many important and newsworthy things going on in the world. It just goes to prove that whether or not you agree with Mr Cowell’s decision, he’s a pretty shrewd operator when it comes to playing the media.

Undoubtedly his decision was also to help protect his own acts as clearly Lucie was more of a threat to Olly, Danyl and Jamie than John and Edward could ever be. I doubt very much that despite all the hype, the public would be stupid enough to allow the twins to win.

The bottom line is, will all this stop me being glued to the TV every Saturday and Sunday night? No chance. If anything I bet this week’s ratings are even higher with more people tuning in to see just how Mr Cowell will respond to the public outrage.

And has it changed the way I view Simon Cowell? Strangely no. I do think his actions were a shameless bid to win viewers and normally I would think that type of hypocrisy was inexcusable. But it’s only a TV programme, and a brilliantly entertaining one at that, which just wouldn’t be the same without his unique input every week. Mr Cowell’s actions were a risk but I think he has come out with his whiter than white smile intact.