If there’s one no-no in the world of live performance television, it’s lip-syncing… or at least getting caught by audiences lip-syncing.
Fox network embarrassingly had to confess their betrayal to fans after competitor LeRoy Bell was caught on camera singing along to a track.
“All survival songs are performed live, with just a backing track,” Fox said in an official statement after the incident. “For the group ensemble performance, the vocals are prerecorded to allow acts to concentrate on preparing for their own live competitive performances on Wednesdays — this is also no different to what other competition shows do for ensemble performances.”
The delay is minor and hard to spot as Bell tries to continue the performance with a smile, but viewers still noticed. At least Fox admits to it, instead of trying to cover it up like other network’s incidents in the past (still not sure who to believe on that one).
Add this mistake to rumors that Fox rigged the show’s results last week to send Dexter Haygood home and it isn’t looking too good for Simon Cowell’s Idol spinoff. I guess the new show might just need to just call this season a big whoops and hope they survive for another. [via E!]
Is this the end of the X Factor? What do you think of performers getting backtrack help on singing competition shows?
guest
What?! Lipsynching on a show? The hell you say! Why am I not surprised. I thought X-Factor was a singing competition. Shouldn’t these singers be singing LIVE?
guest
I noticed that!!!
sunflower / 393 posts
I liked American Idol when it first came out because it was the first musical competition I’d seen on tv. And then came all the rest that followed. Suddenly everyone wanted to recreate the show with a different cast. America’s Got Talent. The X Factor. And about a million other reality talent contests that mostly showcased unknown people singing and a douche bag judge who tells them they suck.
Do I think it’s the end of The X Factor? Maybe. Do I care? Not a bit. I don’t get the format of The X Factor and I might have liked Simon Cowell back during his American Idol days, but he’s seriously gone downhill for me.
How about we cut the talent shows and air something worth watching? Like, anything other than a stupid talent show format we’ve seen a hundred times now.
guest
It can’t be any worse than that Geo Godly character. *shudder*
guest
I admit it, I watch X Factor and I actually like it. I caught the LeRoy Bell screw up and rewinded my DVR to double-check. It kinda disappointed me for a minute, but I had already suspected it before & this just confirmed it.
I do NOT think they rigged the votes for Dexter… I was so glad he got the boot, he was annoying!!
Now, let me say this… I like this show & Idol, but those are the only two reality shows I like to watch (well, that and anything with Bear Grylls). I don’t really watch them for the talent (I don’t vote on them and I rarely care who wins once it gets down to the top 3)… I watch them for the entertainment of the snarky judges. And Simon is the one I love the most. NOT because he can be an ass (and admit it, we all wish we could be an asshole so blatantly without pause sometimes), but because he reminds me SO MUCH of someone I know.
I think X Factor will be back next season… After that, who knows.
Also, if they did rig Dexter’s departure, I’m sure we’ll see it happen this week with LeRoy – I am pulling for him but if he screwed up their jig, now they’ll “have it out” for him, right? So maybe LeRoy will be leaving this week… if that happens, I’ll definitely say it was rigged.
guest
i watch X Factor online, and i caught that, but i thought it was just a lag in the video since it’s ONLINE. lol. wow didn’t realize it was a real booboo made by leroy bell.
but i really do think they all sing live.
guest
Never got into the x factor. I like The Sing-Off better
and yeah, at least they didn’t try to deny it.
guest
I can’t say I’m really surprised, but I’m hoping my sister (who’s like a die-hard fan of the show) doesn’t catch wind of this… I feel like it would upset her haha