Harry Hill's Little Internet Show Episode 6 - Neptune Sneezes

WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF HARRY HILL'S LITTLE INTERNET SHOW! In this sixth episode of Harry Hill's Little Internet Show, a walk on the beach turns into an ornithological study and Neptune sneezes on Harry. New episodes of Harry Hill's Little Internet Show will be launching weekly, right up to Christmas. Tune in every Wednesday, or subscribe to harryhillshow channel on YouTube to get your weekly dose of comedy from Harry's world sent directly to you!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL0bK0tJsDw&hl=en

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3 Cheap Halloween Ideas

As I write this, we're only a few weeks away from Halloween. Everyone loves the holiday once it's here and they have a costume figured out, but some people stress for weeks over what to wear. I've been in the same boat myself on many occasions, and I try my best to plan things out in advance so that I know exactly what I'll be by the time that final week rolls around. I really hate getting stuck in the stores and sifting through all the leftovers, and I refuse to let that happen.

At the same time, my budget is really tight this year. I don't feel like going out to splurge $50 on a costume that I'll only wear once, so I bring you three cheap Halloween costume ideas for this season.

First, you can dress up as a famous athlete. Why do I like this? Because you'll be out in comfortable clothes, and you're probably only one or two pieces away at most from having the outfit already. Borrow from a friend if you don't have a specific uniform or jersey yourself.

A second thing you can do is to dress up as a famous musician. Popular choices this year will be Michael Jackson for men, while it looks like Susan Boyle may lead the way for women. Another popular women's costume is the ever so entertaining Amy Winehouse.

Yet a third idea is to be either of the Obamas, Barack or Michelle, depending upon your gender of course.

For more ideas on Obama Halloween costumes, visit this free resource, where you can buy Obama Halloween costume or learn how to make your own.

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suzan boyle Incroyable talent

Susan, une Ecossaise de 47 ans, sans emploi, et célibataire depuis toujours, était il ya encore quelques heures le centre de toutes les moqueries. Et il se pourrait que, malgré son physique qui fait l'objet de beaucoup de remarques, elle réalise d'ici peu son rêve: chanter un jour dans une comédie musicale... Sur le plateau, elle a proposé une incroyable interprétation de "I dreamt a dream" de la Comédie Les Misérables. Les réactions dans le public ne se sont pas faites attendre: larmes aux yeux, chair de poule, stupéfaction... Piers Morgan, un membre du jury a même déclaré: "C'est la plus grande surprise en trois ans d'émission".



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNmONWt1_eA&hl=en

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The Mechanics of Celebrity - Madonna, John Wayne Bobbitt and Susan Boyle

It's an interesting illusion that Madonna, John Wayne Bobbitt and Susan Boyle can be mentioned together in the same sentence. But, I have found a way. The mechanics of celebrity is the issue that can bring just about any three celebrity names together in the same sentence.

There are several ways in this world to become a celebrity. Not everyone who has graced a tabloid has followed the same set of rules. In fact, rules are pretty much out of the question.  Madonna, John Wayne Bobbitt and Susan Boyle are each great examples of the fact that rules are indeed out of the question.

I could have mentioned any number of celebrities here. But, I have chosen these three because of the extreme natures of their back stories. The way they each came to celebrity status are so different in nature that they are the perfect examples for my expanse.

Everyone knows who Madonna is and what she's up to these days. She has been a mogul for years and by most probable standards will stay on that level of stardom for the rest of her life. She will be remembered long after her passing much like that of Jerry, Kurt and Elvis.

You might argue that Madonna could never be on the same level with the likes of Jerry Garcia and Elvis Presley. But if you think about what I'm saying you'll be able to see that despite the arguable differences, Madonna will be remembered. That in itself is comparable to any great you stack up against her.

Years ago, a rising star out of New York, she had what it takes to make it in the music industry. She had talent and ideas. She was a trend setter, not only in music but also in fashion. She is a beautiful woman. But, there are so many beautiful women who know music and have great ideas who don't make it. How is it that Madonna made it through?

She used sex appeal. She did outrageous things in the public eye that still are used as icons today. Her outrageous bra is just one example of the way comedians and impersonators like to portray her. You can have blond hair and you can talk with a Brooklyn accent. But if you put your hair back in a pony tail and wear cones over your breasts, you're suddenly recognized as doing Madonna. And Madonna has been enjoying that for years. Millions of teenagers used to dress like her back in the 80s. She's big because she makes herself big. She brings it large and that's one way to celebrity.

John Wayne Bobbitt is a celebrity for another reason. You might argue that John Wayne Bobbitt is no celebrity. But, mention his name in a room and mostly everyone will know the story. It was outrageous. It caught national attention. I'm not saying that you should have your wife cut your male member and throw it out along the highway. But, that kind of outrageous behavior is what puts people on the map.

Celebrities like Steve-O and Paris Hilton eat into that every day. Think about it! What is Steve-O's talent? Is he a member of a band? Is he an actor in the movies? No, he is a Jackass. Part of the crew who lights bottle rockets out of their butts and sick alligators on their moms. Bam Margera once cut the top out of a Lamborghini just to make Billy Idol happy. That's a jackass.

Speaking of which, who is Paris Hilton by the way? Is she a singer? Is she an actress? Well, it can be argued that she is both of those as well as having a few other significant celebrity titles. But, her celebrity came with being an heiress to the Hilton hotel chain. She has rubbed elbows with celebrities all her life and found herself in the spotlight along with them regardless of the fact that she wasn't actually a talent among them. So, finding yourself in the spotlight regardless of any talent you may or may not have is another way to break through the glass ceiling known as celebrity.

That brings us to Susan Boyle. She is the mark of a different kind of celebrity. She was given a moment and she completely knocked us on our butts. Everyone in the audience of Britain's Got Talent was chuckling. The judges were skeptical. But, she opened up and out of her mouth came her beautiful rendition of I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables.  Simon Cowell's expression was priceless and when you see Simon Cowell genuinely surprised, you know you have really nailed something right.

Rumors are flying. One exciting rumor is that there might be a movie deal and Catherine Zeta Jones wants to play her role. I saw a pole taken on a top celebrity news broadcast that asked the audience whether Susan Boyle had surpassed Brangelina in celebrity status. It wasn't a majority, but a significant number of voters thought that she had indeed surpassed the power team couple.

Now, what is that? That's fifteen minutes of fame for all the right reasons. She has a talent and was able to catch the world's attention when she was given her moment. Eminem talks about choking at a moment like that in his song "Lose Yourself." Susan Boyle lost herself. She owned it and she didn't let it go.

Michael Allen is the author of A Danger to Society, a hilarious look at the notions of law, crime and criminal behavior. The Ashlie Wrote Bookcover Contest [http://ashliewrote.com] has launched and Michael Allen extends a special invitation to anyone who would like to enter. You do not have to be a model to be the winner of the Ashlie Wrote bookcover. All you have to do is enter and get your friends and family to visit your Ashlie Wrote profile so they can vote on you. Get the details here, Ashlie Wrote Bookcover Contest [http://ashliewrote.com].

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Susan Boyle ~ Perfect Day ~ TommyUSA

Susan Boyle ~ Perfect Day .....................audio from idolator.com (I remixed the audio) .....................credit to Poulsan for image at the beginning



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O12taBIX460&hl=en

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Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman - Time To Say Goodbye

Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman - Time To Say Goodbye



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_JLkIOnq04&hl=en

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Kim Walker, I Have Found

Song: "I have Found", By: Kim Walker/Jesus Culture, Album: Here is my Song



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Q-yM4QCIek&hl=en

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The Original Human TETRIS Performance by Guillaume Reymond

www.notsonoisy.com TETRIS played by real human-beings sitting in an auditorium: TETRIS is the 4th video performance of the GAME OVER Project, directed by the Swiss artist Guillaume REYMOND (NOTsoNOISY creative agency). This stop-motion video was shot and played for "LES URBAINES" festival www.urbaines.ch at the Palais de Rumine (Lausanne, Switzerland) on November 24th 2007. You can find more information and also SPACE INVADERS, PONG and POLE POSITION on our website http



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0LtUX_6IXY&hl=en

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Singing Tips From Susan Boyle

The unassuming nature of Susan Boyle compared to her voice stunned everybody. But what made her to be such a good singer? What catapulted her to stardom in just a few days? Before we learn some tips from her, a little about her background will be appropriate. Born April 1, 1961 to Pete Boyle, who was himself a singer, and Bridget, a shorthand typist. So we can say her talent is partly from something in her gene.

She also took some singing lessons and attended Birmingham Acting School. Short of that, all we know is that most of the singing she did was in her local church. Although the society, especially the judges of competitions tend to look at physical appearances, Boyle was determined not to hide her talent. Equipped with such a determination, she had appeared in a number of competitions.

Her not winning in those competitions was not because she was untalented, but mostly because of the false image of what a supposed singer must look like:beautiful,gorgeous and young.

This was the same in the "Britain Has Talent" competition. As she stepped on stage, everybody was expecting a squawking voice, but were geared to reality as her voice pierced through the air. Appearance, the judges came to understand, does not a talent make. What are some tips and lessons we can take from Susan Boyle?

First of all, Susan Boyle knew she had some talents in singing. Mainly for spiritual purpose of singing to God, she took some singing courses. She is also a determined lady never to give up on pursuing what she enjoyed doing. That is why in spite of her failures in previous competitions, she still entered "Britain Has Talent", where her star really shined.

Her training showed off as she hit high notes continuously without losing her breathe or the quality of her voice. This is where most singers fail. Reaching high tones is more of a psychological trick than technique. It could be illustrated this way:

Moving a car forward requires putting it in gear 1 after starting it. But in order to continue moving steadily and smoothly one needs to almost immediately put it in gear 2, then 3 and so forth. In reaching high tone, say C, what one needs to do is reach a slightly higher tone than C. Then almost automatically, all by itself the tone will come to C.

In other words, hitting exact tone at once is disastrous, a little higher tone should be reached first. Then this way, the tone needed will be struck, almost by itself.

Another thing we need to discuss is about vocal choirds. Vocal chords are the instrumental strings of the voice. It could be illustrated with piano strings. The lower notes are longer and thicker, while the higher notes are shorter and thinner. Applying this to singing, the vocal chords need to be shortened when singing higher notes in order for the sound to come out well.

All these Susan Boyle mastered because she did not give up on her dream of becoming a good singer. She as well took steps to singing mastery by taking lessons in singing. But most important, she pushed herself to success by undauntedly stepping forward. Now she is a star, known, viewed and heard by millions.

If you think you can´t take a singing lesson because of cost or master the art of singing, you´re wrong. In my signature is the review of a resource that might make you sing like Susan Boyle in no time and it is affordable

Get to a resource that will help you Capture the Best In You in Singing and

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2009 Pittsburgh Steelers Fantasy Football Preview

The Pittsburg Steelers won their 6th Super Bowl title and 2nd in 4 years in 2008 by defeating the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in a heartstopping classic. Ben Roethlisberger rebounded from his poor showing a couple years earlier against Seattle by completing 21-30 passes for 256 yards and the game winning TD to Santonio Holmes with just seconds left. Although the Steelers capped their impressive season by winning the Super Bowl they were an inconsistent bunch all year long in terms of fantasy performance. With pretty much the entire team returning this year will the Steelers offer fantasy owners more week to week options heading into 2009? I examine that now.

As good as the ultimate result was for Roethlisberger and the Steelers last year the QB proved to be a nightmare for owners last year with his inconsistent play. Roethlisberger finished2008 with 3314 passing yards along with 17 TD's and 15 Int's for a rating of 80.2. Not exactly the type of numbers you are looking for out of your number 1 QB. The bottom line is that Pittsburg is, was, and will always be a power running team and quite frankly when Ben is asked to throw a lot he usually gets himself into trouble. Ben is a very good QB just not a good fantasy QB. He possesses great leadership skills and has his statistical moments but do not trust him with your fantasy team because you will be greatly disappointed. Ben actually went in the 3rd round in my draft last summer and the owner who selected him won 2 games all year. Owners seem to be getting the point as Roethlisberger has been going around the 9th-10th rounds in the mock drafts I have been participating in. Treat him as a serviceable number 2 options heading into 2009 but nothing more than that. There are far better options.

When successful the meat and potatoes of the Steeler offense lies with the running game. Last year the team's backfield was hit with numerous injuries leaving Head Coach Mike Tomlin painfully thin at the position. Once again Willie Parker failed to make it through the entire season missing 5 games and finishing the season with 791 yards and 5 TD's. Parker has only played 16 games once in his career and he will turn 29 about halfway through the season. When healthy Parker is definitely a number 1 option at RB but when is he ever healthy? Furthermore, the Steelers will certainly be looking for 2nd year back Rashard Mendenhall to make much more of an impact in his sophomore season after playing in only 4 games as a rookie. The Steelers are extremely high on Mendenhall who is built more in the mode of what a typical Pittsburg back usually looks like. At 5-10 225 Mendenhall is a power runner who will inevitably steal short yardage and goal line carries from Parker who has never really been a TD machine to begin with. With both Parker and Mendenhall both out of commission the Steelers emergency plan actually stepped in and played fairly well. Mewelde Moore rushed for 589 yards and 5 TD's down the stretch run while also chipping in with 320 yards receiving and another score. The ex Minnesota Vikings castoff proved more than capable of holding the fort down while Parker was readying himself for the playoffs. In terms of fantasy potential I like Mendenhall the most out of all the Steelers RB's for the upcoming season. It will be a miracle if Parker stays healthy the entire year and even if he does Mendehall will be the goal line back at the very least. That being said treat Parker as a low end number 3 fantasy RB heading into the season. Mendenhall is far more interesting because if (when) Parker goes down he will have a real opportunity to become a stud due to his talents and the system he plays in. Mendenhall has been going between the 8th-10th rounds in the mock drafts I have been doing and spending a late round selection on him could prove to be a treasure for you as the season goes on. With Mendenhall back in the fold Moore's value goes down dramatically and he has typically not been drafted in these preliminary mock drafts.

Similarly to Roethlisberger the Steelers receiving corps has it's moments but in my estimation provides fantasy owners with nothing more than stop gap/match-up options on a very limited basis. Although showing definite signs of slowing down Hines Ward continues to be the Steelers number 1 option through the air. Ward remains a cagey veteran who is almost as well known for his blocking skills as he is at catching the ball. Ward had a really nice '08 statistically accounting for 82 catches for 1047 yards and 7 TD's. The 1047 yards represents his best yardage total since he went for 1163 in 2003. Ward will continue to be the receiver that Roethlisberger will look for when he is in a pinch or when the Steelers need a clutch catch. After you grab your first 3 receivers Ward is a nice option for you to have on your bench who is worthy of playing time depending upon who Pittsburg is playing. Super Bowl hero Holmes will be the Steelers number 2 option come opening day. Holmes caught 55 balls for 821 yards and 5 TD's in 2008 and with Nate Washington leaving for Tennessee should see more balls thrown his way. Holmes has much more big play ability than Ward does at this stage of their careers and thus Holmes is more valuable in fantasy terms especially if your league awards bonuses for long TD's as mine does. Treat Holmes as a nice number 3 WR or Flex option come draft day this August. The only other Steeler receiver that is worth a look is 2nd year pro Limas Sweed. Sweed had a rather forgettable rookie campaign catching only 6 balls for 64 yards and failed to reach the end zone. Pittsburg has big plans for Sweed and he is the big target the team has been yearning for since the departure of Plaxico Burress. Sweed has some real sleeper potential heading into '09 and is worthy of a late round pick. If he happens to not get drafted in your league be sure to snag him off the waiver wire if you get a chance and let the chips fall where they may. Keep and eye on him. TE Heath Miller is really not a number 1 option and although at times Ben will look for him in the Red Zone he is not really utilized enough to be anything more than a backup used only in emergency purposes.

The Steelers DST is always a solid unit and if you play in a league like mine that rewards DST's with enormous point totals that can greatly assist your chances of winning a championship. I know full well what a good DST can do as I rode the Eagles DST to a title last year. With Troy Polamalu and James Harrison continuing to anchor down the defence treat the Steelers DST as an elite unit and one of the top 3 DST's on the board this summer. Well, that is it for the champs. Next up: The Cincinnati Bengals.

Chris Limburg is the fanatical purveyor of gothicfootball.com: A Oakland Raider and fantasy football blog that provides commentary on everything that is the NFL and fantasy football. Sign up for my free newsletter at: [http://www.gothicfootball.com]

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How to Organize Your Scrapbook Space-A Sweet N Sassy Scrappin' Exclusive

How to Organize your Scrapbook Space - A Sweet N Sassy Scrappin' Exclusive

Are you having trouble organizing your scrapbook space? Well, have no fear, you are not alone. There are many ways to organize your space, but, can you afford it. If you are on a limited budget, especially that which you can spend on your scrap habit, then the last thing you want to do is blow that budget on expensive scrapbook containers just to organize yourself. You don't have to break the bank just to get organized. Using a little creativity, you can use items from around the house to make your scrap space a little more manageable.

So, here are a few tips on how to organize you space using items around the house:

o From time to time, we all have empty containers such as glass jars like mayonnaise jars, baby food containers, spaghetti sauce jars to name just a few. Next time you find yourself reaching into the recycle bin to dispose properly of these containers, be sure to think twice. Empty containers make perfect storage holders for loose ribbon, beads, brads, confetti, and buttons.

o Empty boxes around the house - use these boxes to organize your tools, scrap paper, stickers, etc.

o Bigger boxes can be cut down to organize your paper - you can also use extra cardboard to divide paper up by color, size, etc.

Being organized doesn't have to be expensive. Use your creativity to come up with something that works without having to buy something. You can always use some of your scraps to dress us those boxes, containers, etc.

Amy Rodgers is the President of Sweet N Sassy Scrappin'.

If you like what you read here, to see more of Amy's work, go to her website at [http://www.sweetnsassyscrappin.com]

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Disasters Appeal for Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam.

Disasters Appeal for Indonesia, Philippines and Vietnam.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXrRgR6YQoQ&hl=en

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THE VOICE OF THE HEART



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv5VUNLhXj0&hl=en

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The San Diego Chargers - The Most 300 Yard Passing Games in NFL History

One of the most common ways to judge a quarterback or a team's passing game is to see how many 300 yard games they have thrown for in a season or over the past few years. A 300 yard game shows that a quarterback or team were very successful in moving the ball through the air. This will continue to be the measuring stick used in the future too as a 300 yard passing game by a quarterback or team also usually means the team was successful, maybe even to the point of winning the game.

A great deal of attention is given to the quarterbacks with the most 300 yard games, but what team has had the most 300 yard passing games in the history of the league? The San Diego Chargers sit atop the list with the most of any team, even though their first year in football wasn't until 1960. The passing game has always been important to the Chargers and they have had some gifted quarterbacks over the years, including John Hadl, Dan Fouts, Drew Brees, and Phillip Rivers.

Here is a look at the top ten franchises in NFL history, ranked by how many 300 yard passing games they have had.

1. San Diego Chargers - 114
2. St. Louis Rams - 112
3. San Francisco 49ers - 106
4. Indianapolis Colts - 92
5. Green Bay Packers - 88
6. Tennessee Titans - 87
7. Three Teams Tied For 7th Place With 85 Three Hundred Yard Passing Games in their history: Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Redskins.
8. New England Patriots - 83

As expected because they are the newest team in the league, the last place team in the entire NFL in this category is the Houston Texans.

More great San Diego Chargers trivia can be found at IQFB.com! Use the knowledge found there to impress your friends, win bets, or even just for general information. Football trivia is popular with a lot of people whether they are fans of the NFL, USFL, Arena Football, Canadian Football, College Football, or any other level of the game. IQFB... Get Football Smart.

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Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You (Divas Live, 1999)

High Quality. Music and lyrics by Dolly Parton. Love theme from the film "The Bodyguard". Presented by Claudia Schiffer. Enjoy.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eho6m_H1q2c&hl=en

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Brit vs. US Movies - Eddie Izzard

Clip from Eddie Izzard Dress to Kill



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjC3R6jOtUo&hl=en

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Britains got talent tour - Susan Boyle 2009 Sheffield Arena

Susan Boyle At Sheffield Arena On 13th June. Britains Got Talent Tour 2009



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDMA1PtcDZA&hl=en

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Lottery Millionaires - How Many People Win at Least a Million Dollars Every Year?

What do these people have in common: George Martinek, Susan Hannoun, Lori Boyle, Bernadette Gietka, Neal Wanless, and Bob Guerzon? Answer: They are all lottery millionaires. They, along with thousands of people every year, defy the odds and win the lotto jackpot. We hear about jackpot winners every week on the news. But have you ever considered how many new millionaires are created by the lottery each year? How many people win at least a million dollars?

According to the TLC television show, "The Lottery Changed My Life," more than 1600 new lottery millionaires are created each year. That doesn't include people that have won jackpots of, say, $100,000 because than the number would be much higher. Still, 1600 is quite a high number.

If 1600 win at least a million in the lotto every year, it means that there are more than 130 each month, more than 30 each week, and more than 4 each day. That's a lot of winners.

Perhaps you're inspired by these numbers. Perhaps you think that since there are so many big lottery winners, you're time will come one day. I don't mean to crash the party, but perhaps you should think again. The odds of winning a million dollar jackpot are bad. 1600 yearly jackpot winners isn't that big of a number when you consider how many people actually play. Hundreds of millions of people buy billions of lottery tickets each year and only a small fraction of those people actually win a big jackpot.

Don't get discouraged, though. The lottery is a game of random luck and you might get lucky one day and become a new lottery millionaire. Good luck!

Tino writes a blog about lottery winners. It includes stories about people that have won the lottery, people like Patriots instant lottery winner Scott Hoyt, who won $1 million.

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Susan Boyle meghallgatása - magyar felirattal

A felvételről és a feliratról: A "Britain's Got Talent" (am "Britanniában van tehetség") című verseny harmadik évadjának méltán híressé vált részlete - általam készített magyar felirattal. Helyszín: Glasgow, Skócia (Egyesült Királyság). Dátum: 2009. április 11. Az említett brit televíziós műsort sokan "a brit Megasztár"-ként emlegetik, ami véleményem szerint téves analógia (bár még mindig pontosabb így nevezni, mint "az angol Megasztár"-nak), mivel ez a műsor nemcsak zenei tehetségeket keres. Bármilyen előadói produkcióval lehet jelentkezni. A fődíj 100.000 font és egy lehetőség a királyi család előtti fellépésre. Zsűri: - Simon Cowell író, színész, producer, a Syco tulajdonosa és a zsűri elnöke - Amanda Holden színésznő - Piers Morgan író, újságíró, televíziós személyiség Idézetek Simontól, aki többnyire elsőként nyomja meg a "Vége!" gombot: "Ismét, csak hogy egy kis lépést tegyünk vissza a valóságba: tudják, hogy mi azért keresgélünk, hátha megtaláljuk a következő David Copperfieldet, Michael Flatleyt, a következő Pavarottit - de ez szörnyű volt." "Ez egy gyönyörű dal, ha nem Ön énekli éppen." "Nagy-Britannia nevében nemmel szavazok." "Ez olyan volt, mintha egy kutya nyávogna!" "Maga egy undorító teremtmény!" "Konkurencia nélküli - ez annyira szörnyű volt, hogy leírhatatlan." "Igen, valóban a legjobb rész előtt nyomtam meg a gombot." "Tudja, szerintem maga teljesen őrült, de igent mondok." "Lányok, lehetek őszinte hozzátok? Ez az egyik legrosszabb együttes, amit valaha ...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KV8A_FErUVo&hl=en

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Reality TV - Is It Still Relevant?

Over the last decade or so, reality TV has kept people talking. Competitions like Pop Idol and The X Factor draw in millions of viewers, each supporting their favourites either by simply watching the show, or by watching the show and actively voting to keep their contestants in.

Reality shows can uncover talent and challenge stereotypes. One example is a lady called Susan Boyle, who took part in Britain's Got Talent. When she stepped onto the stage, the judges and the audience did not appear to be taking her seriously. They saw a woman of a certain age, who wasn't conventionally pretty, and they didn't think her capable of being a genuine contestant. All that changed when she began to sing. Susan Boyle is now known around the globe.

Critics say that shows like The X-Factor are manufactured moneymaking machines. It cannot be denied that the format plays on people's feelings (amongst others by showing stories of contestants' tragic pasts) and that, yes, there is a lot of money to be made. When people vote for their favourite to win, they will often purchase their first single. Votes, too, cost money. People are sold entertainment and some are willing to buy it in order to feel involved.

Fans of reality TV tend to be aware of its flaws and manipulation, and take the shows as they come. If a show's producers push it too far, they will speak up. When the British version of The X Factor was thought to have used auto-tuning in the production stages to make certain contestants sound better, it sparked an outrage and apologies had to be made.

One show that's caused some uproar in the past is Endemol's Big Brother. First shown in the Netherlands, Big Brother soon became popular around the world. The format was simple - stick a group of people in a fully monitored environment, set them some challenges and see what happens. Fans of the show can view the contestants around the clock and discover the ever-changing dynamics and interactions within the group.

Big Brother is currently in its final series on Channel 4 in the UK. There is a possibility that it may be picked up by another channel in the future. Several years ago, this UK series became controversial after racial tension between some of the housemates. Since then, Endemol and Channel 4 have been more careful with their format (too careful, according to a portion of its long-term fans), to avoid further outrage. This is understandable, as racism should never be tolerated. However, a lot of housemate interaction which would have been permissible in the past is no longer allowed.

Whilst some people see reality TV shows as an easy step into Z-list celebrity, and some would challenge the celebrity culture, the popularity of shows in this genre may have waned some, but they still draw a considerable amount of viewers. So what is it that people like about reality TV?

I think that everyone watches for their own reasons, from watching talented people and following their journey, to witnessing the developments of a group of people in a psychologically challenging environment. I also feel that one of the major factors is that these shows offer us the chance to watch people - ordinary people like us - follow their dreams or endure the ups and downs of their time on the show.

We like to spot people we can relate to. We like to imagine how we would have handled a situation, and see if our reactions are comparable to those of the people on our screen. And over time, we form a certain connection with the contestants, even though we're not likely to ever meet them. We start to feel like we know them, even a little, and we start to care about them.

This is the strength of reality TV, and for all its flaws and manipulation, its development is interesting. Whether or not it has a future is questionable - it shouldn't push the boundaries too far and turn vulgar, it shouldn't start to rely on the shock factor to draw an audience, nor should it turn so politically correct that it becomes patronizing and, well, dull. Program makers have their own challenge ahead to keep the format fresh, but if they can manage it, there should be some interesting years of entertainment ahead.

Kit Marsters is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Creative Writing. She's also watched one too many series of Big Brother, though she's unlikely to stop.

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