[WelshNige]

People vote on The X Factor on a Saturday night, based on the performances given by the acts on that night of songs chosen by their mentors.

On Sunday, the two acts with the least votes sing a different song, of their own choosing, to show why they should stay in the competiton.

When deadlock occurs the decision goes back to the public vote, but the public have voted based on the Saturday songs, not the Sunday ones, so it is totally wrong for those votes to be taken into account as they were based on a different song and performance.

[neelia]

Originally Posted by WelshNige

People vote on The X Factor on a Saturday night, based on the performances given by the acts on that night of songs chosen by their mentors.

On Sunday, the two acts with the least votes sing a different song, of their own choosing, to show why they should stay in the competiton.

When deadlock occurs the decision boes back to the public vote, but the public have voted based on the Saturday songs, not the Sunday ones, so it is totally wrong for those votes to be taken into account as they were based on a different song and performance.

In addition, as there are still a lot of acts left, the votes cast for the final two are almost certainly are cast by a small percentage of the total number of voters.

Inaddition to that, unless the last judge voting is actually voting for the act he does think should go, then his decsion is dependant on when he was asked (if he wasn't asked last he could't vote tactically to send to deadlock)

[jedward4pontins]

Also I'd have said the bottom two decision by the judges is to eliminate the possibility of the scenario of a better act being voted off by the public who think a worse act is more entertaining by virtue of their car crash qualities.

Such a case happened on Saturday where although the double take twins may have secured a handful more votes than lucie, it was the judges responsibility to correct this and ensure the better act went through.

And by having this judges vote it does reduce voting sometimes as fans of lucie may have decided that with lloyd and J&E it wasn't worth voting as lucie would surely beat either in the judges eyes?

Like general elections..the great british public can never be relied upon to make an informed and correct decision!

[caren197]

Originally Posted by WelshNige

People vote on The X Factor on a Saturday night, based on the performances given by the acts on that night of songs chosen by their mentors.

On Sunday, the two acts with the least votes sing a different song, of their own choosing, to show why they should stay in the competiton.

When deadlock occurs the decision goes back to the public vote, but the public have voted based on the Saturday songs, not the Sunday ones, so it is totally wrong for those votes to be taken into account as they were based on a different song and performance.

I agree with this, i honestly think its being used too much in this series. I think the only time it hasn't was when Rikki left. Therefore really there's no need for the sing off or the judges to call a name.

It'll be interesting to see what happens this weekend. However i'm just getting more and more bored with the XF this series, no-one is actually that good tbh

[neelia]

Originally Posted by jedward4pontins

Also I'd have said the bottom two decision by the judges is to eliminate the possibility of the scenario of a better act being voted off by the public who think a worse act is more entertaining by virtue of their car crash qualities.

Such a case happened on Saturday where although the double take twins may have secured a handful more votes than lucie, it was the judges responsibility to correct this and ensure the better act went through.

And by having this judges vote it does reduce voting sometimes as fans of lucie may have decided that with lloyd and J&E it wasn't worth voting as lucie would surely beat either in the judges eyes?

Like general elections..the great british public can never be relied upon to make an informed and correct decision!

At least at general elections there isn't multiple voting.

[ribtickle]

It's even worse that in both recent cases the departing contestant turned in their best ever vocal in their sing-off. Rachel never sounded better, and Lucie, doing another Whitney song, reminded of why she was put through in the first place. If they'd cocked it up it would be less of a travesty.

[paralax]

You never got controversy during Pop Idol when it was completely down to the public vote, and they don't get it in Idol, people moan if someone not so good gets through but it is fair.

If J & E had got less votes than Lucie and the judges had saved them people would be saying it was not fair.

[Phoebica]

Also, the public always get it wrong and then can't accept the blame resulting in 3000 complaints to Ofcom.

[Lytham]

Agree with this. Either put voting just to public vote or Simon has to grow a pair!

[The Lens]

Or clear the totals and re-open the voting lines for the bottom two for five minutes... (Only in deadlock)

[BumbleSquat]

Or judges should write down their chosen contestant to go home in secret all at the same time and then explain why they've chosen them after they have done so. This would avoid any tactical voting and stop giving the last judge a chance to bail out and take it to deadlock.

[minxymoo]

I think deadlock is DEAD fair.
the public have spoken.
if your act ends up going home you should have voted more.

[Gillypoots]

Originally Posted by Lytham

Agree with this. Either put voting just to public vote or Simon has to grow a pair!

Simon doesn't need to grow a pair. He knew the voting figures and I believe that he would have chosen the Jedward over Lucie but if he had there would have been an outcry by the public and even more complaints by disgruntled fans on here!

By going to deadlock it proved that Lucie was the one who polled the lowest votes so deserved to be eliminated. The viewers pay money to vote so at least they got their money's worth with the result they chose.

[BumbleSquat]

Originally Posted by minxymoo

I think deadlock is DEAD fair.
the public have spoken.
if your act ends up going home you should have voted more.

The problem with deadlock is that it's based on their Saturday night performance - Simon taking it to deadlock on purpose meant the Sunday night performances were pointless and even the other judges voting was pointless - actually, the entire last half an hour of Sunday's show was pointless.

The whole point of judges voting on Sunday is that it's purely their decision based on the sing-off performances - Simon referring back to the public vote was a huge cop-out because he should've made a decision based on what he'd just seen...

[backofsofatvfan]

I can't believe how many people are blaming Simon Cowell for this. He went to PUBLIC vote. I've never been a fan of Lucie so would never have voted for her and was glad it went the way it did because I find Jedward more entertaining. The idea of the X-factor is that it's not JUST a singing competition, right from year one they've said it's about singing AND stage prescence and Lucie had the stage presence of a wet flannel! Jedward actually sang Rock DJ really well on Sun, they were in tune and entertaining, Lucie was just about in tune and even she knew there were parts when she was out of tune (when she put her hand to her ear, a way of singers to tune themselves into the music) if people wanted Lucie to stay, they should have voted for her then she wouldn't have been in the bottom 2!!!!
Phew, end of rant

[oathy]

what really pisses me off and we all know its true..

Cowell will use the sing off to work his own acts..can you imagine now..sunday
Danyl..and Lloyd in the bottom 2? and the other 3 goto deadlock and Lloyd has more votes?

[Odd Socks]

The public vote is a vote to save, not a vote to send home.

When the judges take it to deadlock, they misuse the votes as the figures are skewed.

If the public had voted to send home, Lucie would still be there.



It misrepresents and misuses the purpose of the vote we're told we're making.

[minxymoo]

Originally Posted by Odd Socks

The public vote is a vote to save, not a vote to send home.

When the judges take it to deadlock, they misuse the votes as the figures are skewed.

If the public had voted to send home, Lucie would still be there.


It misrepresents and misuses the purpose of the vote we're told we're making.

But this isnt Big Brother..the show is based on voting to keep your act of choice in..you need to take issue with Lucies fans who either didnt vote enough or were complacent.
i spent a lot of money trying to keep J and E in..people only say deadlock is unfair if their act gets the chop.
if J and E had gone on the public vote id be hacked off but id accept it..i wouldnt blame Lucie or the other acts or Simon etc..its just the way it goes.

[backofsofatvfan]

Originally Posted by Odd Socks

The public vote is a vote to save, not a vote to send home.

When the judges take it to deadlock, they misuse the votes as the figures are skewed.

If the public had voted to send home, Lucie would still be there.



It misrepresents and misuses the purpose of the vote we're told we're making.

But if people don't want Lucie to go home then they should vote for her. 3000 people have complained but in an audience of 13m that is a miniscule proportion (about 2%??)!!
I agree with the point that we are voting for who we want to save not who we want to leave BUT it is not misrepresented as this is made clear when you are asked to vote and also the deadlock process is made clear. It is not a misuse because it is a safe assumption to make that whoever has the least votes is the least popular and all tht is made clear. The public vote is a popularity contest, simple as, and the least popular leaves.
This is not a new concept, this is the 2nd/3rd year it has been run like this so why are we all suddenly so outraged that deadlock is a fix/cop out?

[Citizen Sputnik]

Originally Posted by The Lens

Or clear the totals and re-open the voting lines for the bottom two for five minutes... (Only in deadlock)

But with the money the calls rake in, Cowell would make sure it went to Deadlock every single week.

The solution is simple. Each judge should "declare" their vote before they are revealed - as with the dance off in Dancing On Ice, or the voting off on Weakest Link. That way, nobody actually chooses to go to deadlock, as such.

Cowell has way too much control over things at present. Basically, if his acts are safe, he will always have the casting vote. Deadlock is a total cop-out, totally undermines the Sunday show, and does nothing for Cowell's image.

[oathy]

Originally Posted by Citizen Sputnik

But with the money the calls rake in, Cowell would make sure it went to Deadlock every single week.

The solution is simple. Each judge should "declare" their vote before they are revealed - as with the dance off in Dancing On Ice, or the voting off on Weakest Link. That way, nobody actually chooses to go to deadlock, as such.

Cowell has way too much control over things at present. Basically, if his acts are safe, he will always have the casting vote.

thats crux of the problem..Cant be a judge and basically boss off the show..talk about conflict of interest.

[feeVerte]

I agree with OP
if the judges cannot reach a final verdict they should open the line up for voting even if that's just for 10 minute it would be fairer than going back to the votes given to the saturday performmace
Sorry if I say something ahs been said already I didnt read all the answers

[ProVista]

Originally Posted by Citizen Sputnik

But with the money the calls rake in, Cowell would make sure it went to Deadlock every single week.

The solution is simple. Each judge should "declare" their vote before they are revealed - as with the dance off in Dancing On Ice, or the voting off on Weakest Link. That way, nobody actually chooses to go to deadlock, as such.

Cowell has way too much control over things at present. Basically, if his acts are safe, he will always have the casting vote.

I agree with this. But I can see the other side of the argument because its his show, and his company give the recording contract, so its not totally unrealistic to expect him to have a bit more sway than the other judges.

[slappers r us]

Originally Posted by oathy

what really pisses me off and we all know its true..

Cowell will use the sing off to work his own acts..can you imagine now..sunday
Danyl..and Lloyd in the bottom 2? and the other 3 goto deadlock and Lloyd has more votes?

In a way it already happend in Big Band week

Danyl against Ms Frank

Cheryl took it to the public vote, as it was the public said Danyl was better but it could have gone the other way so easily

Cheryl knew at that time Danyl was the better act but because she didnt like him and he was competition for 'her boys' she thought she had a chance of getting rid of him with out having to vote him out

[Snozzcumber]

Originally Posted by backofsofatvfan

But if people don't want Lucie to go home then they should vote for her. 3000 people have complained but in an audience of 13m that is a miniscule proportion (about 2%??)!!

0.023%.

I agree with the OP that there should be a fairer system of doing things. It's pointless to go through the drama of the Sunday show if it's always going to end up in deadlock.

An alternative would be for the judges to score each singer's performance out of 10, in the style of SCD and similar shows. They could use those to work out who they thought was better on the night.

Still possible to produce a deadlock situation, but it would be far less likely (assuming they weren't just giving 9s and 10s all the time - Cheryl probably would ).

Of course the simplest thing to do would be to have an odd number of judges!