contract deals for the eventual winners so even the best performers could be booted off if they thought the controversy would get more people on the phone - I reckon the book was based on the reality of these shows. I hate them all. __________________ All information contained in my posts is purely for entertainment purposes and not to be construed as advice of any kind I can recommend Chart Throb, it's a great expose of the TV talent show system, I read Cowell tried to get Elton to tell him who his leak was. Another good one is Pop Babylon by Imogen Edward Jones, she had a lot of insider leaks. They do deliberately put through really bad crazy people just so the public can take the piss out of them, they also turn away hundreds of good singers, because they have already seeded their own contestants who have been headhunted for the show, before the auditions begin. The thousands of people you see waiting for auditions in the early stages have been herded up to create an impression of mass hysteria, and propagate the idea that any joe off the street can be a star. In these stages, the victims sing to members of the production staff, who pick the most ugly and mental to send through for Simon and his shills to slaughter in public. The real contestants, the final twelve never queue for auditions. Don't believe me?! Look at Ablisa. Why were they picked to perform