Fremantle, the international company owning the rights to Idols, has given its full support to M-Net for declaring both Sasha-Lee Davids and Jason Hartman as the winners of this year’s season.

Fremantle admitted from Britain that this was the biggest Idols scandal yet. There had in the past been some problems with the SMS system in Britain and France, but it had never happened before that the final result was affected.

Theo Erasmus, the head of entertainment at M-Net, said their decision to announce Jason as an additional winner, even though he had beaten Sasha-Lee by more than 200 000 votes, was in the interest of fairness towards Sasha-Lee.

FINALLY Mara, my absolute favourite [like here] had something good / intellectual to say when she called for Sasha-Lee Davids to do the honourable thing and hand the title over to Jason Hartman. Nice one my baayybeeeee.

She said:

“It wasn’t Sasha-Lee’s fault, but she mustn’t be selfish now. Jason is the winner and finish.”

Mara said she could understand that Sasha-Lee was terribly traumatised by hearing she was the winner and being told a week later that she had not really won.

Randall Abrahams disagreed and said Sasha-Lee shouldn’t be punished for something that wasn’t her fault.

Gareth Cliff said the whole affair was “completely unacceptable and a huge embarrassment”, blaming cellphone networks.

Dave Thompson, of course, has already fucked off. [here]

Here it is:

“Dear Editor,

I have followed M-Net Idols since its inception. I have spotted great talent and I always tried to vote for these youngsters by what they do best on stage. One of the judges once said that the voting process is unjust and unfair for those who lack resources (DStv and airtime).

The past weekend proved again that Idols was just another immoral show with a focus to make lots of money rather than spotting the finest talent.

Why can’t they involve the judges to the end? Do they understand the demographics of this country? If Idols really is for everyone, why can’t they put fair mechanisms in place that would allow everyone to participate?

Idols is nothing but a scam that will continue to racially divide South Africa. I watched with sadness when one of the top talented girls, Thembi Nkosi, was eliminated from the show because of “insufficient votes” by the public.

The judges and the public always endorsed Thembi and likened her to great superstars. It is very clear from my analysis that Thembi did not make it because of a lack of resources by her followers.

Can’t Idols change this or is it bad for their business? Please take no offence to my letter as none is given. The fact will remain that Thembi was the top talent in 2009 Idols.

I hope music producers spotted this youngster, and also others left who will be eliminated the same way.

I have officially stopped watching as they no longer stand for what I believe in – fairness.

Mzi”

Well thats pretty interesting. I was also watching telly that night but I was barely paying any notice. I decided to scroll through the comments to this post and it was some interesting reading.

Here are a few excerpts:

Somebody must get to the bottom of the allegation, maybe the public are been ripped off as they make huge amounts of cash out of this program. Zuma is serious about fraud,could he look into it. – anon

Like WTF has this got to do with ZUMA? Take a cold shower bru. Here’s some Shower Gel.

Carte Blanche also had a add stating they will be chatting to SA new Idols, The Queen straight of the Idols floor and this add was aired 20min before the winner was announced? Surely someone should follow up on this. – Jacques du Toit

So a bit of useful advice came from the cool head in the group.

Now that’s why you need a PVR – Drukkie

Love the name bru. So he / she (hope she ain’t a she called DRUKKIE!!!??) was backed up by these dudes.

i recorded Glitterati on KykNet and what the user says is true, so i dare Mnet to disprove this!! – hoax

Yes I also heard at 18.38 Derek Watts stating that Sasha WOn.. and guess what? I recorded the whole idols, so I have the proof to back it up. ALready on Mnet’s Case about this – pv

This is hot on the heels of Dave Thompson quitting the show and the country in his usual sullen style. He basically fucked off and wont talk to anyone. Wise fella. Even Randall Abrahams his friend of 16 years wasn’t informed.

Real tight there.

Oh and this is what Mara Louw had to say about him leaving.

“If we do have another Idols and I’m asked to judge , I will miss him. But if he is unsuccessful in Australia, we might see him back.”

Wish the DUDE luck not failure you chop.

Take nothing away from Sasha-Lee Davids, but what a shamatuer operation by Mnet, shame on you.

Idols Judge, portrayed as this super talent spotting mogul for Sony BMG was actually unemployed?

Beeld reports that the FORMER Idols judge Dave Thompson is unemployed and has left South Africa.

Dave Thompson, was the marketing director at Sony BMG and has now emigrated to Australia.

Helen Smit, the head of M-Net’s local production, said if there was another season of Idols, Thompson would have to be replaced.

Beeld was informed that Thompson wanted to emigrate to Australia sooner and he would initially only have appeared in the first auditions.

He then stayed until the end of the series and left for Australia the day after the last episode.

Seems to me like rats from a sinking ship. Whens Mara leaving?

Well the best of the bunch in my opinion was Jason, to me he was the most consistent and someone who could maybe have a career in the industry. Here’s to another Idols wash out, pity. Well done Sasha-Lee though, representing Cape Town.

Thank God, no more Mara for a year!

So not only do we have to be content with the knobs on Idols [here], we now also have to follow every move Simon Cowell ever made and get SA’s Got Talent. Are we going to find our own Internet phenomenon like Susan Boyle? Only time will tell.

I’m guessing this is going to be a gumboot dancing, pantsula, boereorkes cheesefest.

The show will premiere on August 13 (not April 1 as it probably should)

SA’s Got Talent calls for “any age, any act” (from singers, dancers and comedians to variety acts, animal trainers and acrobats) to compete for the top prize of R250 000, as well as the opportunity to perform at the new President’s Command Performance later this year. The WHAT???!!!

Maybe JZ should get in on the act, and that dude who acted in the Latest Nandos Election advert, the identity protected fella (we all know who you are)[here]. Hell maybe they should try find space for the Intellectually Challenged One [here], she of the ‘offended nature’.

“The real appeal of SA’s Got Talent is that there are no restrictions on who can enter and what your talent has to be. Anything goes,” said Nivasha Naidoo, SABC2′s marketing manager.

The Got Talent format is apparently the most successful international talent show ever created.

Jerry Springer, The Hoff and Sharon Osbourne (guest starring Simon Cowell) judge the USA version.

Piers Morgan, The Talented Amanda Holden [here] and Simon himself (oh and lately that ever delightful Kelly Brook) judge the UK version.

“We will be appointing a host as well as a panel of judges for our series, and will be making announcements in this regard soon,” added Naidoo.

The entry process for SA’s Got Talent works as follows:

# Applicants can register to attend an audition by calling 083 913 1120 and following the voice prompts.

# Applicants may also register by sending an email to talent@rapidblue.com.

# Registering to audition secures a place at the auditions. Auditions will take place in Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Durban and Joburg.

Contestants who have registered will be contacted with a confirmation of the date, time and venue for their audition. Contestants who supply an email address or fax number will be sent the full entry form, which they can complete prior to their audition to save time on the day. Registration for national auditions is currently open.

So who would our judges be? PRAY TO GOD NO PLEASE NOT RANDALL OR MARA.

I’ll vote for DJ FRESH, GARETH CLIFF and some hot totty like Lee-Ann Liebenberg.

Fresh can be the bad guy.

Hosts can be John Vlismas and Genevieve Morten [here].

I’d watch that.

Follow me on twitter

Joe Social

I was reminded of South African Idols whilst writing a short article on Nandos Adverts just a few minutes ago. I came across a nandos advert which had a few ex idols competitors in, I think.

So I did a quick readme on the latest Idols gossip and all the other dross and I see this season is no different to the last. You see, I don’t really watch idols anymore. I usually watch the top 14 or whatever get selected then lose interest when I realise, yet again, that the actual talent will slip therough the cracks and the dross will rule the rest of the show. (It’s not too dissimilar to how the Super14 used to be after the SA teams were knocked out.)

I also particularly get irritated by the Idols judges. Gareth Cliff is the only talent out of the bunch. Dave Thomas is particularly dull, Mara is just a flippen irritation (as 2oceansvibe correctly state, who ARE you?) and well the less said about Randall the better.

This time round I have to say that if Jason doesnt win, then its a true farce, yet again!

Tonight reports that…

Fans can vote either by the name of the contestant via sms to 34680, by landline calls to the Idols telephone number or cellphone calls. Each phone number is allowed a maximum of 100 votes.

At the finale show next week where another Idol is crowned, the winner walks away with a recording deal from Sony Entertainment.

100 votes? Umm like whats the point?

Just for fun here’s that Mara video. Not well!? Eish my baby!!

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