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| Australia's Got Talent takes on The X Factor: Judgment day dawns |
It's the showdown that pitches two of Australia's biggest talent shows against each other.
With The X Factor on Channel Seven already drawing large audiences (the first episode on Monday had 1.63 million viewers), the pressure is on the new line-up of celebrities on Channel Nine's Australia's Got Talent to win over viewers when both shows go to air next Sunday night (August 11) in the same timeslot.
For Australia's Got Talent host Julia Morris, it is a fun and mighty challenge. ''I'm in my absolute, standard overconfident state,'' she says. ''People think they know this kind of format, but I think it's going to be different altogether. We're not just being entertained by the people coming on to try their acts - you also have five seasoned performers … who have the responsibility of bringing entertainment to the moment.''
Competition:
The X Factor judges, from left, Ronan Keating, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Dannii Minogue and Redfoo.
Competition: The X Factor judges, from left, Ronan Keating, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Dannii Minogue and Redfoo.
Morris' hosting role is being amped up on the Nine program. She is considered a drawcard among female viewers in particular. Over at Channel Seven, Luke Jacobz does a smooth, low-key job hosting The X Factor.
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Morris acknowledges she's on a roll after her win on Celebrity Apprentice in 2011 and a starring role in Nine's family drama House Husbands. ''Oh my god, who thought I was coming back into fashion?'' she says. ''It's insanity on so many levels.
''[But] you know, I think they really wanted to separate the show from other talent shows like it - to add another point of difference, not just have another boy in his 20s hosting something like this.''
"Who tought I was ... back in fashion?": Julia Morris.
"Who tought I was ... back in fashion?": Julia Morris.
Redfoo, the zany and fun American frontman from dance-music duo LMFAO, admits he knew nothing about the X Factor format on Seven, nor anything about fellow judges Dannii Minogue and Natalie Bassingthwaighte. But it was the fact he could compete against the other judges on the show that got him over the line in negotiations.
''It felt right, when they explained to me what it was about,'' Redfoo says. ''I was very reluctant at first because I thought, 'I just don't want to be a judge.' I have fans all over the world because I'm a performer.''
But when Seven told him he would be a mentor and be able to work with a team of his own on the show, he signed up. ''I said, 'Wait a minute - I can win?''' he says, with a laugh. ''I'm a competitor, so that was exciting to me.''
For viewers, it's not just the stories of contestants that are compelling - the judges are chosen for their own inspirational tales.
For Redfoo, whose real name is Stefan Gordy (he is the son of legendary Motown producer Berry Gordy jnr), his is a tale of making it in his own right. He says he changed his name to Redfoo and created the fun party music he wanted to hear (''DJs were always playing songs from the '80s'') without others knowing about his famous dad.
''I started making music under this moniker and it stuck,'' he says. ''I was really conscious about making a name for myself … I never wanted to use my father's name or family name to get success. I did it so no one knew.''
(The X Factor, however, is happy to make the most of the relationship, and Redfoo's impressive family connections are mentioned in the show).
While he and Keating are the international drawcards for Seven, Nine has Dawn French and Geri Halliwell. Morris says working with the British women has been a privilege. ''We're talking about two international superstars, there's no two ways about it,'' she says.
''Both of them let their work do all the talking.''
Morris admits their presence has softened Kyle Sandilands a little - perhaps because he wants to impress them.
''Although he's not quite a teddy bear yet,'' she says. ''But he's not as brutal as I thought … He leads the charge in constructive criticism.''
Redfoo says he takes his responsibility towards viewers seriously, especially children. And he doesn't care about the background of the singers - rich or poor - as long as they're prepared to work. ''It's not about where you're from, it's about where you're going,'' he says.
Talent wars: the verdict
Forget about the contestants vying for a slice of glory on stage — it's the judges who are considered the main lure for viewers by television networks.
That's why Channel Nine splashed out big bucks for British comedian Dawn French and former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell (who replaced Mel B after a successful court action by Seven to prevent the defecting star appearing on Nine's show). French was considered the main prize — the chance to give the show increased credibility among older viewers, in particular — but there's also no denying Halliwell's star power.
The unknown quantities for Australia's Got Talent are Kyle Sandilands — he's controversial and unpopular among some viewers (but loved by many others) — and talent-show graduate Timomatic, who has cartwheeled into the big time with his judging role.
On The X Factor, Redfoo from LMFAO is the big-name American import and a strong, clever choice by Seven because he veers the show into slightly cooler territory. Irishman Ronan Keating is a favourite among viewers (and has the career cred to back it up), while Dannii Minogue has extensive talent-show experience (from her own childhood days to her panel appearances in Britain and close relationship with reality TV Svengali Simon Cowell). And let's face it, she's a Minogue.
That leaves Natalie Bassingthwaighte, who is back on air a few months after giving birth to her second child, and eager to share her experiences as a singer and chart-topper.
Our verdict? The X Factor has the best overall line-up of judges (because of consistency across the board), but Australia's Got Talent has greater star power with French and Halliwell.
The X Factor airs on Sunday at 6.30pm on Seven, with further episodes on Monday and Tuesday nights. The first episode of Australia's Got Talent is on Nine next Sunday at 6.30pm.
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