America's Got Talent judge Piers Morgan spoke with reporters on Tuesday and promised that the new season of the NBC show will both honor — and reflect — the Susan Boyle phenomenon. "From the time [Britain's Got Talent] aired in Britain, thousands more people auditioned in America. She had a big effect on auditions," Morgan said of the U.S. version that debuts June 23. "There will be two or three acts who could have the same impact. After one group performs, there won't be a dry eye in the house."
But there's no replacement for the chanteuse herself, which is why Morgan plans to extend an invite to Boyle to appear on the show. "If she's up for it, what a moment that can be," he says. (An NBC spokesperson tells EW that producers are looking into inviting Boyle on the show.)
Morgan also insisted that he, along with fellow celebrity judges David Hasselhoff and Sharon Osbourne, won't know the identity of the contestants before they come on stage, as was the case on Britian's Got Talent. "If we knew Susan Boyle had a voice like an angel, we wouldn't have been condescending to her," he said of his time judging the U.K. version with Simon Cowell and Amanda Holden. "It's very important to the integrity of the show that the judges not get any warning."
Although Morgan ended up apologizing to Boyle on camera for being too dismissive of her first performance, he doesn't plan to say or do anything differently on the U.S. version if another eccentric (i.e. unconventional-looking) crooner appears center stage. "We try not to sanitize it too much," he explained. "This is an old-fashioned variety talent show. No one is forcing people or holding a gun to their head. And I've never seen evidence of people coming away from the show damaged psychologically."
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I want to just say the judges. Their awesome.Piers, Amanda you judge with a heart. Simon, all Ive ever heard is bad on you. I wouldnt watch you because of it,but I watch you with Susan what a awesome person you are and judge. When they loose you theyve lost big….
NO ONE LIKE SUSAN THE GREAT OF SCOTLAND.
I HAVE A CRUSH ON AN OLDER WOMAN…CALLED SUSAN BOYLE.
IM ALSO KNOWN TO BE A HANDSOME GUY.
SO, GO FIGURE!
SUSAN CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS
IF MORGAN WONT TAKE HER OUT–I WILL
Wow! Susan’s a hottie now.Piers you better get your date in quick otherwise you’ll be standing in line. Susan’s looking great these days!
Ok, Piers,I will let you have it.Don’t you think you are too old to be posing as a beef cake model, half or full naked? 44 is old my man.Isn’t that what you said about Susan Boyle before she opened her mouth, right after you, Simon, and Amanda put your foot in yours.I would say this is a double standard my man and quit leading Susan on,we know you cozy up to her to further your career.Now go put your clothes on,you’re too damn old to be beef cake material.
I like Marks comments! Susan does look good and she deserves all the attention. We all know you Pier Morgan because Susan!!!!!!!!!!
“Eccentric” “Unconventional-looking”??
I find it hilarious the hoops you’re jumping through to not say “UGLY.”
It was TOTALLY scripted! No one believes it was spontaneous. There was comical music playing when Susan first walked onstage, to set the tone (of ridicule) and cue us to our correct view of her (as an object of our derision). That music was certainly planned. The judges’ smirks and eye rolling were just a little too obvious to be spontaneous or real. We got the close ups of the snickers and giggling. Oh, and Ant and Dec with their, “You didn’t expect that, did you? No!” All part of the script. My goodness, the whole thing was scripted, from first to last. I suspect Susan knew exactly the narrative that was planned. You won’t find many people naive enough to believe it wasn’t all staged. It worked, though. It served to heighten the “surprise” of her singing. If BGT is afraid we’re seeing through it, well, we do! Brilliant marketing, though.
I wonder when the BGT judges are going to figure out that we don’t believe a word they say? They will say anything now to defend the show’s practices and, most importantly, remain in line for the money Ms. Boyle is bringing in. We all know it’s the money-making that matters. But it is amusing to hear the attempts at damage control.
I find this interesting culturally. It’s not about the talent anymore. It’s about providing an opportunity for TV audiences to *feel*. It has nothing to do with the singing or dancing or the joy of seeing someone really good. It’s about the narrative, the fairy tale, the ugly duckling to the swan drama, finding the princess – which then touches our emotions. What is abundantly clear is that many people seem to need an opportunity to *feel*. I just wish we could recognize this for what it is. We’re out of the realms of the talent now, and into whatever “drama” about the performers they can think up that will elicit our feelings. Because *that’s* where the money is. People will pay to feel! Only it used to be someone’s talent that made you feel. Now it’s their story. Maybe we’re all too disconnected from our families and friends if we need these concocted narratives, enacted before us, in order to be able to feel.
NBC, don’t do it!!!!! Don’t bring the SuBo phenomenon over here!!! I guarantee the loss of important demographics of viewers. Including anyone under the age of 30. Please. American viewers do NOT want to be a part of this.
Doesn’t anyone realize what he just said, if indeed she hadn’t been the remarkable talent she is, if she had been bad or at best ordinary, it would have perfectly alright to ridicule and disrespect her. Your bad, Mr. Morgan
How very interesting they’re making a point of promising American audiences the same type of story line that attached to Susan Boyle. Michelle’s comments are spot on. The show is no longer about talent but rather a promise that if we watch, we’ll get to be emotional about someone’s story. Unlike Michelle, though, I think it’s all about finding talent in the unexpected places. And this is where the show has to be careful. If they present contestants as TOO ridiculous or unlikely, there may well be a backlash. People recognize that Susan’s story was a set-up. If it’s done too often, it will lose its novelty and appeal. I don’t think that type of fairy tale has a long shelf life. Audiences will get tired of it, and we will want instead what the show promised to deliver: talent. As a P.S., I am also hoping NBC does not bring Susan Boyle into the American show. This particular story really is getting very old. Viewer fatigue will be high. That story is done.
If NBC brings Susan Boyle onto their show, I’m boycotting all their sponsors’ products. I can’t get any news without hearing every last detail about this woman’s mental health or ability to perform (or not). NBC producers: we want something different. If you think it will help ratings, you’re wrong. We do NOT want a continuation of what we’ve been seeing in Great Britain.
I cannot believe how jaded the people leaving such comments on this site are re: the whole thing was scripted! Yea, right and all of the millions of us around the world who’ve watched her audition video around 180 million times are part of the script, too, eh? Yes, some pieces of the audition video were edited before posting it on youtube, i.e. the goofy music at the beginning, but c’mon, if you’ve ever watched American Idol, you do know that judges rolling their eyes, laughing, etc is not uncommon at all. Why can’t you accept that she has a remarkably beautiful voice that nobody expected to hear from her when she strutted out on stage the first time? I do hope that NBC brings her to AGT as I’d love to watch her & so would everyone that I know, not to mention a few million people who continue watching her youtube videos daily.
I’ve been avoiding the Susan Boyle coverage as much as possible, but this headline caught my attention. Piers Morgan promises American audiences Susan Boyle type performers. What does that mean exactly? Someone whose appearance belies their ability, and the show’s use of that as a gimmick? An assumption that we want fairy tales? The times I watch the show, when I do, I tune in to see a series of talent acts, in the way of the traditional college “coffee houses,” or the old variety shows (Ed Sullivan comes to mind). I don’t want fairy stories. And I sure as heck don’t want another media cyclone over some new “discovered” celebrity. If the press starts feeding on someone here like they did over there, I will not watch. Can we just bring back the fun of the show, the variety of people performing what they can do? I know I speak for many of my colleagues when I say that I don’t want a Susan Boyle type performer. Now, back to trying to ignore these articles.
I am amazed by these ignorant comments. Have you all been breathing into a paper bag?
Susan Boyle is greatly admired and her singing is absolutely beautiful. I am a member of a 25k plus fan site and we all are waiting for her to release a cd and come to the U.S. Susan has a tremendous fan base here in the U.S.
Susan Boyle has a beautiful singing voice. I am a member of a 25K plus fan base for Susan here in the U.S. Contrary to what has been said here, Susan has a tremendous following of fans here in the U.S. who are waiting for her to release her CD and come perform in the U.S.
OMG
I came back to see if my comment got printed. I am stunned by caclifton’s comment. That’s _exactly_ what Piers said! “If we knew she had the voice of an angel, we wouldn’t have been condescending to her.” Which means, that it’s perfectly acceptable to be condescending toward someone who _doesn’t_ sing well.
And that tells me they knew she could sing. Piers is asserting the “mystery” of the contestants’ skill for another reason: to try to counter the public’s having seen through the gimmick of setting Susan up as a figure of ridicule first. They DID know she could sing!
The very denial that they knew, inadvertently saying it’s fine to deride and laugh at a poor singer, says it all. They knew she sang well, and it WAS all staged, likely with audience participation. Have you ever been in a TV studio audience? They have you practice things before the show, like what reactions to have, and when to clap a lot. Wow. Piers all but admitted it with this faux pas.
If people under 30 don’t want to watch if Susan Boyle appears in the States, fine. We don’t need you. Us over 40s have most of the buying power now, don’t we? We are not getting laid off, you guys are.
If people under 30 want to boycott shows or products if Susan Boyle appears in this country, go ahead! It’s a free country. I wiil watch, buy from, and otherwise support any program that features her and their advertisers. Us “oldsters” have more cash these days than the youngsters. None of my friends has lost a job or been downsized. In fact, I’ve had two raises this year. I love Susan’s singing and hope she comes here. The world isn’t ruled by those with acne anymore.
dd–you have to come back one more time….you forgot to say Nah-nah-nah-boo-boo. Are we developing an “us and them” culture–taking delight in the fact that some younger people are more susceptible than older ones to the ravages of inflation? I am, by your definition of over 40, one of the oldsters, but I take no delight in the fact that my younger friends are losing their jobs just when they are trying to raise young children. I do agree that the conspiracy theorists are way out to lunch on this one. They believe that the audience was prepped to react as they did and then got the perfect response in one take? LOL C’mon. I was moved by the look on Pier’s face where he was clearing swallowing some tears, or he is the best actor in the world, and, again, they got it in one take. Why not just sit back and enjoy the ride–watching a very good singer perform?
oops, I typed inflation in the above reply when I meant recession. What a great economist I make. lol
Piers contradicts himself, and in so doing reveals the truth about the con.
He says: “There will be two or three acts who could have the same impact. After one group performs, there won’t be a dry eye in the house.”
Then he claims that the judges won’t know anything about the performers before the TV show.
The judges are always prepped. These shows are very scripted. Audiences are “warmed up” and rehearsed.
It is all meant to manipulate the public because they know the public is mostly gullible and stupid. Hence its idolization of the very average singer named Susan Boyle. Folks, she does not have the “voice of an angel.” However, Nancy LaMott did. Google that name, listen to her tracks, and then hear the difference between a REAL singer… a master vocalist… and an amateur karaoke singer named Susan Boyle.
SUBO is su-boring. And I have no interest in watching these so-called “talent” shows. NBC had already lost this viewer when Conan took over The Tonight Show.
Morgan wants Susan Boyle because she HAS got talent. Her backstory is past history; you need to look at the YouTube clips of her BGT tour performancesX to see where she is NOW. Standing ovations at every show, and not because anybody feels sorry for her, but because she’s GREAT.
AGT’s performers & audience are both younger & older than American Idol’s, If you don’t like her music, go watch AI. There’s plenty of us who will watch Susan Boyle wherever she appears, & AGT is a good place to start.
As far as I know, the original auditions we see shown on TV are edited before broadcasting, its purpose to be a entertaining episode. I think Piers was speaking of the autitions when they took place, that the judges don’t know who will be coming on stage. Of course, now that the show will be aired, Piers will have seen all auditions already. Remember, Susan auditioned in January and was only aired in April.
Actually, Susan didn’t audition. Her niece, who is in the business, got her on the show w/o an audition. Whether it was done by sending in a tape or other video performance, I don’t know. But there’s no question that the judges heard her before she walked out. I still remember that stricken look Simon Cowell gave when he asked Susan her age. TOTALLY FAKE! LOL! SO obvious, Simon!! The writer below is absolutely correct. Shows get the live studio audiences warmed up, and rehearse them on how to act. (Clearly BGT was surprised by how well the scheme worked when the you tube clip caught on so well). It gets back to what someone said earlier: they know viewers are gullible and want story-book endings. Getting a “reality” show to provide a “story-book” plot is a huge, financially rewarding con. I just can’t believe how many people fell for it. Susan is not an exceptional a singer. Nice, yes. Extraordinary, no. What a con it was!!
DONT YOU FIND THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES HILARIOUS!
SIMON COWELL NEVER FAKES ANYTHING… BELIEVE ME!
SUSAN’S AUDITION IS REAL BECAUSE THE PHENOMENON IS REAL & CONTINUES.
HER PERSONAL STORY IS BEHIND US NOW…
THE BABE CAN SING!!!!!!!!
THE SONGS JUST COME OUT RIGHT.
I HOPE THEY ARE PAYING HER TO COME TO AMERICA GOT TALENT. SHE DOES NOT NEED THE PUBLICITY AND SHE’S PAID THEM ENOUGH ALREADY BY DOING THE STUPID TOUR.
$16,000 A MINUTE. YEAH!!
Thank you, Ms. Rice, for writing the funniest article I’ve seen in a long time. These BGT judges can’t talk in a straight line to save their lives. Well of COURSE they see the acts ahead of time. And, as someone noted, Piers gave the game away by describing the acts we’re going to see, then asserting he won’t have seen them. And I love the one about not being condescending if they’d known she sang so well. And apologizing to her? When they CREATED the whole script? That’s truly funny. Now, we don’t know that half (or more) of the you-tube hits weren’t folks laughing at the con, do we? Sure, people are gullible. But I’d like to think we have a LITTLE sophistication here in the U.S., and don’t believe everything we’re set up to see. I’m thinking there will be a backlash against these shows, now that more people are clued into the con and manipulation behind them. Please don’t bring Susan there, though. We are a different audience.
I’ve been reading this thread with interest, but haven’t commented. From my perspective, the Susan Boyle-type performers aren’t going to work anymore because the story has reached saturation. People are burning out on it. I think NBC would be wise not to do repeats of this type of story with new performers, especially since many more people seem to be catching on to how fake it was. As for the you-tube hits, well, everyone’s making assumptions about why they were watched so often. It doesn’t follow that everyone was watching it for the same reason or having the same uplifted feelings. I think it would be a mistake to bring Ms. Boyle here. I think audiences here might be fed up with all of this, and might disobey instructions and maybe start booing. There’s a lot of impatience with this story that I’m seeing, so, not a good idea to continue it or open her up to the possibility of a negative response.
Personally, I prefer the fairy-tale!! Since I don’t actually KNOW if Piers, Amanda, and Simon had ever heard Susan’s voice before her BGT debut, I prefer to think their reactions were spontaneous and real. I DO KNOW that millions of people globally who had never heard Susan’s voice before DID have a spontaneous and very real “instant fall-in-love” reaction to Susan!! The end result is that Susan is known globally, her beautiful voice and her story of determination to sing is embraced by millions, and her future concerts and CDs will be gobbled up as fast as they can be offered. She has united the world, amid all of its conflicts, through her amazing voice. Susan, you are beautiful and providing us with a fairy tale ending is a wonderful gift. Show business may be just that–business. But, Susan’s voice is the real thing–undiluted, pure, and filled with joy.
Please no! Won’t someone just make this woman go away. Why the big deal about some dowdy woman who can sing halfway decent (she is not great)? In my town we let homely people go to school. work, and sometimes even marry and have kids.