The Cold Cut

was staying in on Saturday night, and spent about 10 minutes watching the annual Eurovision Song Contest, knowing what a laugh it would be. Now its a real shame that I have to refer to it as 'a laugh' considering how it used to be held in high esteem. Nowadays, most people seem to watch it just to laugh at the ridiculous fanfare that it is, whereas it used to be a sort of promotional event for up-and-coming acts. You only have to look over the last couple of years: who of note has won this contest? Lordi! Surely Not... Elena Paparizou? Who? I understand that some of these acts are famous in their own countries, but none of the recent winners have gone on to the worldwide success that Eurovision winners ABBA, Celine Dion and Bucks Fizz did.

What has happened to this hugely popular contest: the Eurovision Song Contest is in the top ten most watched non-sporting TV events in the world. I will leave you with some questions: The one of which is: what has changed? Why do most of the latest winners vanish into obscurity, without making any considerable impact on the international music scene? Is it the 'faulty' voting system, which seems to pick some of the worst acts as the winner each year?

There is a new TV show on the block, Heroes. Directed by Tim Kring, it arrived late last year with hardly any exposure, but has already built up a large following, myself included, due to the fact that it is not afraid to be different: the tag line for this series is "save the cheerleader, save the world".


Nearing the end of the first season, every episode so far has had something different on offer. As the title suggests, the show follows the lives of certain people who learn they have powers. So far, so X-men, you might find yourself saying. But it is far from a rip-off of the comic book movies which have been doing well over the last couple of years. There are a few things which are similar, yes, but there is no save haven for the heroes, and many of them do not understand what they are going through... This is why I love the program; unlike anything else, the heroes are mostly reluctant.

Anyway, its a great program, with, from what i've seen, an almost entirely original formula and lots to offer. The challenge Tim Kring faces is to maintain my, and other viewers, levels of interest for the next few seasons...

I was an avid watcher of The Apprentice whilst I lived in America. There's something particularly hilarious about Donald Trump, complete with tacked on hair, wildly gesturing towards someone before muttering the fateful words, "You're Fired". Said person then follows the trademark routine, walking into the black cab that whisks them away to 'failure'.

And then we move back to Europe and we are stuck with the inferior British version. Helmed by a successful businessman, Alan Sugar, who does not have anywhere near the amount of business accolades which Donald Trump does, the show falters (the tasks are also smaller). I mean, he's not unsuccessful (having risen from nothing to 800 million pounds) but it is his objectionable manner which ruins what otherwise is a thrilling show. I often find myself shouting at the TV when he is giving out advice during the boardroom scenes... I don't think I would be alone in the fact that I would find it hard to take constructive criticism or advice from a man who says things such as "as sure as I got a hole in my arse" when telling you that you are "shit". Its hard to believe that he has been given such a wide berth in the show: I'm sure that there are more savvy and less aggressive businessman who meet the criteria (e.g Theo Paphitis, a Dragon in the highly successful Dragon's Den, a much more satisfying program).

Before this analysis turns into a rant, i would advise you all to convert to the American Show. It is shown on BBC Three, and is a better version of the British formula. The tasks are bigger, the stakes higher, the rewards better and the contestants more aggressive.