Talent show buzzes with drama
From : www.bangkokpost.com, May 25, 2012
From 9am till 1 the following morning, Jirayut 'Joe' Wattanasin found himself watching 50 to 60 acts, and he actually enjoyed doing that for eight days. "It's a fun job," Jirayut said of being Thailand's Got Talent (TGT) new judge. "But there's the pressure of whether to push the buzzer or not, and when we do, we have to find words of consolation. And you will see that I'm not at all a tough judge."
Pressing the buzzer lights up a large 'X' at the judges' table as well as on the stage, indicating that a judge dislikes the act and with three 'X's the performance must end immediately. Often the judges are in disagreement, adding some drama to the talent show, which will air from June 3 on Channel 3.
The first season of TGT featured Nirut Sirijanya, Pornchita 'Benz' Na Songkhla and Pinyo Rutham on the panel. Because veteran actor Nirut withdrew from the show, Jirayut takes his seat and strengthens the judging panel with his background in music.
"However TGT is not a singing contest and it was interesting to see an incredible variety of acts during the audition. Besides talent, personality and charismatic stage presence are also important for a performer," said Nuvo's lead singer. "Straightforwardly saying what I like and don't like about each act, I'm here to make credible and constructive comments."
Pre-casting of TGT Season 2 attracted almost 20,000 applicants, from a singing two-year-old girl to a dancing 80-year-old grandma. The mix of individual and team acts included a hula hoop spinner, aerial fabric dancer, cover dance troupes and Music Apps performer.
Screening reduced the number of acts to 400 for auditions at Aksra Theatre where the judges picked half of that before it was whittled down to 36 for live shows that will be staged at Workpoint Studio.
TGT Season 1 ended with 13-year-old Myra Molloy winning the title from her singing opera and Broadway classics. Other contestants who found overnight fame included the transgendered Nuntita 'Bell' Khampiranon, whose singing switches from a male to a female voice and one-handed guitarist Somsak Hemarun who has become a role model in overcoming disability.
The new judge said that he didn't watch much of the first season and is not a follower of other talent shows. The only involvement in this type of programme was when he was a trainer for then 10-year-old Natthanit 'Pinta' Rattanasereekiat in The Trainer 2, a singing contest for children. Now 13, Pinta is a musical star after her fabulous performance in Si Phaen Din The Musical.
"Nowadays, many parents support their children in entering talents shows. The mushrooming of these TV shows means more bridges for hopefuls to cross over and find fame. And today, people want to be a somebody," he said.
Not only does the TGT finalists get to be a somebody, they also take home a cash prize and whoever makes it as the winner will also receive a condominium and a car.
From 9am till 1 the following morning, Jirayut 'Joe' Wattanasin found himself watching 50 to 60 acts, and he actually enjoyed doing that for eight days. "It's a fun job," Jirayut said of being Thailand's Got Talent (TGT) new judge. "But there's the pressure of whether to push the buzzer or not, and when we do, we have to find words of consolation. And you will see that I'm not at all a tough judge."
Pressing the buzzer lights up a large 'X' at the judges' table as well as on the stage, indicating that a judge dislikes the act and with three 'X's the performance must end immediately. Often the judges are in disagreement, adding some drama to the talent show, which will air from June 3 on Channel 3.
The first season of TGT featured Nirut Sirijanya, Pornchita 'Benz' Na Songkhla and Pinyo Rutham on the panel. Because veteran actor Nirut withdrew from the show, Jirayut takes his seat and strengthens the judging panel with his background in music.
"However TGT is not a singing contest and it was interesting to see an incredible variety of acts during the audition. Besides talent, personality and charismatic stage presence are also important for a performer," said Nuvo's lead singer. "Straightforwardly saying what I like and don't like about each act, I'm here to make credible and constructive comments."
Pre-casting of TGT Season 2 attracted almost 20,000 applicants, from a singing two-year-old girl to a dancing 80-year-old grandma. The mix of individual and team acts included a hula hoop spinner, aerial fabric dancer, cover dance troupes and Music Apps performer.
Screening reduced the number of acts to 400 for auditions at Aksra Theatre where the judges picked half of that before it was whittled down to 36 for live shows that will be staged at Workpoint Studio.
TGT Season 1 ended with 13-year-old Myra Molloy winning the title from her singing opera and Broadway classics. Other contestants who found overnight fame included the transgendered Nuntita 'Bell' Khampiranon, whose singing switches from a male to a female voice and one-handed guitarist Somsak Hemarun who has become a role model in overcoming disability.
The new judge said that he didn't watch much of the first season and is not a follower of other talent shows. The only involvement in this type of programme was when he was a trainer for then 10-year-old Natthanit 'Pinta' Rattanasereekiat in The Trainer 2, a singing contest for children. Now 13, Pinta is a musical star after her fabulous performance in Si Phaen Din The Musical.
"Nowadays, many parents support their children in entering talents shows. The mushrooming of these TV shows means more bridges for hopefuls to cross over and find fame. And today, people want to be a somebody," he said.
Not only does the TGT finalists get to be a somebody, they also take home a cash prize and whoever makes it as the winner will also receive a condominium and a car.
