The Demise of PopWorld

[voodoogregor]

Am I the only one that spent the entire duration of the show cringeing?
The only thing that kept me watching was Alex taking his clothes off during the Dirty Pretty Things feature.

What is with the 'live music' thing? Its Popworld-not the Album Chart Show.

Their interview technique is forced and trying so hard to be as irreverant as Simon and Miquita's.

I'm embarassed for them.

[imitationleather]

Yep, it was total shit.

What else was anyone expecting?

[bichard]

I only watched the first ten minutes, then thought I'd put on More Abba Gold to cheer myself up! Lol.

Tom Jones looked decidedly uncomfortable, it was really quite embarrassing.

Mind you, Simon Amstell is unquestionably unique, and they were never gonna be able to replace him. So why try....?

[calvinsteps]

It was horrible, they were trying so hard to be Simon and Miquita and yet they failed miserably.

[xenomaniac]

Yeah, it was pretty rubbish but lets give them a chance. The first popworld with Simon and Miquita wasn't that great. They might just need some time to find their own style.

[bichard]

xenomaniac said:

Yeah, it was pretty rubbish but lets give them a chance. The first popworld with Simon and Miquita wasn't that great. They might just need some time to find their own style.

Very true, but I'm hungover and feel like taking it out on somebody!!!

[Molly]

I missed Alex Zane taking his clothes off? Damn.

I watched some and had to turn off. It was dire. The new set is ugly. They were aiming for the 'cheeky banter' of Simon and Miquita but came across as ignorant and just plain rude. They don't have the lightness of touch required. (I will charitably add 'yet'.)

[imitationleather]

xenomaniac said:

Yeah, it was pretty rubbish but lets give them a chance. The first popworld with Simon and Miquita wasn't that great. They might just need some time to find their own style.

Yeah, but Alex Zane has shown on the other programmes he's been on that he's got no presenting ability whatsoever. As soon as he spurted some dreadful non sequitur in the first few minutes I knew we were in for a bumpy ride.

Alexa's eyecandy and no mistake, but her personality seemed virtually non-existent.

Will it still be on the air in twelve months? I certainly don't think it'll be given the years to develop like Popworld Mk. I was.

[Poptastic!]

I like Alex enough but Alexa was very disappointing - how difficult was it to work out that the success of Popworld previously was for the personality of its presenters? It didn't even matter who they were interviewing, they made it interesting and anyone who can make interviews with indie bands interesting has got to be good! Alexa especially completely lacks this, Alex could improve but she just doesn't get it. It's as though they think anyone can be a presenter, and maybe anyone can read out questions and jokes but not many people can do that and be likeable and genuinely funny as well.

Jessica

[flufff]

It could have been worse, but it could have been a lot better. The new, cool and credible style set didn't suit the attempts at cheeky banter. They were definitely trying to copy the way Simin and Miquita interacted, but they built that up over years and it can't be adopted without looking fake.

I didn't expect too much this week, so I'm not disappointed. Just waiting for it to find it's groove and hopeful it won't take too long.

[ollie2k5]

The start made me have to hide under my covers, it was a true car crash of failed humour. Then I saw the stage and wondered why the hell there were sattelites propped up all over the place. For one glorious moment I thought that the dishes might emit death rays that the bands would have to try and dodge whilst singing, and they'd be fried if they were rubbish. But by the time it got to half way through Snow Patrol's song I decided that there really wasn't going to be any laser-beams at all, and I was quite upset.

On the other hand, although Simon is badly missed, I thought the two had some moments of greatness in the Tom Jones interview, and the clothes thing was a good idea (although I don't fancy him - bah) .

I don't think it's going to be the same kind of must-see TV, but it could be so much worse. Imagine if they'd roped Davina into presenting it...

[xtina613]

is it just me or has their flashy neon bright backround the most horrid thing on television. it manages to look awful and make every artist look awful in every performance.

[ultima]

I didn't see it this morning was it really that bad?

Popworld promotes I'm guessing is the live music thing.
That could actually be pretty good
Its an unsigned bands competition.


BUT

I get the feeling it is fixed and just a large money spinner

[Andy19]

It started off on the back foot, for some reason Popworld is now made next to the T4 set, so we had Miquita looking slightly uncomfortable, looking across the studio to see a programme she used to present

The set looks poor, instead of sofas they are just sat on the edge of the stage. There's also a seperate performance area which means there is live music rather than everything being recorded.

Therefore it was a strange mix, half being a totally new format that is not Popworld, half being the script, which was basically Simon's script!

I'm sure we all were reminded of Simon when Alex read the silly competition question

[azura]

I didn't think it was *THAT* bad, but it certainly wasn't good.

Alex has proved time and time again he is a crap presenter, but I'm prepared to give Alexa the benefit of the doubt for the moment.

[Outroductive]

I felt embrassed watching the whole thing. There's no denying they were trying too hard to follow in Simon and Miquita's footsteps - it just didn't work. I actually thought Alexa was better than Alex though. It's a totally different show and not the better for it. The new set is horrible and as previously mentioned is too much like "The Album Chart Show". Such a shame.

[IdRatherJack]

I thought it was OK - I really like the new retro-futuristic set.

Alex Zane can do no wrong in my eyes because he is pretty, however Alexa; can you say 'Kelly Brook'? Her attempts to be funny consistently fell flat and she came across as downright rude to Sir Tom Jones.

[Kubla Khan]

I give it three months. Popworld is pointless without Simon and Miquita, just like Star Test without the computer or Later without Jools Holland's sycophancies.

They were Popworld, for better or worse. Amen.

[makeraphistory]

I didn't like it either, but I enjoyed Alexa's interview with the Chilli's. That was alright.

[marknyc]

It needs to be brighter.

[drewster]

I really liked the new set - but the 'bands performing live right next to us' bit doesn't work. Having it recorded and slotted in is Popworld, nothing else!

Alex tried WAY too hard - I don't like him much, he was also quite quick in coming across as a bit of an arsehole to Alexa. Who I thought was cute, giggling all the time.

But no, I cringed the entire way through. It just isn't worth watching.

[Jen]

Simon and Miquta have gone- that needs to be accepted. Of course it will be different, and of course it will take time to get used to, and of course the first show will be awkward. I think they need time and a chance. They have great chemistry and are good presenters taking on a huge cult mantle- some things will work, some things won't. They'll learn as they go along, just like Simon and Miquta did.
I'm not crazy about the new set though, but I like the interaction with the performers. I hope for a few more pop people this week.

[ScissorSister]

I have to say... I can think of two that might've made a slightly better job of this than Alesx and Alexa right off the top of my head.

How about Russell Brand and Lauren Laverne?

[corkhead]

The "Will on a hill" bit was very odd.

[onrequest]

I wonder why they didn't start one of the new presenters a few weeks early, giving viewers time to grow to like them whilst Simon and Miquita were still there?

[sifr]

cremeegg said:

I have to say... I can think of two that might've made a slightly better job of this than Alesx and Alexa right off the top of my head.

How about Russell Brand and Lauren Laverne?

Lauren, yes, fine. Russell, dear fucking heaven if I have to see his gurning untalented wankstain sandal-wearing ass on TV every Saturday morning, I may just go on a shooting spree. At least when Big Brother's in session he's kept on digital, so my chances of running into him are less likely.

In conclusion then, I agree with you 50%.

[Kirkland]

Brand could NOT be trusted on British daytime TV.

[azura]

sifr said:

cremeegg said:

I have to say... I can think of two that might've made a slightly better job of this than Alesx and Alexa right off the top of my head.

How about Russell Brand and Lauren Laverne?

Lauren, yes, fine. Russell, dear fucking heaven if I have to see his gurning untalented wankstain sandal-wearing ass on TV every Saturday morning, I may just go on a shooting spree. At least when Big Brother's in session he's kept on digital, so my chances of running into him are less likely.

In conclusion then, I agree with you 50%.

And I agree with sifr 100%. I think Lauren would have been good on Popworld- she'd suit it far more than she did CD:UK. But Russell- fucking hell. How did that guy get on TV?

[Maureen]

Lauren Laverne? How many pop shows can she present? Why do people see her as the saviour of presenting? It's like when people say that every pop star should be produced by Richard X and Xenomania. What a boring world we'd have if some of you lot were casting directors or record company execs.

I have no problem with them choosing Alex Zane and a relative unknown like Alexa to present the programme. Getting two very well-known faces would overshadow what the programme is supposed to be about: pop music. It's much harder to create a rapport between established 'names'.

I can't believe after three editions of the new show, people are writing it off already. As anyone with enough miles on the clock can tell you, most shows (inc. Popworld) are shit when they first start out; it takes time to bed in.

[octoberrust]

I saw the 'new' popworld for the first time today.

Absolutely AWFUL. As has been said, it's main downfall is that they are just doing horribly unconvincing impressions of Simon & Miquita, right down to the constant laughing from the female..

SHAME.