i would like to know the viewer stats. i watch a bit on sundays while channel-hopping. maybe if the nigerian princess had stayed it wouldn've been more interesting ..

maybe the media, like everybody else, has just lost interest ....

I thought I was the only who thought the show was an utter disgrace to the South African music scene. Those kids have no talent at all. Project Fame is a far cry from Idols. At least Idols contestants can sing.

The one teachers one day said that the board should be more critical of the students as they will get big heads. When Mark Gillman criticised on of the students, she jumped down his throat.

The only thing redeeming about the show is ... uhm... Wait! Nothing!

Forget about the lack of singing talent – get rid of those pathetic presenters! What is with that way over pronounced American accent!! It’s like …..mmm…. like – hey – just like the show – FAKE !

Whoever came up with the idea should be shot. I mean, combining two of the world's worst TV programs ever: Big Brother and Pop Stars/Idols.

I suppose it would not be as bad if there was even an ounce of singing talent in that show, but there isn't and it means that us poor South Africans have to settle for second-hand cover versions, sung by talentless wannabes.

What ever happened to nurturing ORIGINAL talent? If you ask me, this is nothing more than a thinly veiled attemtp to make money through contracted sponsorships. And why MTN would even associate its name with this rubbish is beyond me...

The are much better things to do like:
Chasing cars, going for a run , sniffing around the back yard... smoking (something)

I boycotted it from the first day - when I heard the concept, i felt sick - so if it comes up I simply switch - it's like drugs - just say no...

I think that Project Fame is an absolute joke!! And that CTM guy who supposedly calls himself the principle? Since when does he know anything about music, where is he from? The people who are left on the show are useless, besides Monica who seems to go up for probation every time. The question is, will these people even make it in the real music world?

What I think you meant here was: This show is NOT meant for the old farts?...but that doesn't matter anyway. The show is crap. Bored and tired ad executives trying to get the very last drop of blood out of the money stone does not make for compelling viewing I'm afraid. NEW CONCEPT: Send politicians into the middle of Johannesburg with big targets painted on their Armani suits and film the potential carnage!! Money spinner of note people!! Lights, camera, ACTION.

Andrew's funny. I happen to watch Project Fame and think that the contestants were chosen for their potential and their tv value as well. Whether they become successful musicians only time can tell.

The concept's great but those contestants have all got to go! Gave up watching the day they decided to save a certain contestant who absolutely CANNOT SING!!!

Plus, if they cannot deal with the criticism of the board, how will they be able to handle the public's criticism. Ugh!

I've heard others sing better. Suppose it's just Murphy's Law

These kids are doing what they enjoy. Trying to improve themselves - so what that it's not an original idea, or a new concept - this is an opportunity for some who may not have had one otherwise. There should be more of this in our country - giving youngsters an opportunity to build their talent, to build confidence & self esteem.
Don't shoot others down in flames - If you don't like the show, don't watch it! And if you can do any better - then show us!

I have absolutely no problem with people doing what they enjoy, or trying to improve themselves, but that doesn't mean we have to watch them do it. Rather train them somewhere off camera and bring them back in say 2 years time when they have the experience to back up any talent they might have. Then we might have something a bit more decent to watch. At the moment though, I actively avoid watching.

Wouldn't it be better if we actually showcased real talent? I'm sure people from abroad have seen the show and what must they think of what we have to offer to the music industry? I'm sure we wouldn't be against the show at all if it focused on real talent.

It's a cut-throat business, those "kids" must learn to take criticism. You want to be in the spotlight, then you will have to be able to handle the heat.

And believe me when I say that a lot of us have given up on the show long ago. Now and then we make a mistake when channel hopping and switch to MNET.

As far as a show taking good or bad press, well, that's about how media products are made.

I think any effort, good or bad, to foreground music as a contemporary point of interest for all Africans is a good thing - regardless of the execution.

The alternative is to do nothing, but naysayers are likely to have a problem with that too.

No way to win this argument I suppose.

Is anyone actually watching? Lindiwe puts a lot of established stars to shame. Just watch her put Judith Sephuma in her place on Sunday when she performs A Cry A Smile A Dance...

Lindiwe had a good performance on Sunday. Don't assume she is a diva in the making.

I watch the Sunday afternoon gala shows and I have watched Lindiwe perform. I have to admit that she is talented. However, by saying that she puts established artists to shame is an exaggeration. I don't think that Lindiwe sings that song better than Judith Sephuma.

I make time to watch other singing programmes such as Coca Cola pop stars, if i catch them while hopping over the channels.

But this, i cannot bother, i'd rather spend my time on something beneficial. I mean i tried watching at the beggining but there's no talent there.

At least I had someone to cheer for at last year’s big brother Africa show “Stefan”
But really how do you cheer or participate in voting poles if there is no one worth
Cheering for. There is no action in the show, it follows the same routine every day
The show is going nowhere really ****** fast.

Living in the dark continent and watching va DSTV at a hell of a price - we are subjected to this rubbish. The UK Fame show was great - great teachers, great presenters and exceptional talent. What have we done - ripped off a really great show - packaged it as a wanna be big brother/ talent show and blown it. SABC has done the same with " The weakest link " even tried to get an Anne Robinson look a like. hey there is such great talent in SA surely you can produce and develop better content than this.

These "singers" will only be remembered as long as they're in the show. As in right now... I mean, do you remember any1 from Idols or Popstars from about 2 years ago? NO! Show's like these can make or break a potential diva. Some guys on da show are really good, but those judges are really putting on damper on their careers. Nobody's gonna want 2 buy a CD if they had bad reviews from "professionals" in da entertainment industry!!!

Of course the answer is to have a competition featuring EXISTING SA talent - not try to create something out of nothing as all these shows attempt to do for the sake of a quick buck!

Check this out ppl - it's legit:

GLOBAL BATTLE OF THE BANDS LAUNCHES IN SOUTH AFRICA. This event (hosted by Emerging Sounds) will see one SA pop or rock band compete in London against the best in the world. Between now and October heats of the South African leg take place in Jhb, Pta, CT, PE, Bloem, Dbn, Klerksdorp, Nelspruit and Witbank. More info: www.gbob.co.za

NOW they're talking!! :-)

To start with I can't believe that some people could actually sponsor this show. Secondly I know I don't have the vocals to sing, but good Lord I can do a hell of a lot better than these people.
I really don't know why anyone decided to do this because the person who decided to do this wasted a whole lot of money and as for the judeges or what ever you want to call them, they just work on my nerves. The show irritates me so much that I switch the TV off when I see any of the contestants faces.
Why can't Mnet go back to doing Idols because the show is much better the Judeges are even better and is more enjoyable than this stuff. If you want to do BIG BROTHER do it PROPERLY don't mix the two together because it is so totally Old school.
Why can't SA just come up with it's own talent search competition. I could handle Popstars and Idols but really now its this stupid Project Fame.
THERE IS NO TALENT THERE WHATSOEVER!!!!!!!

Well, Project fame... what can one say.

One of the board members is an Uncle of a contestant - who definately did not deserve to be in the finals.

Most the guests are aged has beens.

The audience vote is unfairly biased against Africa, the African vote only counts 33.3%, where as the South African vote counts 66.6%.

The show was originaly about grooming an artist who can write their own music, and surprise surprise the most talented song writers have been eliminated or are on probation.

There has been little attention give to the song writing process, something that gives an artist their edge.

The song selection process is merely a BMG manipulated media frenzy.

The media giving this show any good reviews are, naturally M-net partners.

Another contestant made jokes about impregnating a 7 year-old, and effortly got away with it.

Thankfully the ctm fool embrasses himself so much, it's entertaining.

But other that, the show isn't so bad. I personally, watching paint dry is more entertaining.

To Oddie: perhaps you should check your facts before you mouth off all over this forum. Tebogo happens to be well-known as one of the most talented people in the SA music industry currently, and has clearly shown his talent throughout the competition. HIs uncle does not take part in his assessment and has made mention of this often. The members of the board are under 45 - does this make them old farts or people of experience who are qualified to assess young aspirants?
Dare's misguided comment drew huge outrage from many quarters, he was reprimanded severely and his sincere apologies have in fact increased his popularity. Even huge talents make human mistakes sometimes.
I challenge any SA tv producer to improve upon the sunday night galas which are two hours of nail-biting excitement which have resulted in a core group of very talented and attractive youngsters.
Whatever one may think of M-Net, at least they have made the effort to reproduce the glamour and excitement of Fame Academy the UK version - SABC's re-enactment of popstars is badly shot, poorly scripted and totally non-aspirational.
Next!!!!!!!!!!!!

What glamour? Do tell as I would be interested in viewing it as well. Don't let the sparkling shoes and dresses fool you. Dare definitely has talent. There is no doubt. But the other... Is that you idea of talent? Honestly, your taste leaves much to be desired!

And Popstars is another forum. We are discussing Fame. Which, frankly, is very LAME!

well, it sounds like 'convert' is really a fame employee.
Regardless if said judge doesn't vote on his relative's performance, this will unfairly advantage or disadvantage the contestant. It also makes the show appear dubious.
There is no way one can say that there weren't any other options for a judge, considering the wealth of talent within in our borders.

At the end of the day it was a poor choice by M-net/Endemol and they should have expected the flack they are receiving.

I have no idea why M-Net keeps churning these reality-type shows when it's obviously becoming laboured and stupid. No-one I know watches the show. I have seen it once and the screeching noises (sorry singing) made me switch off my set immediately. Re-runs of old commercials in this timeslot would be met with sighs of relief methinks.

I just love the way the probations now have to be rigged to get rid of SA's little white darlings - I thought Kudzai from Zim deserved to be second, but pretty blonde with bad skin and average voice was kept instead. Probably the five South Africans who do vote (are SA votes really weighted 66%?) all like Monika.

If you go to the offical website there is a news article about how the voting is weighted. Apparently, this is because there are more South African dstv subscribers.
So yes, SA votes count more, all in the name of audience ratings.

They keep on bitching and moaning. No one is ever happy in that academy. They have taken this opportunity and totally wasted it by becoming whinging brats with crap voices.

Besides the fact that the show is not representative enough, is biased toward south africa(which has a greater white afrikaans demographic) and has a repetoire is probably compiled by a bunch of middle aged white people who are stuck in their heyday in the eighties and have no real soul , so cannot actually relate to where most of these kids are coming from, which means they can't really lead to them to where they need to go....the show ain't really that bad. I mean to some it's like psychological warfare like the comments made to lindiwe about her weight and styling which made her starve herself for a couple of weeks. One cannot deny that the kids have grown, but the south african contingent of the talent was quite week and if compared to that of the people eliminated from popstars, the selection committee is where the flaw lies.

at the end of the day, it's clear as day that this show is geared towards television and someone's idea of what the voyeristic needs of the guessed audience is and has very little to do with talent because before the talent comes the politics of 2 very toxic entities which patronise black people and treat them like plantation workers.

The media are ignoring it because SA thrives on monopolies and the producers monopolise a great chunk of this industry, so surprise people.

So, here's a challenge, let's ask MNEt and endemol to commission a black producer to work with a white director and do the show. The objective is for it to be more representative and authentic to afrika....especially the repetoire.

Comparing this year popstar with last year, the present popstar programme is focusing more on the presenters and established singers than the actual wanna -be popstars,like the day it had a feature on Thandiswa Mazwai on a collaboration with some white afrikaner artists.The programme must give more airtime to the wanna-be popstars.

What message is the show sending to the youth using a presenter who is pregnant out of wedlock.

We now live in a society where premarital sex and pregnancy out of wedlock is the norm. Having a woman who is pregnant outside marriage as a presenter really isn't a train smash.

Over the past month I have seen more talent among high school pupils than I have seen to-date on Project Fame. In Northern KZN there has been a spate of school 'Idols' competition and I have been absolutely blown away by the talent iout there with voices to rival Whitney Houston and Usher to name but some.
I agree whole heartedly with Garth Cliff on 5fm - they should have canned the programme if they couldn't find any talent among those who attended the auditions.

I think Lindiwe rocks them all, what a talent!!