Why shows like X Factor are a hit
Have you ever wondered why shows like X Factor (think American Idol if you’re from the States) are such a hit? We all reguarly mock them. We only ever admit to ‘catching a bit on an episode’ on the way to doing something more meaningful. But the truth is, here in the UK at least, 1 in 6 people watch X Factor and Saturday night. Why is this?
It hit me this last week as to why I think these shows work. And it all ties into this theme of ‘Story’ that I’ve been endlessly pursuing this last week or so. The truth of the matter is that shows like X Factor aren’t a hit because of the singing, good as some of the people are. The shows are a hit because of the stories attached to the people doing the singing.
At least as much of the show delves into the life stories of the various contestants. We hear about how they got to this point of entering the contest. The obstacles they had to overcome to this point. The other characters that helped or hindered their journey. And suddenly, before we know it, we are no longer just listening to a random individual trying to sing; we are caught up into an unfolding story.
Its strange, but when you think about it, how much of life makes much sense at all outside of story? The movies we love are the ones with the most moving stories. We come back to work on Monday morning and we share our stories from the weekend. We lose ourselves in the fictional world novelists draw us into. Really, how much of life would make sense - or at least be enjoyable - except for story?
Tags: Story, Television, X Factor