Screentime Shinawil have brought The Voice franchise to Ireland. The singing competition with "no gimmicks."
(Apparantly Giant Red chairs that turn around when you press a Giant Red Button if you hear someone you like, isn't gimmicky in Holland, where the show originates from)
If you don't know the concept of the show, here's a brief description. Some punter comes onstage & sings while 4 judges sit with their backs to them. If any of the judges like what they hear, as stated above, they press a button, their chair spins around and they get to put said punter on their team. Unless of course more then one judge turns. Then the punter gets to choose and, like He-Man, they "HAVE THE POWER!" That's the show in a nut-shell. Well, that's the first few weeks of the show, which is called the "Blind Auditions." And this format sets the show apart from any other singing competition out there.
And, to be fair, for these few weeks, it is different. Of course, when it gets passed this stage, the judges see each act, grooms them for live shows, gives them their image thus turning it into Americas Next Top Pop Idol with The X Factors Got Talent Euro Song Celebrity Farm Meet The Kardashians in Tallafornia.
The Voice of Ireland is no longer 'different' and the person with the most friends who text in - will win. I'm on the edge of my toilet seat just thinking about it.
Now funnily enough, the above isn't the reason i'm writing about The Voice of Ireland. I don't really care about the format. It is what it is and no matter how they sell it, people aren't stupid...well, most aren't anyway. The problem i do have with the Voice of Ireland is to do with Screentime Shinawil. The Irish Production company that have brought the show to our Emerald shores.
Now i need to get something straight here, ok? We've established it is called The Voice of Ireland, yes? You all understand that, yeah? Especially the Ireland bit? I just need to hammer that point home to you so you'll understand my rant. Right, so you have it? Great!
Hang onto your Giant Red button's folks. Here it comes:
In the times that we are in when our little country is, for want of a better phrase - F*cked! (i didn't really want a better phrase. I'm perfectly happy with that description) When our government, not just raises taxes, but just for the hell of it, starts pulling new ones out of their arses so they can bleed more money from us & punish those who are (un)fortunate enough to own their own house. In these times when we are being encouraged to 'shop local' & 'support your own.' To think on our feet and be more resourceful so we can pay our bills, fill the car with just about enough fuel to last the week, eat! To 'buy Irish.'
In these times of seeing friends & family having to leave the homes they've lived in all their lives because there are simply no other options left. In these times when we need to look after one another more so then any other moment in my life time. In. These. Times. What do Screentime Shinawill do when they need to employ a troupe of dancers to perform on The Voice of Ireland? They do something that absolutely astonishes me. Something i find unforgivable, to be honest.
Screentime Shinawill leave Ireland. They go to our neighbors in the UK & say:
"Hey UK. We don't want to employ any dancers from Ireland for The Voice of Ireland...I know. MAD, isn't it?! It being The Voice of Ireland and all!! Between yourselves and ourselves, they're a joke back home, but hey - don't tell them we said that! Tee he he he!!"
Oh, i can hear some of you (not many, mind) saying:
"That's a bit harsh, man! They did audition for dancers in Dublin, ya know."
Well, WHOOP-DE-DO!! Take a bow, lads. Cause that's not patronizing at all, is it?!
"Tell you what, Ireland. We'll give you a chance. And hey, remember: if we don't employ any of you, it'll be a great experience, won't it?"
Oh, I can almost feel the pat on my head just typing that!
Now, don't get me wrong here. I have nothing against those dancers who got the gig. They're just doing their job and fair play to them for getting it. God knows it's hard enough to get a gig. God's Irish, you see.
But are Screentime Shinawil honestly saying that what I've seen those dancers do over the last 2 weeks - are they telling me they couldn't find any talent in Ireland good enough to do as equally a professional job? We all know dancers are far better trained in the UK then they are here but we're not talking about a full on Broadway dance show here, lads. They're songs that last about 2 minutes with the focus being on the singer.
It is a disgrace. And they should be ashamed of themselves. As should RTE.
After all, who's paying for this show? Or at the very least, partially paying for it? Well, do you own a television? Do you live in Ireland? Are you a good citizen & paying you're television license? There's your answer. You are. You are paying to fly these guys over. You are paying for their accommodation. You are paying their wages. You are paying Screentime Shinawil to look elsewhere when what they needed is on their doorstep. We're Irish. We're in dire straits. We need to and should be helping ourselves wherever possible. If every profession here was as narrow minded, it would be: last person out, turn off the lights and i'll see you on the beach in Bondi.
So why have Screentime Shinawil done this? I've asked them. I went onto their website, filled out the 'Contact Us' form & asked what their "official stance is on not employing any dancers from Ireland for your production, The Voice of Ireland." Unfortunately, i have yet to receive a reply, but i do hope i get one.
I encourage you to ask them, too http://www.shinawil.ie/contact-us/. After all, according to their website, "we're always happy to hear from you." And it's nice to make people feel happy. The emotion, that is. Not the dwarf.
BTW Who won that UK dance show this year, Got to Dance? Oh that's right. The group from IRELAND called Prodijig! Here's a clip of why you dancers from Ireland aren't good enough for an Irish tv show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oy3gCVaYk8E
p.s I'm not a dancer. Unless of course you fill me with alcohol and happen to throw on WHAM's 'Wake Me Up Before You Go Go!'
