Is The Mentoring Premise On X Factor A Big Fat Joke?

When one attempts to differentiate The X Factor from American Idol, they say X Factor is more Fun, less Jesus. But after that, they'll point out that the judges on X Factor aren't there just to humiliate the contestants (as they are on American Idol) but also to serve as their mentors. But there have been hints all season that the judges are barely mentoring the contestants at all, and more evidence they give their precious time only to their favored acts. And now comments by just-eliminated contestant Treyc Cohen have completely blown the show's cover. Read on to see Treyc's comments and further evidence that when it comes to The X Factor, they do share one thing in common with American Idol...they're full of it!

The X Factor has always been proud that their judges serve as mentors to the contestants, and they're quite snooty about it. But what exactly is a mentor? Merriam Webster Dictionary gives several definitions...

1-a friend of Odysseus entrusted with the education of Odysseus' son Telemachus

Don't think it's this one, although Leona Lewis does bare a resemblance to Medusa...

2-a trusted counselor or guide

Ok, we're getting closer...

3-tutor, coach

This.

One gets the impression that the judges lead their contestants along the journey that is X Factor, whether it's choosing and practicing their song, going through dance rehearsals, vocal coach sessions and styling meetings and making sure all goes as well as possible each Saturday night, along with providing them general guidance, advice and support as these contestants go through the most challenging and important experience in their lives. Sounds great!

But there have been cracks appearing all season that everything might not be as it appears. The first signs came after group Belle Amie's performance on Week 3, when Louis Walsh accused Simon of being interested only in One Direction. Louis told Belle Amie (video 4:10 mark)...

‘You've got a problem because you're on your own in this competition. 'Simon is putting all his energies into One Direction and it's not fair. You have no mentor. It's not right. They may be too afraid to say anything but I'm not.’...

Belle Amie member Sophia Wardman (the blond hot bitchy one) confirmed that Simon ignored them. She "insisted that they needed more help because girl groups notoriously always struggle to win over the voting public on the talent show. The 23-year-old claimed Cowell should have spent more time helping them because One Direction - made up of five Justin Bieber clones - were always going to be a hit with the audience".

Simon tried to get back at Louis for exposing the truth but only further exposed the lack of mentoring when John Adeleye (mentored by Louis) was eliminated, saying "I just don't think you've been looked after properly" Simon has also taken jabs at Cheryl on air for not giving attention to certain of her acts. And most telling was a series of last-minute song changes, begging the question Where were the judges all week?

And now just-eliminated contestant Treyc Cohen has removed any doubts regarding the judges' role as mentors on this show when she appeared on This Morning. Treyc admitted that other than during the live shows, she only saw Cheryl Cole once a week, on dress rehearsal day. Earlier this season, Rebecca, Katie and Cher complained to Simon that Cheryl spends no time with them at all, prefering instead to fly overseas for the week to further her own interests.

So based on the impression the contestants and judges are giving us with their actions and words coming out of their own mouths, mentoring on The X Factor seems to involve the judges running out of the studio immediately after the results show into their waiting limosines, ignoring the contestants all week while accumulating more money for themselves, then stumbling into the studio on Friday afternoons for 5 minutes to change the song the contestants have been dying with all week and telling the dance coach the production needs more rainbows and unicorns. Let's be honest, can you seriously see Simon Cowell or Cheryl Cole giving a shit about most of these acts, nevermind giving up much of their time on acts they know will never go anywhere/make them money?

Now you can get mad at finding out that things on The X Factor may not be exactly as they appear (although you're a bit naive). But there's a better solution...join votefortheworst.com and vote for Wagner as much as possible and spread the word on VFTW's efforts in The UK anyway you can and keep him on the show!!!

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