Video Beat - RINGO STARR CELEBRATES 68th Birthday on LARRY KING SHOW - Pinoy DREAM ACADEMY OUT OF CONTROL - Part 1

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

This show is about sensationalism, controversy and money and not about finding great talent. It's more about producing a controversial TV show that will attract viewers and advertising - The Bloom Fell Off The Rose - Recommended TV Listings

Monday July 7, 2008

RINGO STARR Celebrates 68th Birthday on the LARRY KING SHOW

Former Beatle Ringo Starr who is currently on tour will celebrate his 68th birthday with an appearance on the Larry King talk show Monday July 7th in the USA. The show usually is repeated on a delayed basis the following day in Southeast Asia (July 8th).

DREAM ACADEMY CRASH & BURNS

The Pinoy Dream Academy is coming apart at the seams as within a two week period two contestants have departed the show due to stress related causes and performance teacher Joey Javier Reyes yelled at the students and asked why they got involved in the show if they lack the commitment to adhere to the training and stick it out. "Some of you are so fuc#ing stupid," he yelled at the students after a second student dropped out of the competition due to stress. Reyes was later applauded by the Academy's head master for his vulgar behavior.

CHIVAS ANTON MALUNDA 22, was the first departure after the first week when he was taken to the hospital for treatment for hyperventilation. After he returned to the Dream Academy house he passed out and showed signs of stress to the point where he was expelled from the Academy by the head master for health reasons. His departure resulted in leaving behind his wife of five years Bunny 22, with whom he has a child. She remains in the contest but given the conflicts in the house and her loved one gone the question is how long will she stay.

The second departure came early last week when JUN ROSS DIO 23 requested to leave. He gave several reasons including his concern about his fathers health which he was aware of prior to entering the contest but the real underlying cause as he explained while in tears in front of the assembled students was he was tired of the backstabbing and stress in the house.

"I'm going out tonight," he said. "I can't stand the pressure inside. I don't want to corrupt my mind. I don't want to corrupt my heart and soul. Everything is not about winning. Everything is about love and respect."

Teacher Monet tried to persuade him to stay but to no avail. Monet told Ross that backstabbing goes on everywhere. True perhaps but if one has the choice to choose their quality of life why not and Ross took that option, the Dream Academy is not worth his health. His assessment was correct and he departed shortly after with his guitar and basketball in hand.

With two down and the contest yet to get off to smooth sailing due to other controversies Reyes a returnee from last seasons disastrous show continued to be annoyed at the students and questioned their commitment to be on the program and work hard. He compared it with last seasons cast which he pointed out were more committed.

Their top six contestants from last season were not that good with only two who had decent voices whereas they eliminated in the early rounds those who were better.

The problem with Reyes point of view is it is not the fault of the student's lack of commitment to the show it is the fault and responsibility of those judges and teachers who they selected as to who was qualified to be involved in the show. Obviously they made some BAD DECISIONS and now they reap what they sow.

The pressure and stress is not only a result of the backstabbing from fellow students but from the bitter criticism from the instructors and judges who appear to perceive themselves as being from a privileged class. Many of the students come from poor backgrounds.

After Ross departed student Apple mentioned to another student, "I haven't received a positive comment since I got here." Apple has one of the better voices in the contest and she was astute in appraising her situation.

Music is supposed to be about harmony but the constant mental battering by the judges and instructors towards the students is counter productive. The theory of tough love is not working in the instance.

During the second week of performances Sheng was verbally abused and embarrassed by judge Gerard Salonga who came off as if he has all the answers. The teachers in the backroom watching the show on a monitor applauded his loathsome actions.

Given his actions and the sarcastic tone of his voice Salonga has a very high opinion of himself. His outlandish verbal battering of Sheng's performance resulted in her being placed on probation with Jet. She lost by less than a 2% margin in viewer voting (51.07% to 48.93%) and though her voice is better than half of the remaining contestants is off the show.

The instructors disqualified several contestants with better voices than some of the contestants currently involved in the show. The backstabbing problem between the students emanates mostly from the 18-year-old faction that has formed its own clique and talk behind the older students backs ad plot and scheme. They have taken exception to Laarni 23, who they have called a witch who practices witchcraft; they talk down to her with no respect.

On her birthday June 23rd she made the students some jam and she was ridiculed by the 18-year-old clique for the ingredients she used. There are two 18-year-old contestants who constantly create problems Bea and Inaki. They influence Bea's boyfriend Miguel 18, who is more rationale and not evil but is easily influenced.

They have teamed up against Jet 26 who lets them know he comes from a tough background and due to his age can relate to them but they cannot relate to him given they haven't experienced what he's experienced in life. He also became a father last week and now has two children by his girlfriend. They feel he should leave and go home to his newborn child.

In a surprise move the mental midget producers of the program had Salonga return for a second consecutive week. He continued his smart @$$ act and made several positive comments to contestants who have very poor quality voices indicating favoritism. That was followed up by Reyes making a comment to the other instructors and supposedly mentors about some of the male contestants, "These are the three best looking guys in the group especially Sen." His comment raises the question, is he focused on finding the best talent in the group or the prettiest boys?

The show is about creating a soap opera and is not what they are selling as finding talent. This show is about sensationalism and spiking the viewer's interest so they will pay up to $40 for unlimited viewing of the show via Internet.

There not much to talk regarding talent because the TV show is focused on displaying the conflicts between the students. If this were a family it would be classified as dysfunctional. But the silver lining is there are others in the house that are committed to learning such as Liezel who was voted the best singer/performer on the first three performance shows which are televised on Saturday night. She and several other contestants are low profile and blend into the background and do not create problems. She is the example of the type of contestant the judges and teachers should have selected more of.

But the reality is the show is about THE MONEY which they charge the public for viewing access. The show is available via the Internet. Their charges are for 24/7 LIVE VIDEO STREAMING $40 SEASON PASS - $20 for 30 DAY PASS - $10 for 10 day pass - $5 for 5 day pass. To sum it up again…. it's about hustling MONEY.

The fans also vote. It's not clear at this time how much they are charged for voting. Our experience with contests in Cambodia is that they are charged roughly 10 cents for each SMS vote. Dream Academy viewers can vote by mobile and online. Their website notes that to vote for your favorite dreamer using your mobile phone, text. PDA - to access numbers: 2331 for Globe, TM and Bayan Wireless Landline subscribers 231 for Smart and Talk N' Text subscribers 4200 for Etisalat subscribers in the UAE.

There is a limit of 30 votes per scholars per SIM card per day. The voters must register and have an E-PIN that must be purchased. This show is about sensationalism, controversy and money and not about finding great talent. It's more about producing a controversial TV show that will attract views and MONEY.

The crash and burn of this abortion of a show is not the students fault, it's the responsibility and fault of those who selected the contestants who are causing the problems. Dream Academy? Dream about what….CONFLICT AND DISHARMONY?

The powers that be have created a nightmare that is not waiting to happen… IT IS HAPPENING… DUE TO THEIR POOR DECISION MAKING.

If you're interested enough to check it out go to: http://s2b.pinoydreamacademy.ph

Part 2 tomorrow - WHO IS GERARD SALONGA? - RATINGS FOR THE SAKE OF INTEGRITY - Our Choices for the TOP SIX VOICES

The Bloom Fell Off The Rose

What happened to a contest for teens that did not live up to it's former standards when these words were spoken: "Our society now has a bad problem with drugs and domestic violence. In order to solve these problems you have to start with the family but sometimes they don't understand. That's where we come in. It's not going to solve the problems of the world but at least we started something. We teach being a good teen at home by being a good son or daughter. At school (we teach) being a good student, in society to be a good friend. This is the concept we teach." COMING - The Bloom Fell Off The Rose

Note: The shows listed are for the Cambodia - Thailand time zone. Check your local listings for time and date in your area.

MONDAY

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

5:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

7:00 PM - TRIBE - DISCOVERY CHANNEL

10:00 PM - THE APPRENTICE - Star World

10:00 AM - TRIBE - DISCOVERY CHANNEL

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

10:00 PM - PRISON BREAK - Star World

FRIDAY

12:00 NOON - PRISON BREAK - Star World4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

4:30 PM - CLICK (Internet Technology program) - BBC6:00 PM - PRISON BREAK - Star World

SATURDAY

1:30 PM - CLICK (Internet Technology program) - BBC

3:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

6:00 PM - PRISON BREAK - Star World

7:30 PM - HI NET WORTH - (financial magazine show) - CNBC

9:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

10:00 PM - TRIBE - DISCOVERY CHANNEL

9:30 PM - DREAM ACADEMY - TFC (ABS-CBN) The Philippine Network

12:00 NOON - DREAM ACADEMY - TFC (ABS-CBN) The Philippine Network

1:30 PM - ASAP - TFC (ABS-CBN) The Philippine Network

3:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

4:00 PM - LARRY KING - CNN - Airs daily

8:30 PM - HI NET WORTH - (financial magazine show) - CNBC

9:00 PM - JAY LENO - CNBC

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