I'm not a regular watcher of American Idol, America's Got Talent, Dancing with the Stars, and all the other competitions shows that glut the tube. I consider myself too dignified to stoop down to a pop culture phenomenon that ridicules absurd characters who are delusional to think they can make it to Hollywood and that showcases a bunch of Britney Spears-wannabes.
But there is a implicit foundation to these shows which is wholesome: an inherent recognition that there exists the True, the Good, and the Beautiful. No matter how much a performer relies on glitz, if the performer does not have true talent, the audience sees through the outward appearance and the performer fails. If the performer is truly good and demonstrates truly beautiful art, the audience generally recognizes and honors the performer.
That is what recently happened in Britain, on Britain's Got Talent, the British version of a glorified talent show. In an incredible Cinderella story, Paul Potts, a pudgy, insecure 36-year-old cell phone salesman and amateur opera singer stunned the judges in his first audition and proceeded to capture the hearts of the audience throughout the competition.
Here is Paul Potts's first audition. Be sure to check out the reactions of judges Simon Cowell (a scathing, acerbic judge on American Idol) and Piers Morgan (an acerbic, scathing judge on America's Got Talent), as they go from disdain to disbelief. Sit down without distractions, turn up the volume, and I think your soul might be touched. I was, and I don't even like opera!
1. His outstanding semi-final performance.
2. His performance in the competition finals.
3. The incredible conclusion of the show.
