STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs
In the early monthes of 2001,the whole of the country was tuning in as the clock ticked to the finals of the ''Popstars'',to see who the final selections would be out those auditioning for their shot at superstardom.When the finalists were finally drawn,and the single recorded,such was the alarming widespread success of the show that the band's (Hear 'Say,in case nobody knew)debut single flew straight to the No.1 spot on the Pepsi Countdown,and becoming the 3rd biggest selling British record to top the charts behind Elton John's Candle In The Wind and Band Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas?
Were the viewing public not kept so up-to-date with the proceedings,this could be deemed a shameful process of elimination.But instead of evoking scorns,Popstars is actually an engrossing parody of all the manufactured pop that clitters the charts these days.And more to the point,it's real life,making it even more engaging.Sure,the final band members picked are kind of common and cocky,and a lot of emphasis is placed on their sex appeal rather than any actual genuine talent they may have,but it's hard not to become endeared to their personas as the weeks drag by.It's almost mind-bending that the musically gifted Myleene was finally picked to be honest.But it's not just the finalists that should receive the most attention.Who could easily shake off sly panalist judge ''Nasty'' Nigel Lythgoe,Tony Hadley lookalike judge Paul,and idiotic University attendant Darius,with his awful rendition of Britney Spears''Baby One More Time''?This show intelligently grips you in a week-by-week affair ,until it's gripping climax.Shrug off it's initial appearance,and you are left with quite the year's biggest surprise so far.****
