"Reality singing is the most noble gladiatorial competition of our culture"

“Why in these terrible times do we need a TV singing competition? Why do we need football? Why do we need to watch a bunch of guys in pajamas try to hit a ball with a stick? Reality singing is the most noble gladiatorial competition of our culture, with people fighting to the death not with rubber balls, but with song. Why does that upset you so much? We need competitive singing now more than ever.”
 — “American Idol” expert Richard Rushfield has finally visited “The X Factor.” (Interesting: “X Factor films on the same stage as American Idol, but whereas the Idoldome stage faces south (if you are standing on the stage looking straight ahead) The X Factor stage is north facing.”)