[a fool in paradise]

Remember it’s a show made by the record company to make the process of finding talent profitable.

It isn't just about "finding" talent, it is also about marketing several singers for a whole season. They don't "suddenly" become famous when the season is over, they've already been test marketed for months.

[nufsed]

Can anyone find a picture of Barton.

[razorboy]

That’s true, finding the talent AND pre-marketing the talent, all at a profit. Pretty impressive really to take two of the mroe expensive parts of starting a new act and making them profitable in their own right.