The thing that many people don't realise about these shows is that performers are filtered about 3 times before they get in front of the judges on TV. If you are really good (within the confines of what passes for good i.e. generally you have to look and sound like every other artist on the judges books and be able to belt out an overblown and over produced pop ballad) you get through, but importantly , if you are really bad you can also get through because more than anything else it's an entertainment show. Having someone who is awful but thinks they are ok because they've got that far is GOOD TELEVISION (aka a freak show as referred to above by Melodeonboy). The producers knew what they were doing with Susan Boyle but she's the exception and normally the end result is a further homogenisation of popular music.