Frankly, I almost couldn't bear to watch Forney- I heard his song, 'Chicken Insurrection' that he sang for the 'festival'- I wonder- had he and his nephew even practiced? He began alone, and his nephew played catchup all the way, then he stopped at an indeterminate point. Even the audience didn't seem to know he had finished.

These songs given on the show were WAY different from the run of the mill mediocre song. (I got plenty of those) These were so bad that any normal studio would pitch them after reading not more than three words.

On the other hand, somehow this particular studio is evidently filling a need. The writers, it appears, do not feel condescended to, because the studio singers record the songs straight- there's no guffawing or snickering or over the top instrumental whine on the recording. They appear to treat the songs respectfully and the people who sent them in apparently love the treatment they get back. So there does not seem to be any humiliation. (Probably there are people who are NOT happy with the arrangement/tune/treatment- but the show didn't feature any of them.)

Wonder, however, what the writers' friends and families think of the masterpieces? Surely somewhere along the way, someone is honest about it?