80 Year-Old Salsa Dancer Wows Judges, Draws Controversy On Britain's Got Talent

Via the Guardian:

It felt like another Susan Boyle moment, in the opening episode of the new series of Britain's Got Talent, when a 79-year-old grandmother suddenly revealed herself to be an extraordinary salsa dancer. But the shock on the faces of Simon Cowell and his fellow judges on the ITV talent show as Sarah "Paddy" Jones was thrown into the air by her Spanish dance partner Nico Espinosa, some 40 years her junior, may not be shared by everyone. Unlike Boyle, who was propelled from obscurity to international stardom when she sang I Dreamed a Dream in front of Cowell in 2009, Jones is already a talent show winner and Guinness World Record holder. Jones, from Stourbridge in the West Midlands, won Spanish talent show Tu Si Que Vales five years ago and went on to appear on This Morning and the Paul O'Grady Show, both on ITV. She later gained a place in the Guinness World Records in 2010 as the world's "oldest acrobatic salsa dancer". The producers of Britain's Got Talent defended her inclusion, saying anyone can apply to be on the show and none of the judging panel, including Cowell, knew that Jones had previously won a TV contest.

(Tipped by JMG reader Homer)

Susan Boyle Loses Britain's Got Talent

Susan Boyle, the frumpy Scottish (possibly autistic) woman whose Britain's Got Talent audition went on to became the most viewed video clip in the history of the world, lost in that show's finals last night. The winner was hip-hop dance team Diversity.

Britain's Got Terrified Talent

The #1 topic on Twitter at the moment is the train wreck that was 10 year-old Hollie Steel on tonight's semi-final of Britain's Got Talent. Either one of the most heart-breaking things you've seen on live TV or a well-coached play for a sympathy vote. Your call. Meanwhile Susan Boyle has been having serious problems of her own.

(Via - Buck Hollywood)

Dreambears On Britain's Got Talent

The third judge gave them a yes, so they did get through to the next round.

(Via JMG reader Marc)

The New Susan Boyle

Plucked eyebrows, leather jacket, hair de-frizzed. It will be interesting to see how Susan Boyle's fame goes now that she looks like a normal middle-aged woman. Obviously, a huge portion of her skyrocket to internet view count history was driven by her previously dowdy appearance. If she looked like this when she first appeared on Britain's Got Talent, I'd wager we've have never heard of her.

Susan Boyle's Competition

Queen Of The Internet

Whether you like her or not, it's rather fascinating to watch how Susan Boyle has blown existing internet viewing records out of the water.

The Internet has not seen anything quite like Susan Boyle, whose online popularity is headed straight to the history books. The video of Boyle's performance in the reality show "Britain's Got Talent" has set the record for the number of views in a week -- and shows no sign of slowing down. According to Visible Measures, which tracks videos from YouTube, MySpace and other video-sharing sites, all Boyle-oriented videos -- including clips of her television interviews and her recently released rendition of "Cry Me a River," recorded 10 years ago for a charity CD -- have generated a total of 85.2 million views. Nearly 20 million of those views came overnight. The seven-minute video that was first posted on YouTube and then widely circulated online easily eclipsed more high-profile videos that have been around for months. Tina Fey's impersonation of Sarah Palin has clocked in 34.2 million views, said the folks at Visible Measures, while President Obama's victory speech on election night has generated 18.5 million views.

Until last week, Boyle said she had never heard of YouTube.

Crazy Cat Lady Susan Boyle Tipped To Win Britain's Got Talent Contest

It looks like Britain's Got Talent has another Paul Potts on their hands. As a crazy cat lady myself, I'm feeling you, Susan!

She lives alone with her ten-year-old cat, has never been kissed, and is teased by children in the street. But 48-year-old Susan Boyle could just be the UK's next singing sensation. Devout Catholic Miss Boyle has been at the centre of a media storm since news emerged of how she wowed Britain's Got Talent judges Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan with her amazing opera voice. She has now been tipped to win the hit show and the chance to perform in front of the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance later this year.

(Via - Fark)