Cowell enjoys his role as agent provocateur because it get free publicity. But what he really cares about his take on the record royalties he will get from producing Boyle, and the viral publicity has made sure his take will be big. Don’t be surprised if the first album they release is called something like “And the meek shall inherit…”.

Mind, I did tear up when I watched it, and I’m one who really really gringes at most Webber, especially Les Mis. But my real admiration is for the producers who played it pitch perfect, and guaranteed themselves super ratings, and Cowell who made himself a few more millions with a brief bit of mugging. Just remember, the key word in “Reality Show” is Show.

Purely as a basis of comparison, what DOES pull your heart strings?

I think we would all like to know what, if anything, moves someone unmoved by this.

It gives me hope that my talent, of being able to open a can of beer with my penis, will eventually go noticed by the rest of the world. I might not reach 20 million hits on youtube, but surely I can get at least a million on x-tube.

Thanks for the slight moments of pretending my eyes itched. It was a little embarrassing to have my kids see me start leaking from my eye sockets while they watched “The Backyardigans” and I sat watching my computer. My cold coal heart was reawakened. I actually thought it was dead ever since my father died, but yup it woke back up and was really moved. Thanks for the link to the video.

Michael