User:Nsgaeverine/sandbox/Vote for the Girls UK
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Screenshot | |
Type of site | Entertainment web site |
---|---|
Available in | English |
Owner | Aeverine Zinn Holdings |
Created by | Host: Ava Zinn Chief Moderator:Tracia Ward (2014-) Ariel Swaringen (2013-14) Moderators: Khayla Chow (2014-) Kathi Jameson (2014) |
URL | voteforthegirls.co.uk |
Commercial | Yes |
Registration | optional |
Launched | 1 June 2013 |
Vote for the Girls UK is a British internet web site created by American entrepreneur Ava Zinn based on the American site of the same name. Based on the original US site, and an addition to the Vote for the Girls franchise, web series programs are produced by executive producer Ava Zinn and her company Aeverine Zinn Holdings. Vote for the Girls is a website devoted for voting for only female contestants, based on the original US website. .
The site debuted on June 1, 2013, and like the American version of the site, is devoted to voting for the female contestants on the
. The moderation panel consists of Zinn, Tracia Ward, and Khayla Chow. Like the American version of Vote for the Girls (VFTG), fans of the site are encouraged to "only vote for female contestants". According to the American version of site, the purpose is "to support voting for the entertaining contestants who the producers would love to see win on American Idol" in order to make it a "real good show."History and Development
In 2008, Ava Zinn began watching American Idol (based on the original UK Pop Idol) and seeing the eliminations of female contestants from the seventh through the latter part of the ninth season, Zinn realized that she decided to do something about keeping female contestants on American Idol and eventually discovered discovered that Vote for the Worst essentially ruined American Idol. VFTG USA's first two seasons of American Idol were massively successful, but while fell short when the winner of American Idol was announced. Zinn wished to launch a new site which she would own the rights to. In 2010, following the elimination of Siobahn Magnus, Vote for the Girls, created by Zinn with no involvement from Vote for the Worst creator Dave Della Terza.
History of the United Kingdom version (VFTG-UK)
On June 1, 2013, the site launched a UK version known as Vote for the Girls UK, on the American version of VFTG's web site. Like the American version, Ava Zinn also hosts and the sole administrator of this version from US, making VFTGUK having the rare distinction of a British web site's production entirely in the United States since most programmes are produced in the United Kingdom.
Zinn has noted that as a community service, some episodes of the British version are on the American version of VFTG--although the American version, profanity is bleeped and pixelated (later with the VFTG icon) to mask profanity, and many of the uncensored American VFTG shows are on the British VFTG as VFTG USA. Most of the American episodes on the VFTGUK YouTube channel are rated
Like the American counterpart, the first 15 seconds of every Vote for the Girls UK episode shown on the VFTG UK channel, both the 18 (UK) and TV-MA-L (US) rating icons appear in the upper-left hand corner of the screen. Since the first series, both the American and British versions uses a
The British version of Vote for the Girls site follows the original American version's model completely, with Zinn presenting the show as it aired in the United Kingdom as London is GMT, but in general Zinn is able to watch the program on Eastern Time-based AZH Holdings as early as 1:30 PM US Eastern (depending on the British programme's schedule). The Voice UK normally starts at 6:45 PM GMT (1:45 PM US Eastern) on BBC One and The X Factor UK at 8:00 PM GMT (typically 3:00 PM US Eastern) on ITV, and thus pre-empting most of
Series 1 (VFTG 2013)
The first VFTG-UK picks were
On September 28, 2013, the site began following
For the tenth series of X Factor, the UK's site chose
For The Voice UK's third series, the site chose Rachael O'Connor on Team Kylie; Iesher and Sophie on Team will; Sally Barker and Georgia Harrup on Team Tom; and Christina Marie and Emily Adams. O'Connor, Iesher, Harrup, and Adams were all eliminated in the quarter-finals and Zinn called the series after what Zinn said "Great Britain really fucked up." This marked the first time a competition had been called off even though there were females still in the competition. However, the site proved to be unsuccesful with the Christina Marie and Sally Barker for the Victory on April 5, 2014. The site then declared its first VFTG Loss in the UK. The loss did not sit well with Kathi Jameson and Khayla Chow, the latter of whom called Lee Glasson "a fuckin' dick for robbing Rachael O'Connor." The loss subsequently led to a brawl on the US version on 10 April 2014.
Series 2 (VFTG 2015)
In a Twitter post by Ava Zinn on 14 April 2014, it was revealed that a second series of VFTG UK would be postponed until as late as August 2015 as a result of Chow's actions. Zinn later retracted her post and announced that a second series will begin in August 2014.
Many changes were introduced this series, from the format to the personnel of the site. Nermal Everman and Tracia Ward joined Ava Zinn as moderators following the departures of Ariel Swaringen (died 22 March 2014), Kathi Jameson (left to focus on the U.S. version), and Khayla Chow (sacked on 18 September 2014). The site was planning to add ITV's Rising Star upon the launch in March 2015 before the broadcaster announced in September it was a no go. The site continued with the
There was speculation that the site will add
In August 2014, it was confirmed that VFTG UK will indeed add Britain's Got Talent and
Co-hosts
Note: The first seat serves as the moderator. When the moderator is off, Zinn acts as moderator and moves to the first seat.
Vote for the Girls creator and web master Ava Zinn was selected as the main host for the British version in May 2013, a role she has held ever since except on March 8, 2014. Zinn also serves as the fourth moderator for Vote for the Girls. Zinn is also the webmaster of the American counterpart.
Current Former Future
UK Moderator Seat | Name | First show | Last show | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st (chief moderator) |
Ariel Swaringen^1 | June 1, 2013 | March 15, 2014 | |
Tracia Ward | September 26, 2014 | — | ||
2nd | Kathi Jameson | February 22, 2014 | April 5, 2014 | |
Nermal Everman | September 26, 2014 | — | ||
rowspan="2" | 3rd | Khayla Chow | February 22, 2014 | April 5, 2014 |
TBA | — | — | ||
4th | Ava Zinn ^2 | June 1, 2013 | — |
^1 Swaringen died on March 22, 2014.
^2 When the United Kingdom chief moderator is off, Zinn acts as moderator and moves to the 1st seat.
Current Moderators
Ava Zinn
Vote for the Girls UK creator and web master Ava Zinn was selected as the main host for the British version debuted in June 2013, a role she has held ever since. Zinn also serves as the fourth moderator.
Like the American counterpart, Ava Zinn frequently faces criticism when she advises fans of VFTG to never vote for a male contestant, which often times viewers of The X Factor and The Voice UK see as a blatantly sexist remark. Zinn's signature phrases "WGWG Commie" (in reference to the white guy with guitar that American Idol pundits call and Communism) and "Shush it!" (a phrase used to quiet an irate moderator), use of profanity and harsh critics enjoys some popularity in the contemporary vernacular. Zinn particularly enjoys making her guests angry with each other and often fans of male contestants angry with Zinn, which on a few occasions resulted in cyberbullying via Facebook and Twitter and physical confrontations. One such notable incident occurred on VFTG UK was after hearing Rachael O'Connor had the fewest number of votes from the British public and learning hours after learning of the death of VFTG UK moderator Ariel Swaringen, Zinn faced criticsm after Khayla Chow (via the site's Twitter page) called Lee Glasson "a fucking dick for robbing Rachael and glad the dick was gone." Another confrontation happened on the American version after the elimination of Malaya Watson on April 10, 2014, involving VFTG USA moderator Holly Everman and VFTG UK moderator Khayla Chow. The exchange between the two women culminated in Chow shoving Everman into her chair, knocking her to the floor after Everman called Chow a 'bi-black bimbo" (in reference to Chow's race and sexual orientation) and Zinn intervening to separate the pair (which was not shown due to the nature of the brawl).
There was a few times when the VFTG UK Chief Moderator Ariel Swaringen was off, Zinn moved to the first seat, and filled in on 29 March and 5 April 2014.
In the second series, Zinn is the only trans woman, in addition to being the oldest at 31 years of age, on the moderator panel as Nermal Everman, Tracia Ward, and Khayla Chow are all female.
Tracia Ward
It was announced on 23 June 2014 that American presenter Tracia Ward was confirmed as a moderator of both the American and British versions of Vote for the Girls. In a interview with Fiona Johnson in San Fransisco, Ward revealed she had accepted a moderator panel role on Vote for the Girls USA and Vote for the Girls UK.
Nermal Everman
In a Facebook post by her auntie (Holly Everman) on the American version of Vote for the Girls, it was revealed on 11 July 2014 that Nermal Everman was confirmed as a moderator of the British versions of Vote for the Girls. Nermal inherited the moderator role that her father, Michelle Steele, held from the American counterpart. However, Nermal Everman was dismissed from the American version of VFTG due to Aeverine Zinn Holdings (owner of Vote for the Girls franchise) strict family contractual restrictions disallowing immediate family members serving as moderators to protect the Vote for the Girls' ratings and revenue; in the case of Nermal Everman, she is the niece of current VFTG USA co-host Holly Everman and daughter of former VFTG USA moderator Michelle Steele, and Nermal's auntie Holly has been with the American version since its debut in April 2010. Nermal Everman could serve as moderator on the American version, but only off-camera, including making frontrunner picks, except for common primary picks not claimed by Holly Everman, so Nermal's mother, Elisa Steele (and the sister of Holly Everman) approached Ava Zinn about allowing Nermal to become a moderator of Vote for the Girls UK as a birthday present for Nermal after she chose to resign from the American version completely. As mentioned above, Nermal Everman is the niece of of VFTG USA co-host Holly Everman, which would have come in handy had Holly Everman resign from the American version. This issue has also affected many other members of the same immediate family that have worked with Ava Zinn over the years, Nermal Everman was officially dismissed from the American version in August 2014.
Former Moderators
Ariel Swaringen (1990-2014)
Ariel Swaringen served as the original chief moderator of the British Vote for the Girls site and show from its June 1, 2013 debut until her death in March 2014. Swaringen also served as the second moderator of the American version of VFTG from October 2013 until her death on March 22, 2014.
Kathi Jameson
Kathi Jameson joined both the American and British versions of Vote for the Girls in January 2014 after it was reported in October 2013 that American transgender socialette Kathi Jameson, the transgender daughter of Alaina Jameson of Chicago, would be joining both the US and UK Vote for the Girls as a moderator. A source said, "Kathi is 90 percent a done deal. She's a big star and loves nurturing female singers. She shoots from the lip, and will not be afraid to tell it like it is.". Kathi Jameson was later confirmed as a moderator on Vote for the Girls USA (as well as the UK counterpart), of this she said, "I'm proud to be doing Vote for the Girls because as a fellow Chicagoan (unlike DDT of VFTW), Chicago was the first place I saw success," she said. "It's the place I'm the most creative outside of Chicago." Ava Zinn added, "I am thrilled that Kathi has signed up to be a moderator on VFTG. She is a huge star who will bring a unique creativity to the site." Talking about the differences between the site and Vote for the Worst, "I’ll never be a moderator for VFTW. VFTG is different. You can’t even compare the two. One, you have a site that promotes votes for the female contestants and voting out the WGWG's to make the next generation of music legends, giving their opinions on things when they don’t really know, other than Simon Cowell. The other site you have a gay man, the gay man's sister, a man addicted to WGWGs, and a guy smarter than Kellie Pickler polling fans on who is the worst contestant.
In preparation for the role as a moderator, she asked friend and former Chicago reporter Amy Jacobson. Talking to a trusted source she said, "I reached out to Amy for advice on keeping your cool, having a poker face, the importance of sticking with the singers on TV – it's their dream, a lot of the times when you have other performers a part of the show, celebrities tend to want the shine so they hog up time. So my whole thing was that I want to do VFTG, but I don't want to hog up time to where the singers up there are looking like, 'Is this about you guys?'." Ava Zinn said, "Kathi goes everywhere with her music kit. So it was no surprise to everyone when she and her crew turned up with a stack of gear on her first day. I think it is great as we want her to be happy while she's on the site, and who knows what ideas she'll come up with for her picks?".
On April 7, 2014, Jameson announced that she would be leaving VFTGUK after one series, with a statement saying, "After some long ... hard ... thoughts ... I didn't feel like Vote for the Girls UK was the right fit for me." However the reports suggest that Jameson was dumped by the VFTG UK webmaster Ava ZInn. Jameson has indicated that her troubles with her transition from male to female was the primary reason she signed up to do Vote for the Girls UK, yet has stated that she will remain on the original American version. Jameson's departure and eventual replacement on VFTG UK also saw Ava Zinn as the only transfemale on the moderator panel of Vote for the Girls UK.
Khayla Chow
American feminist Khayla Chow was confirmed as a third moderator of VFTG UK in January 2014, and has held the position ever since. Chow's moderator panel role have made her a much-sought after commentator on national television and radio programs. She was a frequent guest on several stations in Texas. Her father, Kristina Chow (born Kristopher Chow), has been a news anchor in Houston, Texas since 1994.
Khayla is noted for initiating violence in two on-YouTube fights in the middle of results shows in 2014. The first in the midst of an argument over
On September 18, 2014 Ava Zinn announced on the American version that Chow was fired.
Sounds
Often in many of VFTG's YouTube videos, the sounds used on VFTG UK were also used on the
Additionally, when a "Vote for the Girls Loss" is declared, the Wheel of Fortune buzzer and the "Losing Horns" fanfare from
On several occasions, a "Vote for the Girls Bankrupt" is declared, the "Bankrupt Whistle" fanfare from the American version of
Vote for the Girls is somewhat rare among web sites in that all of the responsibilities of judging fall to a single person, Zinn, instead of a full panel of judges, or a majority vote by the contestants. Additionally, Zinn has the power to override the basic format of the site, such as ignoring moderator suggestions or changing picks during performances.
Like the American version, the site uses the stopper sound from the American version of Scrabble when a VFTG Pick is eliminated. Additionally, after Tamera Foster's elimination also left Samantha Bailey as the last remaining female in the X Factor competition, which is indicated when the third stopper sound from Scrabble is used. When a female contestant is eliminated from the competition with no female contestants remaining, the competition ends, which is indicated by the well known Stopper sound from Scrabble and the losing horns from The Price is Right are used. Vote for the Girls UK did not have a loss of any kind until April 5, 2014 when Jermain Jackmon won.
Opening theme/Theme Song
The primary opening theme is "
In October 2014, the intro was changed. Like the American version, the intro begins with the virtual VFTG set featuring video montages of respective
VFTG-supported contestants & Male Moderator
Unlike the American version of Vote for the Girls, where it competes against Vote Against the Producers and Vote for the Worst since the latter of of the two did choose picks for The X Factor.
There has been one occasions in which a Vote for the Girls pick have been a male contestant. During The Voice UK series 3, the site decided James Byron as a transwoman (male-to-female) as "Jimmi Byron". [4] Unlike Alex & Sierra pick on The X Factor USA, Jimmi Byron was declared a transgender female (even though Byron stated in the audition that the individual is male). The pick of Jimmi Byron drew controversy on the American version of VFTG.
Starting with the December 1, 2013 episode, Zinn offered a buyout to the moderator(s) to quit the respective competition before the program's results are revealed. A male moderator, whose appearance and voice are not shown, will phone down to Zinn's phone on the podium. The Male Moderator and Zinn will converse (the Male Moderator's voice is never heard) and Zinn will then inform the moderators of the Male Moderatror's "offer", the amount of which depends on the number of female contestants remaining in the competition, in exchange for not to continue with the competition. A Male Moderator Cash Offer is offered as chance to end the competition, with the Male Moderator Deal offer. Although the Male Moderator will talk to Zinn (and occasionally the moderators) via phone, and is said to calculate the offers. The calculation is essentially the average value of the VFTG Jackpot slightly higher or lower depending on the progress. Cash is offered prior to the Semi-finals of the respective competitions to be split evenly among the moderators that accepted the offer. In the Semi Finals and Finale, each individual moderator could choose to take a buyout consisting of a and various prizes (respective trip, Mini Cooper, or home makeover) plus £5,000 (semi-finale) and a bigger prize (usually a luxury trip or a car) plus £7,500 (finale) cash (approximately £25,000 to £50,000 total value, respectively).
Zinn will then ask all three of the moderators the option to stop the competition after there are two female contestants left on the American versions of The Voice and X Factor (before the finale), one female contestant on American Idol, the respective Australian and British versions of The X Factor, or four or fewer female contestants on the respective Australian and British versions of The Voice. If one or more moderators wishes to stop, the moderator(s) presses the button to end the competition and take ten percent of the VFTG Jackpot, otherwise, the moderator(s) declares "No deal!" and does not press the button, requiring the moderator(s) to continue into the next round of the competition. This also can happen though there were still female contestants left in the competition in which due to a lopsided competition or a level of conflict, any VFTG moderator can decide whether or not to continue to the next level.
If one or more moderators chose to take the buyout, the value is deducted from the Vote for the Girls jackpot. If at least one moderator chose to continue with the competition, the competition continued. If one or more female contestants advanced, the cash award is added to the Vote for the Girls jackpot.
X Factor (UK)
Series 10[5]
- Lorna Simpson (Top 12 - Painful Bankrupt)
- Shelley Smith (Top 12 to Top 11)
- Miss Dynamix (Top 12 to Top 10 - Painful Bankrupt)
- Abi Alton (Top 12 to Top 8)
- Hannah Barrett (Top 12 to Top 6)
- Tamera Foster (Top 12 to Top 5 - Painful Bankrupt)
- Sam Bailey (Top 12 to Finale - VFTG Victory) WINNER
Series 11[6]
- To Be Determined
Moderator Picks
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The Voice (UK)
Series 2
- Andrea Begley (Team Danny): Winner (First VFTG UK Victory)
- Alys Williams (Team Tom)
- Sarah Cassidy (Team Jessie)
- Leah McFall (Team will)
Series 3
- Iesher Haughton (Team will): Quarter-Final
- Rachael O'Connor (Team Kylie): Quarter-Final
- Georgia Harron (Team Tom): Quarter-Final
- Emily Adams (Team Ricky): Quarter-Final
- Sophie May Williams (Team will): Semi-Final
- Sally Barker (Team Tom): Runner-Up (First VFTG UK Loss)
- Christina Marie (Team Ricky): Runner-Up (First VFTG UK Loss)
Moderator Picks
CALLED COMPETITION |
Abstained |
Abstained
|
Abstained
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Series 4
- TBA (Team will)
- TBA (Team Tom)
- TBA (Team Ricky)
Moderator Picks
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VFTG UK Make-Up Competitions
Strictly Come Dancing
The site will commence following
Moderator | Pink | Purple | |||
Safe | Top | Safe First | Safe Last | Eliminated | Winner |
Series 12
Week: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Place | Moderator | Pick | Result | ||||||||||||
Khayla Chow | Aljaž Skorjanec
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Sunetra Sarker Brendan Cole |
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Nermal Everman | Iveta Lukosiute
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Greg Wallace
Aliona Vilani |
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Tracia Ward | Jake Wood Janette Manrara |
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Steve Backshall Ola Jordan |
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Ava Zinn | Frankie Bridge Kevin Clifton |
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Caroline Flack Pasha Kovalev |
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Pixie Lott Trent Whiddon |
Pixie Lott and Trent Whiddon was not initially chosen as a VFTG pick, but was declared a VFTG pick after Zinn decided she had made a mistake in not including Pixie Lott, bringing the total number of VFTG picks to nine. This means Zinn had three VFTG picks while Chow, Everman, and Ward had two.
Britain's Got Talent
References
- ^ Ava Zinn. "VFTG MASHUP: American Idol Top 10 Results (3/14/13)". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
- ^ a b Ava Zinn. "Vote for the Girls Mashup: Worst Season Ever (w/Ava Zinn & Gordon Ramsay)". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
- ^ [citation needed]
- ^ "Jimmi Byron declared a VFTG UK pick". Vote for the Girls UK. Aeverine Zinn Holdings. 8 February 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
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External links
- Vote for the Girls UK Official Web site
- @vftguk on Twitter
- Vote for the Girls UK on Facebook
- Vote for the Girls UK's channel on YouTube