Difference between revisions of "Vote for the Girls (United Kingdom)"

Revision as of 04:14, 4 February 2016

Vote for the Girls UK
200px Vote for the Girls UK logo
Presented by	Ava Zinn
Judges	Current: Kathi Jameson (2014, 2015-) Kendra Ray (2014-) Karly Ryder, Jr. (2015-) Tracia Ward (2014-) Former: Khayla Chow (2014) Nermal Everman (2014-15) Rhonda Rhodes (2015) Ariel Swaringen (2013-14)
Opening theme	What You've Done To Me by Samantha Jade
Ending theme	Here Come the Girls by Sugababes (VFTG Victory theme) The Man by Aloe Blacc (VFTG Loss theme)
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Language(s)	English
Production
Running time	Varies depending on results shows
Production company(s)	Aeverine Zinn Holdings
Distributor	NoSirGifts International Distribution
Broadcast
Original channel	Main:Expression error: Unexpected < operator.'s channel on YouTube International:Expression error: Unexpected < operator.'s channel on YouTube
Original run	June 1, 2013 (2013-06-01) – April 3, 2016 (2016-04-03)
External links
[{{#invoke:URL|url|1=www.voteforthegirls.co.uk|2=}} Official website]
[{{#invoke:URL|url|1=www.avazinn.com|2=}} Ava Zinn]

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 launched on June 1, 2013, and like the American version of the site, is devoted to voting for the female contestants on the ITV television programmes The X Factor and and the BBC television programme The Voice. The moderation panel consists of Zinn, Tracia Ward, Nermal Everman, Rhonda Rhodes, and Kendra Ray. 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

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 realised 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.

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 TV-MA-L in the United States for profanity, and rated 18 since the United Kingdom does not have its own TV Parental Guidelines.

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 16:9 format for its presentation, with the rating icons appear in the 4:3 safe area of the YouTube video. When shown on the American VFTG, however, both the 15 (UK) and TV-14 (US) [and rarely respective P (UK) and TV-PG (US); U (UK) and TV-G (US)] rating icons appear on the British version's episodes shown on the VFTG US YouTube Channel as a community service of Vote for the Girls USA. Ava Zinn adopted the United States system of guidelines providing parents for the United Kingdom equivalent with information to help them make more informed choices about what their children watch on the telly. Zinn's guidelines for the United Kingdom version equivalent were modelled after the TV Parental Guidelines rating system and based on the British Board of Film Classification. Zinn personally inserted a ratings icon on-screen at the beginning of all VFTG shows, in response to guidelines were supported by leading family and child advocacy groups, as well as television broadcasters, cable systems and networks, and television production companies both in the US and UK.

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 Indianapolis Colts American football games since Zinn is a rabid fan of the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL AFC and Chicago Bears of the NFL NFC.

Twists

After Vote for the Girls

Series overview

Series 1 (VFTG 2013)

The first VFTG-UK picks were Leah McFall, Andrea Begley, Alys Williams, and Sarah Cassidy. Unlike the American version, the British version of VFTG is uncensored and had no moderators with Zinn as the sole moderator until Ariel Swaringen was named chief moderator of VFTG UK. Williams and Cassidy were eliminated in the quarter-finals and considered to be a VFTG Painful Bankrupt since there were no other females to vote for on the respective teams Tom Jones and Jessie J on The Voice UK's second series. The site stuck with McFall and Begley throughout the competition as Begley won, giving VFTGUK its first victory.

On September 28, 2013, the site began following The X Factor UK for its tenth series. On the programme, Zinn said, "Last year, Great Britain fucked up when they voted Ella Henderson off. Had Vote for the Girls followed that season, it would have been a fucking VFTG Loss."

For the tenth series of X Factor, the UK's site chose Abi Alton, Hannah Barrett, Tamera Foster, Shelley Smith, Lorna Simpson, Samantha "Sam" Bailey (of which Ava recognizes as "Samantha Bailey"), and girl group Miss Dynamix. Bailey's victory gave the UK version's the second consecutive Victory and the first time on any version had a calendar year gone undefeated.

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 unsuccessful with the Christina Marie and Sally Barker for the Victory on 5 April 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 in that site's fifth series.

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 and Khayla Chow as moderators following the departures of Ariel Swaringen (died 22 March 2014) and Kathi Jameson (left to focus on the U.S. version). The was slated to add ITV's Rising Star but the show was axed.

The site followed the eleventh series of X Factor and the fourth series of The Voice UK.

There was speculation that the site would be adding Britain's Got Talent as a make-up competition following the American version's decision to add America's Got Talent and the American version of So You Think You Can Dance during the summer months as make-up competitions. The site couldn't add the British version of So You Think You Can Dance due to that programme being axed in 2011.

In August 2014, it was confirmed that VFTG UK will indeed add Britain's Got Talent and Strictly Come Dancing as a make-up competition following the American version's decision to add the respective American counterparts, America's Got Talent and Dancing with the Stars as make-up competitions.

In September 2014, Zinn revealed that a new element to VFTG UK called the "Moderators' Save," first used on the Sweden and Italy versions (of which have been used veto a Vote for the Girls loss), and most recently in the American version, which was used to veto Valerie Rockey's loss the American version's eleventh series of So You Think You Can Dance.

On 26 September 2014, a guest, unaware Zinn's schedule until being informed at a later date, tried to disrupt production 90 minutes into the rehearsal for the start of the second series, startling moderator Tracia Ward and creating a disruption.

For the eleventh series of X Factor, the UK's site chose Lola Saunders, Fleur East, Lauren Platt, and group Only the Young. The site used their Moderators' Save on Fleur East, sparing the site's first loss on X Factor; as with any Vote for the Girls loss, the moderator panel will be forced to participate in the ninth series of Britain's Got Talent.

For the twelfth series of Strictly Come Dancing, Ava Zinn chose Frankie Bridge, Pixie Lott, Caroline Flack, and Mark Wright; Nermal Everman chose Thom Evans and Greg Wallace; Tracia Ward chose Jake Wood, Steve Backshall, and Alison Hammond; Kendra Ray chose Simon Webbe, Judy Murray, and Jennifer Gibney--the former of the two went to Rhonda Rhodes after Ray took a leave of abscence after week 5. Rhonda Rhodes then chose Sunetra Sarker, a pick originally chosen by Khayla Chow before she was sacked on 18 September 2014. The site declared its first make-up victory when Zinn added Wright as a Vote for the Girls pick and finished in fourth place with Flack and Bridge declared co-victories (though Caroline Flack won the twelfth series of Strictly Come Dancing), nullifying Fleur East's X Factor defeat.

For The Voice UK's fourth series the site chose Lucy O'Byrne and Zinn became the winning moderator and marked the first time that one moderator had swept the series.

Series 3 (VFTG 2016)

Ava Zinn initially announced on 25 November that the fourth series would be the final series of Vote for the Girls; as such, the season is expected to have an additional focus on the program's alumni. Zinn returned as host,

The site was successful in the twelfth series of X Factor as Louisa Johnson was declared the winner. The site used a similar flex pick format used on the American version.

Co-hosts and moderators

Ava Zinn has hosted the UK versions since its launch.

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.

Moderators

Key:      Previous      Current

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 cyber-bullying 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 criticism 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 first few weeks of the second series, Zinn was 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. That changed in October 2014 when Kendra Ray and Rhonda Rhodes joined the moderator panel.

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.

On 6 July 2015, Nermal Everman drowned in the White River in Muncie, Indiana^[1][2] after a resident walking near the Cardinal Greenway in Muncie,^[2] found Everman's body. Police^[1] in Muncie, Indiana and the Delaware County's health department found that the water had not been contaminated after the city experienced major flooding in the area prior to Everman's death.

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 (1991-2014)

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 Malaya Watson's elimination on American Idol's thirteenth season during an episode of the original American VFTG, Chow shoved VFTG US Chief Moderator Holly Everman to the floor after Everman called Chow an "bi-black bimbo".

Chow was fatally shot on 21 October 2014.

Sounds

Often in many of VFTG's YouTube videos, the sounds used on VFTG UK were also used on the Bruce Forsyth-era of Price is Right and Wheel of Fortune. A female contestant being declared safe and advancing in the competition is indicated by a ding (from Wheel of Fortune when a letter is in the puzzle)^[3], while a male contestant being declared safe and advancing in the competition is indicated by a downward chord (also from Wheel of Fortune UK)^[4]. Like the American version, if the next to last male contestant is voted off (leaving only one male contestant in the competition) or all female contestants in the competition are declared safe and advancing in the competition, the well-known "clangs" sound, from American version of Price is Right, are heard^[5].

Additionally, when a "Vote for the Girls Loss" is declared, the Wheel of Fortune buzzer and the "Losing Horns" fanfare from The Price is Right is played when a male contestant wins the singing competition or the last female contestant is eliminated from the competition^[4]. Whereas, when a "Vote for the Girls Victory" is declared, the well-known "clangs and whoops" sound, also from the American version of The Price Is Right, are also heard, when the last male contestant is eliminated or a female wins the competition.

On several occasions, a "Vote for the Girls Bankrupt" is declared, the "Bankrupt Whistle" fanfare from the American version of Wheel of Forune and the "Losing Horns" fanfare from The Price is Right is played when Ava Zinn's primary pick is eliminated from the competition.

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 "What You've Done To Me" by Australian X Factor season 4 winner Samantha Jade; however, the instrumental version is used. The intro is a montage of various clips since VFTGUK's debut.

In October 2014, the intro was changed. Like the American version, the intro begins with the virtual VFTG set featuring video montages of respective The Voice UK series 1 and 2 winners Leanne Mitchell and Andrea Begley, and X Factor series 10 winner Sam Bailey and introductions of moderators of Tracia Ward, Nermal Everman, and Khayla Chow, with Zinn appearing at the end. Additional montages will include the eliminations of Ella Henderson, Sarah Cassidy, Rachael O'Connor, and Tamera Foster.

VFTG-supported contestants

Moderator picks and supported contestants

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". ^[6] 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.

Seasons

To date, two series have been broadcast, as summarized below.

Key

Moderator Victories

Reception

Ratings

Awards and nominations

Controversy and criticism

References

External Links

• Vote for the Girls UK Official Web site
• @vftguk on Twitter
• Vote for the Girls UK on Facebook
• Expression error: Unexpected < operator.'s channel on YouTube