Sharon Osbourne

[David H]

Besides being married to Ozzie and as a result being followed by cameras being herself, what actual qualifications does she have to judge on X factor and present her own programme?

[Stephen_G]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Osbourne

[luckyeight]

She manages Ozzy and was astute enough to orchestrate 'The Osbornes' and basically give herself and two of her kids multi-million pounds worth TV shows. She is as much involved in the music/media/PR business as any other of the judges.

[David H]

That is interesting. I tried IMDB and they mention nothing before the Osbournes arrived on TV. But being a manager of course often makes you richer than the artists so she certainly knew the business like the other two panelists.
Plus I discovered she's not even Jewish! Like Ben Elton, regardless of their fathers both have Irish Catholic mothers. I am twice disappointed.

[weefatboab]

Sharon is also the daughter of the music manager Don Arden, groups he managed included ELO, The Small Faces & Ozzy's old group Black Sabbath.

[almcd007]

So the question remains - i think - what does she actually know about the music industry apart from being married for a long time to Ozzy Osbourne and all the baggage that went with it. I'm with David H on this one - I can't see it. I don't think she is qualified to mentor the other two are managers and founders and producers of acts. She "orchestrated" The Osbournes ? Whilst being entertaining to an extent it did show the fact that they were disfunctional, mannerless, rude, obnoxious (shall I go on) & spoilt with a "penchant" for plastic surgery and definately more money than sense with the children being products of parents on drugs/drunk most of the time. Whilst bringing in the money it predominantly showed them to be all the things above and more - I was ashamed they flew the british flag.

I would rather my son or daughter be mentored by one of the other judges who know what they are talking about. I think I need to see qualifications before I'll change my mind about her.

[Ric.ror]

I must be honest I had to laugh when she re-took her wedding vows with Ozzy in a jewish ceromaony wearing the largest diamond encrusted crucifix I ahev ever seen. I hate it when people do that - like the fashion last year for celebs to wear rosary beads

[shineybomb]

She was a manager herself just like the other judges - she managed the Smashing Pumpkins and there may have been others but I am not sure.

I think she knows more than Louis - he manages Westlife. All they do is the same song over and over with a key change at which point they stand up off their stools.

[almcd007]

I don't think her level of management or success as a manager is anything like the other Judges. She's a face that women like and she has a pair of kahunas - she's there purely for entertainment value - just like the "arguments" each week.

[David H]

I personally think she's a lovely person from what I see, but unlike the other two panellists didn't have any public profile or known qualifications before her own programme which shot her to fame. Simon Cowell is one of the sharpest around and also seems a lot nicer underneath, and is never rude without being accurate. And he sometimes prefers to go with his own personal preferences than the musical talent, which is his privilege but doesn't mean they couldn't be successful, he just doesn't like them and votes no against the other two.
I almost like the banter in the panel as much as the duff singers. They should have two awards, and do a second for the worst, and then put them in Big Brother. The acts on X factor are far weirder than BB though admittedly would probably not survive two days in the house like Shahbaz this time round. I love reality TV!

[gary baldy]

She aint no fool.
Ozzy's life and career was on its @rse and she steered him both professionally and musically in a new direction.
As has been mentioned she grew up around some massive bands because of her dad and managed other bands beside Ozzy.
I would say musically she is the best qualified of the lot !

[shineybomb]

I agree with gary baldy - Sharon knows a lot more than Louis does about music.