Subscriber Vanessa_16 Posted November 18, 2015 Subscriber Share Posted November 18, 2015 The whole key to this contest is what Bigwave said "It's a tv thing". I don't think it has anything to do with rewarding big fans or who is the most deserving. I also don't believe that the 5 winners were the top 5 vote getters. With Hamish Hamilton confirming that the HBO broadcast is all going to be night 3, this contest was all about casting a tv production. They chose 5 people to play roles in the production and let the fan base help decide who was cast. I believe there are 2 reasons for choosing people who have already been on stage. The obvious one is that these people have proved they won't cave under pressure, eliminating anything shocking happening during the performance. The other reason to have people chosen in advance is for legal reasons. The 5 winners will clearly sign off on having their likeness appear in the initial broadcast, as well as for all future uses, such as HBO repeated airings, international broadcasts and home video release. There has long been a rumor that the reason that Tryin' To Throw Your Arms Around the World does not appear in the home video release of Zoo TV Sydney is because the girl invited on stage was underage and Bono gave her champagne to drink. If that's the reason, it has to all do with legal issues. Any winners will already have signed off and that will eliminate future issues. I have heard of 4 of the 5 winners and I believe they were essentially cast, but based on votes. It was obvious that U2 wanted U2Brothr there, as both news articles about this contest featured him prominently, both as a dancer and as a musician. It was more than just a subliminal plant to voters. I have no doubt though, that he was one of the top receivers of votes. He is well known and liked among U2 fans. He was a great choice for the production because they can decide which role to use him in: Meercat dancer or musician for the song after the Meercat. I believe only 2 or 3 of the winners will actually go on stage. Jacob, the boy from San Jose for City of Blinding Lights, was a winner and I don't necessarily believe he was one of the top 5 to receive votes. I believe he was the top person for his role: boy for COBL, so I believe he will go onstage for sure, unless the winner I don't know of won also for that role. The biggest competition is for the Meercat dancer. As I mentioned before, Mark (U2Brothr) can be the dancer or the musician. He is the most multi purpose person that was on the vote list. If the winner I haven't heard about is a musician, then they could use that person to play and Mark for dancer. If Mark is used as a musician, then it frees up the dancer spot for the 2-3 other winners. This is why I believe only 2 or 3 are going on stage. They chose extra people in case someone doesn't make it in time and allowing them to figure things out prior to Saturday's show. They have a safety net in place for the 2 or 3 roles in this production. It is very sensible and business way of looking at the contest. Thanks for the well detailed comment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber magnolia61 Posted November 30, 2015 Subscriber Share Posted November 30, 2015 Just returned from Dublin where I saw the fridaynight show. It is a petty we can vote anymore for Jenna (the meerkat girl from Toronto), since the competition is over. She was one of the most genuine happy onstage girls this tour and a very good meerkatter too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber malahidemarina Posted November 30, 2015 Subscriber Share Posted November 30, 2015 (edited) Should not be one of the "fans" that left early at Dublin 3, to get a number on their hand to queue for GA Dublin 4. That included many of the "high profile" names mentioned here before. Why not some people who were in the Bataclan for example. The Toronto girl was happy, but forgot to film the band, Bono had to remind her Edited November 30, 2015 by malahidemarina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber jenny1980 Posted December 4, 2015 Subscriber Share Posted December 4, 2015 I don't care about the contest, just curious who actually invented it? Does anyone know? I talked to Bono in Paris the day before the original HBO shooting and he didn't have the slightest clue about it. He was very surprised there was an e-stage-contest, so it wasn't the band's idea, that's for sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber edgesdancingqueen Posted December 8, 2015 Subscriber Share Posted December 8, 2015 I don't care about the contest, just curious who actually invented it? Does anyone know? I talked to Bono in Paris the day before the original HBO shooting and he didn't have the slightest clue about it. He was very surprised there was an e-stage-contest, so it wasn't the band's idea, that's for sure Really? That is very interesting! I noticed they had WAY more than 5 fans up there last night. I wonder if they called a whole bunch more on the contest list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber dermo Posted December 9, 2015 Subscriber Share Posted December 9, 2015 (edited) I don't care about the contest, just curious who actually invented it? Does anyone know? I talked to Bono in Paris the day before the original HBO shooting and he didn't have the slightest clue about it. He was very surprised there was an e-stage-contest, so it wasn't the band's idea, that's for sure Really? That is very interesting! I noticed they had WAY more than 5 fans up there last night. I wonder if they called a whole bunch more on the contest list. I think there in lies the basis of some peoples problem with this 'popularity contest'. There was no apparent transparency in how it was run. And before someone points out that there are alot more important things going on in the world that we should be devoting our time to, of course there are but in the U2.COM bubble it was significant and somewhat devisive. Likewise it may be pointed out that this was their contest and so they could run it however they wanted and again this is of course the case. Edited December 9, 2015 by dermo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber hestia Posted December 10, 2015 Subscriber Share Posted December 10, 2015 I thought it was a great contest !! A way to engage in healthy competion to inspire, motivate, and challenge us to become involved. Congratulations to our winners! Love the pics (would like to see more in the gallery ) All in good fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber JCF Posted December 11, 2015 Subscriber Share Posted December 11, 2015 I loved seeing so many fans on stage at once! A fun surprise. I am so curious what their experience was - did they have a rehearsal? Did they meet the band?? I'm sure it was such a thrill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber U2LAWoman Posted December 11, 2015 Subscriber Share Posted December 11, 2015 I loved seeing so many fans on stage at once! A fun surprise. I am so curious what their experience was - did they have a rehearsal? Did they meet the band?? I'm sure it was such a thrill. I have more questions too....don't wanna get jealous..but I was born jealous..so it doesn't matter.. Was it 4**** hotels, open bar, first class airline seats, private meeting and was it staged. Did they receive any gifts or backstage passes..commemorative books, special hugs..and conversations...haha... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subscriber malahidemarina Posted December 12, 2015 Subscriber Share Posted December 12, 2015 Pity that one of those fans didn't have the respect to stay away with the bono/larry moment during elevation. Seems she wanted to get that bad in the dvd? Bad manors, and some people here say she had no star behaviours and was a quite normal girl? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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