Chart Throb [Paperback]

Ben Elton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 17, 2007

Chart Throb: the ultimate pop quest. Ninety-five thousand hopefuls. Three judges. Just one winner. And that’s Calvin Simms, the genius behind the show. Calvin always wins because Calvin writes the rules. But this year, as he sits smugly in judgment upon the mingers, clingers, and blingers whom he has preselected in his carefully scripted "search" for a star, he has no idea that the rules are changing. The "real" is about to be put back into "reality" television, and Calvin and his fellow judges (the nation’s favorite mom and the other guy) are about to become "ex-factors" themselves. Ben Elton returns to blistering comic satire with a vengeance in this no-holds-barred competition. One winner. A whole bunch of losers. Crazed, no-talent, fame junkies . . . and that’s just the judges.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“An absolute coup of black comedy.”
–Daily Telegraph on Popcorn.


From the Trade Paperback edition.

About the Author

Ben Elton started his career as a stand-up comedian and branched out into plays, novels, and films. His three hit stage plays are Gasping, Silly Cow, and Popcorn, which won the Olivier Award for best comedy. He wrote and directed the feature film Maybe Baby, starring Hugh Laurie and Joely Richardson, which was based on his novel Inconceivable. He has is also the author of Dead Famous, The First Casualty, and Past Mortem.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Transworld Publishers; Reprint edition (July 17, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0552773778
• ISBN-13: 978-0552773775
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.1 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,167,220 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Humorous and Insightful., January 7, 2007

By 

Peter D. Sibly (Adelaide, South Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chart Throb (Paperback)

It's good to see Ben Elton returning again to the literary genre he does best - Comic Satire. Not only is Chart Throb a humorous read, it's an expose into what is commonly referred to as "Reality TV". With biting wit, Elton demonstrates in Chart Throb (a fictitious Pop Idol / X Factor "talent" quest) just how contrived, manipulative and scripted these kinds of shows really are. Not to mention the huge revenues collected from the millions of chumps prepared to spend money each week phone voting for their favorite performer.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable, very similar to "Dead Famous", December 19, 2006

By 

Neurasthenic "neurasthenic" (New York City, New York) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Chart Throb (Hardcover)

Unlike Dead Famous, this is not a mystery, but it is a comic novel set in the world of reality television, mocking the pretensions and idiocy of the competitors and maligning the cynicism of the producers. It's entertaining and, given Elton's background, feels a little bit like an expose of the television industry, which makes it even more fun.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Must read for anyone who has ever marveled at the reality tv phenomenon, April 28, 2008

By 

C. Quinn (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Chart Throb (Paperback)

Another hysterical look at reality TV from a talented, wry author. Highly recommended especially if you have ever wondered what it might be like behind the scenes on a show like American Idol. Elton is a master at this type of satire- it rings just true enough to make you squirm a bit before busting a gut laughing at his over the top characters. I picked this up at an airport in Europe and was convulsed on my long flight back.