Tag: The X Factor (40-52 of 125)

Feb 17 2012 01:39 PM ET

Janet Jackson considering 'X Factor' gig?

Less than a week after X Factor creator/judge Simon Cowell admitted he had considered Whitney Houston for the show prior to her death, another diva has entered the fray. Reports have emerged that Janet Jackson may be taking one of the seats Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger vacated earlier this year. Jackson has neither issued a confirmation nor denial yet, but she is scheduled to appear on Monday’s episode of Anderson and, from the looks of a preview, doesn’t seem closed off to the possibility.

According to People, CNN, and Billboard, when host Anderson Cooper broached the subject, Jackson responded obliquely, “No, I am not [currently a judge on The X Factor], but that’s all I really think I should say.” Cooper had but one word: “Intriguing.” Sources close to the singer have told EW that Jackson would like to join the show as a judge, though they cannot confirm whether there is a deal in the works or currently in place.

Below, try to deconstruct Jackson’s coy giggle in the preview for Monday’s episode of Anderson. READ FULL STORY »

Feb 17 2012 11:09 AM ET

Simon Cowell suggests Super Bowl for 'X Factor,' 'Idol,' and 'The Voice'

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Image Credit: Mark Davis/Getty Images; David Livingston/Getty Im

We’re not sure which would make a better television special: a supernova competition between winners of The X Factor, American Idol, and The Voice, or a cage match between über-producers Simon Cowell and Nigel Lythgoe.

On Thursday, the two men engaged in a brief Twitter exchange that suggests a friendly rivalry could make for great TV if it ever found its way into broadcast. First, this from X Factor’s Cowell: “Maybe the winner of @TheXFactorUSA this yr should compete with winner of The Voice & Idol in a super final. Just a thought. I’d be up for it.”

Lythgoe then replied via @dizzyfeet: “@simoncowell suggests the IDOL winner should take on the voice and x-factor winners. The problem is the Idol winner will be a star by then.” Oh, snap! READ FULL STORY »

Feb 16 2012 12:10 PM ET

'The X Factor' announces season 2 audition dates, now allows contestants with previous contracts

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Image Credit: Fox

Fox announced today that auditions for season 2 of The X Factor will begin online March 1, with open-call auditions kicking off in Kansas City on March 14. The network also established a looser set of rules for the show’s sophomore edition, which will once again feature contestants competing for a $5 million recording contract. While the no-upper-age-limit policy stands, the bottom end of the age limit has been lowered to 12 years old after the success of big-voiced season 1 fan favorite Rachel Crow, 13. Also, artists with pre-existing management contracts (which is not to say a recording deal) are now eligible to compete. READ FULL STORY »

Feb 9 2012 02:08 PM ET

'X-Factor' rapper Astro's appearance on 'Person of Interest' -- EXCLUSIVE VIDEO

John P. Filo/CBS

It’s safe to say that most musicians on reality show competitions don’t hope to get eliminated during their season. But after seeing how things are going for nixed 15-year-old  X Factor contestant Astro, some may just change their outlook. In addition to his recent deal with Epic Records, Astro (real name Brian Bradley) is also making his way into the acting world: The rising star is appearing on tonight’s brand-new episode of Person of Interest. Check out EW’s exclusive clip, in which Astro plays a young man seeking justice for his murdered brother, who asks John Reese (Jim Caviezel) for help in his quest. Watch the two match wits here: READ FULL STORY »

Feb 7 2012 09:22 AM ET

Fox explains 'X Factor' shake-up, defends 'Idol' ratings -- EXCLUSIVE

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Image Credit: Fox

The changes to Fox’s singing competition shows have only just begun.

After weeks of dramatic headlines about American Idol‘s slipping ratings and The X Factor‘s talent departures, Fox’s president of alternative entertainment Mike Darnell spoke to EW about the challenges faced by Idol and Factor — and his strategy for remaining on top. Given their large number of hours and consistent ability to win time periods, one could argue that Idol and Factor are the No. 1 network’s most important shows. So what does it mean when the bulk of the Factor cast abruptly gets pink-slipped and Idol has CBS’ Big Bang Theory nipping at its heels on Thursday nights?

With Factor, the sudden exodus of host Steve Jones, judge Nicole ‪Scherzinger‬ and executive producer Simon Cowell’s longtime TV-spouse Paula Abdul may have stunned observers (L.A. Reid will return). Yet the move was somewhat less surprising to followers of the U.K. version, which sheds judges every few seasons. In a genre where tough-love auditions are the heart of the format, Darnell described being a star on Factor‘s debut as not entirely dissimilar to being a contestant.

“Season 1 was basically an audition act,” said Darnell late last week. “Simon got one big new star out of it — L.A. Reid, and that was great casting. There’s going to be a natural reassessment.” READ FULL STORY »

Feb 4 2012 02:49 PM ET

'X Factor': L.A. Reid will return for second year

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Image Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

The host and two of the judges on Fox’s The X Factor may be history, but at least one person is staying put alongside Simon Cowell. The option for L.A. Reid has been renewed so the judge/record mogul will stay with the Fox talent show for one more season.

Reid was originally tapped by Cowell because both men shared similar backgrounds, if not temperaments. (Reid could be just as harsh, if not more so, than Cowell during the show’s first season). Reid is a behind-the-scenes music mogul with a talent list that includes Mariah Carey, Pink, TLC and Usher. Could someone on that talent list now be tapped to replace judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger, who were booted last week?

For now, it’s all speculation — but at least it’s keeping tongues wagging about Cowell’s show in the off-season, while NBC’s singing competition show The Voice revs up for a new season next week. THR was the first to report about Reid’s return.

Host Steve Jones will also depart the show, as Fox and Cowell make changes to the series after the first season performed solidly, but fell short of what many felt was the show’s high potential. (Factor delivered about 12.6 million viewers and a 4.4 average rating among adults 18-49 for its Wednesday episodes). The performances of Scherzinger and Jones were particularly panned by critics.

For more:
Paula Abdul confirms exit
‘X Factor’ overhaul: Who should replace Nicole, Paula, and Steve?
‘X Factor’: With Nicole, Steve, and Paula gone, are you more likely to watch?

Feb 3 2012 12:00 PM ET

InsideTV Podcast: Picking the best and worst spin-offs ever. Plus: We recast 'X Factor' to make it a lot less lame

Image Credit: ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images

The recent news that there are plans in the works for a possible Dwight Schrute spin-off from The Office had us thinking two things. (1) Why? And (2) What are the best and worst TV spin-offs ever? Kristen Baldwin, Jessica Shaw, and I reveal our picks on the latest edition of the InsideTV Podcast. Which spin-offs were actually worth it and became classics in their own right? And which abominations (The Tortellis! Booker! Golden Palace! Joanie Loves Chachi!) made our list for the worst of the worst? Listen in and find out!

Speaking of problematic television, we also break down the recent X Factor bloodbath, with Paula Adbul, Nicole Scherzinger, and Steve Jones all getting the boot.  Out of the kindness of our collective heart, we provide the Fox network and Simon Cowell with a plan to get the show on track, offering up our dream judges and host to join the program and make it the buzz-worthy event it most certainly was not last fall. See if you agree with our picks, or offer up your own. READ FULL STORY »

Jan 31 2012 02:40 PM ET

Paula Abdul confirms 'X Factor' exit

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Paula Abdul tells it straight up: She’s exiting Fox’s X Factor.

The reality show star released a statement confirming her departure from the singing competition series. Within minutes, supportive statements from Fox and X Factor‘s near-last-man-standing Simon Cowell were released too. As EW.com reported last night, Abdul is leaving X Factor, along with fellow judge Nicole Scherzinger and host Steve Jones. All the statements are below.

Paula Abdul: “Yes, it’s true; I won’t be returning to The X Factor next season. I’ve learned through my longevity in this industry that business decisions often times override personal considerations. Simon [Cowell] and I, along with Fox and [producers] Fremantle, have been communicating about this for a while now, and I have absolute understanding of the situation. Simon is, and will remain a dear friend of mine and I’ve treasured my experience working this past season with my extended family at Fox and Fremantle. I want nothing more than for The X Factor to exceed ALL of their wildest dreams. This truly has been a blessing and I am most grateful.”

Simon Cowell: READ FULL STORY »

Jan 30 2012 11:55 PM ET

'X Factor' shake-up: Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger out

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UPDATED: Paula Abdul is leaving Fox’s The X Factor.

So is fellow judge Nicole Scherzinger.

And so is host Steve Jones.

Sources near the show confirm all three stars will not return for X Factor‘s second season next fall, though Fox has only officially acknowledged the departure of Jones and Scherzinger. The stunning X Factor exodus marks a dramatic day of network reality-show bloodletting.

READ FULL STORY »

Jan 30 2012 01:13 PM ET

'The X Factor' champ Melanie Amaro talks shooting her Super Bowl ad with Elton John -- EXCLUSIVE

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Image Credit: Chris Weeks

It’s fair to say that no reality show singing competition winner has ever been on the kind of high-profile launching pad that The X Factor champion Melanie Amaro is about to experience: Her own Super Bowl commercial. EW spoke with Amaro a few days after she shot her Pepsi spot with pop music legend Elton John, and we have an exclusive shot of them both from the royally-themed advertisement below. Check it out:  READ FULL STORY »

Jan 8 2012 08:44 PM ET

'American Idol' judges and producers diss 'The Voice'

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Image Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

For the first time in its history, American Idol will start its 11th season facing down competition from another network singing competition show: NBC’s The Voice, which launches its second season with a plum post-Super Bowl slot and will then start its regular two-hour berth on Mondays. While The Voice won’t go up directly against Idol, it was easy to see at the latter show’s TCA panel today in Pasadena that Idol‘s exec producers and judges are feeling a twinge competitive with their Mark Burnett-produced rival.

“The winner of The Voice, I will remind you, was an artist who had a deal at Capitol Records for several years, a failed contract,” said judge Randy Jackson of The Voice victor Javier Colon. “That show was almost ‘second chance people.’” READ FULL STORY »

Dec 23 2011 12:18 PM ET

'The X Factor' triumphs as No. 1 fall reality show

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Image Credit: Michael Becker/Fox

On an otherwise dreary night of programming, the first season finale of The X Factor easily won its time slot and helped to propel Fox to a viewer and demo win on Thursday. The talent show posted a 3.8 rating/11 share, up 31 percent in the key demographic of adults 18-49 versus a week ago, and up 25 percent in viewers (12.4 million versus 9.9 million), according to early results.

The finale delivered Fox’s most-watched entertainment telecast since premiere week.

We can talk about how the other nets did on Thursday but honestly — who cares? Everyone mostly aired reruns, save for NBC’s Who’s Still Standing, which only posted a 1.5/5, down 12 percent from last week. And how terribly sad to see an original of Prime Suspect wedged into the schedule: The canceled drama earned a 1.0/3. READ FULL STORY »

Dec 23 2011 04:10 AM ET

'The X Factor' winner's mentor says champ is 'someone who can sell records all over the world'

SPOILER ALERT! Don’t read any further if you don’t want to know who won the first season of The X Factor! For the rest of you, check out what the winner’s mentor had to say below:  READ FULL STORY »

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