I said I wouldn’t do it. I wouldn’t waste several hours every week this fall watching shitty singers compete for $5 million instead of watching what looks like a very healthy slate of new comedies and dramas on television. I was excited about carving out time for the return of “Glee,” my beloved Sarah Michelle Gellar in “Ringer,” Ashton coming in to save “Two and a Half Men,” the Emmy winning “Modern Family,” the 60-licious “Pan Am” (I love to hate flight attendants, ya know), and so many other worthy offerings that will likely fill my DVRs.
I’ve already sacrificed hundreds of hours of my life for “American Idol” and “Dancing with the Stars.” Do I need another competition show?! Given the fact that many of my evenings are consumed with my own productions and social life, can I really give up 2 or 3 hours to Simon and company?
Ugh! It seems that I’m in it to win it now.
The new “X-Factor”–well, new to us in the U.S.–is slicker, more highly produced than “Idol.” I love the fact that Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul are back together again where they belong; I totally dig pop singer Nicole Scherzinger as a judge (and a singer/dancer); and L.A. Reid is a thinking man’s Dawg (aka “Idol” hold-out Randy I-Can’t-Stand-You-Anymore Jackson.)
"The X-Factor" Judges
The biggest difference here is that fact that the initial round of auditions are not conducted in a small conference center break-out room, but in a stadium size theater with a live audience. This changes the game completely, putting the hopefuls right in the spotlight from the very second they step in front of the judges. That and the age range starts at 12, goes to infinity, and group acts are allowed.
And, naturally, comedy ensues.
One dude drops his pants and waves his cock around for all to see…causing poor Paula to gag and run from the set. A seemingly sweet country boy goes insane and throws his body across the stage as he screams obscenities. A creepy elderly couple sing a cringe-worthy duet. Oh, and a precious few wow the audience and prove that they have the chops to compete in a legitimate singing/performing show. Just a few.
Of course, it’s the fuck ups we most want to see…and “The X-Facter” doesn’t disappoint, complete with behind-the-scenes comments and rants.
Hey! And they have a bisexual hottie Brit as a host in Steve Jones. He’s no Ryan Seacrest, mind you, but he seems like he’ll be able to hold his own.
Host Steve Jones
When you get down to it, this British import isn’t all that different from the mega-blockbuster that is “Idol,” but it’s entertaining and worth a look. Is it worth my whole fall? Not sure. We’ll see how sucked in I really get.
Tags: music, television, The X-Factor
