Based on the UK's singing competition, this American Idol-like show is a talent contest consisting of four groups of contestants - all competing for the title of the X-Factor.
There were only three seasons, but undoubtedly the highlight of the show was judge Simon Cowell's brutally honest persona and a welcome comeback of judge Paula Abdul. The bad auditions were also a highlight of the show, especially hearing the tone-death contestants trying to belt out a tune and those who believe they're natural-born talents but ending up falling flat on the notes.
Some of the drama in the show were intense, especially those contestants who sang well but just missed the cut. Overall, you get to see some really good talent here.
However, the series wasn't too popular with other singing shows, as you could tell that some of the contestants acted like the show is more of a chance to make it based on sympathy instead of exhibiting good singing, and the judges' mentoring element of the four contestant group just didn't make a connection with me I think. It dragged the show, I thought.
Overall, it's not a terrible series - it just really is another singing reality show meshed in in what is an overly large number of those repetitive TV programs - it really didn't generate to much new material or uniqueness.
Grade C+
