The X Factor

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+

Judging from the 5.7 rating, it would seem that the majority of viewers are as Luke warm about X Factor as I am....such a disappointment! The irony is....the show just seems to be missing its own X Factor...that elusive quality that makes it appealing, addictive, thoroughly satisfying. Way off the mark from "Idol".

No real human connection. The judges seem to be more interested in besting each other than in mentoring (if that is even an appropriate word in this case) their brood of wannabees.

Simon is beyond redemption as a caricature of himself, Paula will soon be without a group to mis-mother. LA should try NY, and Nicole should just ride off into the has been sunset.

I've seen thousands of movies and hundreds of TV shows, and I can tell a good one when i see it. And this is not one to throw away... Of course, you must be into this kind of TV shows, but if you are that person I really think that you gonna like it... maybe not everyone will love it, but i'm sure it deserves at least a 7 from the most critical critic... And men, there are some good voices in this show... no spoilers but I gotta warn you that there's a very ugly scene in the beginning of the season, which I think that judges could have stopped before getting to the votes (if you have seen it you know what i'm talking about) All the things considered, a good family show for a nice evening.

Enjoy it !

For a genre that after ten years of Idol, and rivaled by the Voice, and a ton of other shows, this is proof that go big or go home really works - it was exciting, captivating, and by opening up the age limits we had youngsters and over 30s who proved that singing is universal, and it's never too early or too late to try.

As I write this 63 votes cast on IMDb and half of those gave this a 1, what show were they watching? - are they on the Idol production team? This was big and fun - less bad auditions, a huge stadium of people to give their opinion, and the return of Simon Cowell, I mean come on, what more do you want?

This is going to be a very long haul - from now all the way through to Xmas - but I've looking forward to every moment. Having watched and seen the amazing success that the X Factor has had in the UK (The number one show producing the number one artist and the UK Christmas number one for the past four years) I feel sure that this is the show that Idol now longs to be; brilliant, brilliant stuff, and the 30 who hated it can vote down my comment, but me, I'm just the audience, and we LOVED it....

This kind of show has been seen and done a dozen of times. Due to my travels I was able to see The X-Factor in the UK, Germany and Australia already and the US Version is not much different but bigger.

Obviously you need to like casting shows to enjoy the program, having said that, people giving this a 1 star rating should be banned from further reviews and ratings since there is more to the production of a TV Show than the likable factor. This program is produced and directed very well, there is a nice flow and speed going on, the scenery shots from the cities alone are worth more than 1 star so what's it to ya? Let me be very clear, it is Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and LA. Reid, you get exactly what is on the package and someone who's rating 9 stars for American Idol and 1 Star for The X Factor is a hypocrite. If you like American Idol you like this show, if you don't like American Idol you won't like this either. Opening the age limits is a fantastic decision because that gets really interesting later when the contestants will be split into Boys, Girls, Groups and over 30s and receive personal training from the judges and coaches. This is where the show will be different from Idol and since it has worked in other countries very well, it will work in American just fine, despite the hypocritical ratings on this website.

If you're looking for something entirely different you won't find it here, but if you feel entertained by great voices and quirky auditions this is a great show to watch. As long there are 20,000 people auditioning in every city this show clearly deserves it's space.