Possible controversy aside, it looks like things are doing well enough for Simon Cowell’s new singing competition The X Factor that Fox is set to go ahead with another season. This news comes just in time for tonight’s performance episode, which marks the first time viewers will have the opportunity to vote for their favorites.
Fox made the announcement today, stating that they’ve picked The X Factor up for a second season.
“I am absolutely thrilled with the news,” said Simon Cowell. “I have loved making the show and I want to thank FOX, our sponsors and most importantly, the fans for supporting THE X FACTOR.”
While the series isn’t exactly hitting American Idol numbers, it is averaging more than 13 million viewers, plus, unlike Idol, The X Factor has the big fall line-up to compete with. As Fox notes, the series “has emerged as the No. 1 reality series on broadcast television this fall and is outperforming returning hits like Survivor by +27%, Dancing With the Stars by +38%, Amazing Race by +47% and The Biggest Loser by +104%.”
Not unlike Idol, The X Factor has been making headlines, among which is the possible controversy involving the background of Stacy Francis, one of the contestants set to perform tonight among the rest of the competition’s Top 12. Meanwhile, one of last week’s eliminated contestants, Dexter Haygood, claims it was his choice to leave the show because he wasn’t satisfied with the series. "I wanted to leave the show because I was unhappy that I was unable to be a rock artist. I grew up on rock," Haygood told the Associated Press.
Whether or not that’s the case, I think it's fair to say that the three over-thirties who did make it through to the next round, Stacy Francis among them, were definitely the right three to progress in the competition.
