The Daily Star - Stay Tuned
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coverstory Ladies' night The Daily Star, Oneonta, N.Y., Friday, September 6, 2013 Season 3 of 'The X Factor' adds some talented women to its roster By Shona Dustan TV Media T hese days, it seems like you can't turn on the television without seeing a panel of celebrity judges critiquing some kind of performance. America is in love with network talent shows, a genre in large part made popular by an enigmatic Brit who goes out of his way to be unlikable: Simon Cowell. Season 3 of Cowell's current reality talent series, "The X Factor," kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 11, on Fox. Considering the show is just beginning its third season, there have been a lot of changes to "The X Factor" since its inception. The auditions process, for example, is always changing just a little. As is usual for this type of show, judges travel from city to city, where thousands of people are waiting to audition for them — but "The X Factor" doesn't stop there. Sending out smaller crews to audition those who could not make the big city auditions means just about everyone gets a fair shake. During the first season, Cowell, who also wears the hat of executive producer, even announced that — for one week only — they were accepting applications in the form of YouTube videos. "You have to be competitive. You have to make changes," Cowell said when asked about various shakeups within the show. With a team so obviously dedicated to finding talent in every nook and cranny of America, who knows what could happen with this year's tryouts. The first few episodes of the season focus on this often surprising (and sometimes painful) audition process, which highlights some of the Demi Lovato and Paulina Rubio as seen in "The X Factor" best, worst and most shockCowell was joined by Pussying performances of the precat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, liminary stages of the compe- producer L.A. Reid and former tition. As the hopefuls make it "American Idol" panelmate through the various rounds of Paula Abdul. When the show elimination, they are divided returned for Season 2, both of into four categories: Boys the female judges had been (males ages 12 to 25), Girls replaced. Diva Britney Spears (females ages 12 to 25), Over and up-and-comer Demi Lo25s and Groups. Each of these vato now had seats at the tacategories will be mentored ble. by one of the celebrity judges. At the close of Season 2, Known for his harsh critiques, Cowell felt unsatisfied: "It Cowell has had the daunting was more of a feeling it was task of stacking his panel similar to what everyone else with judges that will balance was doing and I had this imhim out. Some teams have patience to get on to Season worked out better than oth3 so I could do what I wanted ers. to do." The judging panel has been With Season 3 right around subject to many of the show's the corner, it seems that Cowchanges — in fact, the only ell has done just that. Faces judge from the first season to have changed once again, have made it to the third is and this time the Brit has a lot Cowell himself. Asked about more ladies to contend with. the reasons behind these Fan favorite Lovato returns changes, Cowell said that for her second year by Cowfinding the right chemistry is ell's side, while Spanish song"like having a dinner party. stress Paulina Rubio and DesYou invite people for dinner — and sometimes it's fun and sometimes it's not as fun as you thought it was going to be." Obviously, his first two "dinner parties" weren't everything he hoped they'd be, so Cowell has mixed things up from season to season. In the show's freshman year, tiny's Child alum Kelly Rowland fill the vacated seats left by Spears and Reid. "It's a girl's world in the music industry right now," said Cowell, and he couldn't be more excited about the changes, adding: "this is a very fun dinner party." Cowell has nothing but praise for this year's judges. The cool, composed Kelly, the spirited, droll Demi and the fiery, risible Rubio should offset Cowell's intimidating presence, not to mention open up the show to an untapped demographic. Addressing the addition of Rubio to the roster, Cowell said: "I always felt that the Spanish market was really important. I would love some Spanish artists — or one great Spanish artist — for the label, and Paulina has been this beacon and they're all attracted to her." Cowell has had lots of experience as a reality show judge, making his first splash in America as the driving force behind the ratings powerhouse "American Idol." When his nine-year run on "Idol" was complete, Cowell threw himself into "The X Factor." The U.K. version of the show is where he got his start, and he still feels very strongly about the potential of the program. Tune in to find out how Cowell's changes will play out, how he'll fare with the ladies of the panel and who has what it takes to win Season 3 of "The X Factor," premiering Wednesday, Sept. 11, on Fox. Chirstopher's Coins 2x2 hollywoodQ&A By Adam Thomlison TV Media Q: I really loved "The American Baking Competition" and am wondering if it will be back for another season. A: A second season of the show is still up in the air. The odds, however, are good. The series was inexpensive to produce, even as reality shows go — the set was just a big tent and the prize was modest. In fact, one of the biggest expenses was likely getting famed standup comedian Jeff Foxworthy on as the host. And it was a modest hit for the network. Its ratings always hovered around the five million mark — hardly a jackpot, but not a bust, either. Have a question? Email us at questions@tvtabloid.com. B/ Yoders 2x2 A/Krazy Tom's B/State FarmMelisa Manikas 2x3