The X Factor, Fox's atrocious new reality show that people are watching because it requires less effort than reading or paying attention to their kids, will return for a second season. This is important news, because how else will we ever find America's next pre-packaged and utterly inconsequential pop star without The X Factor's help? The show, which is not so much about discovering new music as it is about indulging a panel of judges who enjoy being awful to each other by saying awful things about the homeless contestants standing directly in front them, is a "monumental success," according to the person at Fox who will be fired if the show is anything less than a monumental success.
Touting the singing competition as "the No. 1 reality series on broadcast television this fall," the Fox press release says The X Factor is outperforming Survivor, The Amazing Race, Dancing with the Stars, and The Biggest Loser. That's true in ratings (DWTS and The Amazing Race have been coming in around 2.8 in the last month, while X Factor has been notching high 3s), but not in total viewers: While The X Factor regularly draws between 11 and 13 million viewers, Dancing with the Stars nabs 14 million on average. So, chill out, X Factor! You're not as far ahead as you're letting on.
Early in the season, Simon Cowell said that anything less than 20 million viewers would be a disappointment—but The X Factor averages about 13 million viewers per episode. Still, that's enough to increase Fox's ratings on Wednesdays and Thursdays by 78 and 38 percent, respectively, over last year's (37 percent and 41 percent in the 18-49 demo). So it makes perfect sense that The X Factor would come back.
The X Factor airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8pm on Fox. Competition between the remaining twelve finalists starts tonight.
I tried the show a few times, but it did nothing for me (no disrespect to those who do like it). But I had to read this article to get clarification. When I heard Fox's press release about Factor's renewal and how it beats DWTS and Survivor -- that was very hard to believe. Now I know the real deal -- those P.R. guys at Fox are a crafty lot --
Very happy the show got renewed, now maybe people who watch idol will give this a chance too. and to the people not liking it, just dont watch and shut up. I wont go to a topic about modern family and dish that cause "i" dont like it. we all have our likes and dislikes.
Wont make a difference anymore, but at least i got something right in my dead pool XP
Damn, I can not wait until competition shows are no longer relevant. At least the "flavor of love" type of shows are done with.
Oh dear God, why, seriously why?
BOYCOTT these lame shows.
I don't watch any of these lame shows. But that doesn't stop others.
It may be back, but I won't be there.
There are a lot of people hating on The X Factor but I really enjoy watching it. Since so many people hate it, I wish those people would stop watching it and stop talking about it. When I hate or dislike a show, I basically ignore it as much as I can. I may be one of the few people on tv.com who loves watching The X Factor but I am glad it will return for another season.