The X Factor U.S. has been described as the most expensive reality show in TV history. The shows grand prize consists of $5 million and a record deal with Sony Music , but that pales in comparison to the salary that The X Factor executive producer Simon Cowell earns for the show: an estimated $75 million per season, according to TV Guide .
The X Factor U.S. (which is open to eligible contestants who are at least 12 years old) has a two-part premiere on Fox on September 21 and September 22, 2011, at 8 p.m. Eastern/Pacific Time. During each season, the shows judges act as mentors to contestants in specific categories: young female solo singers; young male solo singers; older solo singers; and vocal groups.
On September 14, the shows judges (Cowell, Paula Abdul , Antonio L.A. Reid and Nicole Scherzinger ) and the shows host ( Steve Jones ) gathered in Los Angeles for a glitzy X Factor U.S. premiere that was open to the public and featured 90 minutes of footage from the shows first two episodes. After the screening, there was a Q&A with Cowell, Abdul, Reid, Scherzinger and Jones. Here is what they said when they answered questions from a moderator and people in the audience.
Paula, how much of your own choreography will you be doing when you mentor the contestants?
Abdul: Theres a creative advisor and director named Brian Friedman, who is very familiar with the show, and does a wonderful job in the U.K. He is going to oversee. There are several choreographers that are going to be rotating in and out, working with each of us and our acts. But Im going to be very hands-on, doing my thing, because I do what I do.
Are your choreographer skills going to give you an edge over the other X Factor judges?
Abdul: I think its going to make Cowell wish he never hired me in the first place because Im really good at what I do. And I cant wait to do what I do. Im excited about it.
Reid: Shes actually great at what she does.
Simon, do you agree?
Abdul: Yes, he does.
Cowell: I missed the question.
Jones: Is Paula great at what she does?
Cowell: I hate to admit it. Yes.
Abdul: Thank you.
Cowell: But shes not as good as me.
Simon, do you think Paulas choreographer skills will give her an edge over the other X Factor judges?
Cowell: I thought we were going to talking about the show, not Paula.
Simon, during the auditions, how were the reactions of the American audiences compared to the British audiences?
Cowell: They have an amazingly good musical knowledge. I think you saw it with that girl [ X Factor contestant] Melanie. They [the audience] knew that this girl was good, and they were on it. They were also very, very tough on us at times. When we didnt like somebody, I thought there were moments when we were going to get mauled when the audience disagreed with us. But overall, they were great fun.
Are American audiences tougher than British audiences?
Cowell: I think the American audience was tougher than the English audience. I genuinely do. They were very good.
L.A., have you seen anyone in the auditions who blew you away more than anybody else youve worked with as a music executive or producer?
Reid: There were a few that blew me away. Marcus really touched me. I thought he was amazing. Melanie was amazing. Chris Rene was amazing. Weve seen many of them.
Jones: Geo Godley [the contestant who dropped his pants to show his naked private parts]? I couldve heard more from him. It was these guys [the judges] who ruined the party. We couldnt have seen more of him.
Reid: By the way, how do you even remember his name?
Jones: Because he made an impression, I think. Flapping things about.
Reid: So the answer is yes.
Have you considered giving contestants more time to perform at the open-call auditions?
Cowell: This time, youre going to have to blame the producers, not us. Obviously, well have a long word with them afterwards to make sure that everyone gets longer auditions. And if that means theyve got to work longer hours, Im all for that.
Paula and Nicole, if someone is going to win a $5 million recording contract, should they get an extra five minutes to get over their nerves?
Abdul: No. And Ill tell you why. This is a chance of a lifetime. Its always interesting when people come to an X Factor or an Idol audition. And they just wake up and say, I think Im talented, and I just think Ill go and audition.
Have you ever performed on stage? No, Ive performed in front of my family. It just doesnt work that way. If you really believe in yourself, and you know you have that talent, you have to go out there and you have to deliver. Thats the way it is. You have to prepare, prepare, prepare.
Scherzinger: Five minutes is a long time. We obviously see a lot of people. I think you know within seconds whether or not somebody has it or that X factor. As far as the training and stuff, you have to understand, this is a $5 million recording contract. Its unheard of in the music industry nowadays.
Cowell: Shes got the message.
Abdul: Keep going, Nicole.
Scherzinger: And everything thats happening with what were expecting from this artist has to happen now, within six months. Were not looking for someone to develop. We want someone whos ready for it right now &
Abdul: And thats how The X Factor works.
How does it feel to change peoples lives?
Abdul: Its an overwhelming feeling. Its a blessing to see and feel what other people feel when theyre getting that moment. Its awe-inspiring. Dont take it for granted.
Jones: To be in that moment, personally, when Im there backstage with the family that little window of opportunity that I get to be just be there, when theyve achieved the impossible. Theyve had yes [votes from all the judges]. Its an amazing feeling. It really is. Of course, theres a flip side to that coin, when things dont go according to plan, when you do a Geo Godley. That can be quite uncomfortable as well.
Abdul: Not as uncomfortable as I was.
Steve, you must be pulling for the contestants to do well, because youre the one they and their families have to face after they leave the stage.
Jones: Of course. Regardless of talent, whether you have it or you dont, ultimately, youve got the guts to step out there on the stage and stand in front of these good people and sing. And if you can do that, Ive got your back, because it takes a lot of guts. I dont think I could do it. So if anybody comes to the door, Im with them 100 percent.
Have you had any major arguments over a contestant?
Cowell: Im going to let you into a show secret. And L.A. mentioned this the first time. When certain girls came to audition, if they were too attractive, they were known as DOA in other word, dead on arrival. And from the back of that, Nicole was christened Sylvester from Sylvester the cat, and Paula became Tom from Tom and Jerry. So we had to fight L.A. and I to keep the attractive girls in the competition, because Sylvester and Tom didnt want them in the competition. And thats where true story most of the arguments came from. L.A., will you back me up on that?
Reid: True story.
Abdul: So not true! So not true. Its the game you all love to play.
Cowell: Watch the tape.
Abdul: Its not working. Watch the tape. Who edits it?
Scherzinger: Exactly! Tell him, Paula.
The judges have very different backgrounds, so how do you decide what is the X factor for individuals? Paula, your X factor may be something completely different from Simons.
Abdul: Trust me, it is. Definitely. Without question.
How does that factor into the final decision?
Reid: We vote.
Cowell: Most times, when somebody is brilliant, its a no-brainer. Where it got tricky was what I described earlier on when other factors came into play. And thats where you needed myself and L.A. Reid to be fair and balanced. And I got things back on track. But that was pretty much the only time we argued.
[SPOILER ALERT]
Simon, Nicole and Paula, at what point did you think the contestant Xander Alexander had the X factor, even though he was rude to Simon in his audition?
Cowell: I think I was right actually, in saying yes, because as annoying as he was, I wouldve liked to have seen him again.
Abdul: Is that because he makes good telly [British slang for television]?
Cowell: No, I think I wouldve liked to see if he could progress.
Abdul: Progress in him being more of an annoyance to you? He was my hero, by the way.
Cowell: Darling, if you watched it, he wasnt annoying to me because I said yes.
Jones: He was a handful, wasnt he? He gave me loads of abuse. You didnt see it, but I interviewed him just before he went on, and he said that I wear too much makeup and that Im nothing but a stretched Ryan Seacrest. And I said, Best of luck with your audition. He did really say that, but not as eloquently.
[END OF SPOILER ALERT]
Do you see a potential winner in each of the mentor categories? Did you fight over which category you wanted to mentor?
Cowell: I see a winner, genuinely, in every category. I keep changing my mind on who I think could win the show.
Reid: I agree. I thought that girl Melanie was sensational. Chris [Rene] is fantastic. Stacy [Francis] is an amazing singer. Its very open. Theyve got to earn this $5 million. Theyve got to show that theyre more than just singers, that they are entertainers, and they can compete with people in the real world.
They have to compete with Rihanna in the real world, Justin Bieber, Beyoncé. And thats what this whole show is designed for: to prepare people for what happens outside of this competition. And whoever wins this, theyll have earned the $5 million.
L.A., do you see people you wouldve signed if you werent an X Factor judge?
Reid: Yes, in each category. I wouldve been happy with any category, because all of them had great people for different reasons. The over 30s were amazing because their stories, their journeys, the fact that theyve put their [singing] careers on hold for so long for various reasons. It was so emotional to them, and yet over time, they were actually more experienced. And I love the emotion that goes into it and how much it means to them. When we were watching Stacy and how impactful it was because of her emotion. And she was so great as a singer because of all the years [of experience that she had]. I wouldve been happy with any category.
Cowell: Im with you, L.A. This show is all about giving older women a second chance.
[Abdul gives a withering look.]
Cowell: I wasnt talking about you, sweetheart. I was talking about Stacy.
Abdul: The truth is that there are contenders in every category. Seriously. We fought very hard. We cant say much because we dont want to give it away.
Scherzinger: Im still stuck on that Xander question & The reason why I rooted for him was because I understand where hes coming from.
Reid: He was a guy.
Scherzinger: No, you have to see past all the insecurity and the fears, which is why he put up the front.
Reid: You liked him because he was a guy. If he were a beautiful girl, you wouldve said no.
Scherzinger: No, I liked him because I saw something in him.
Nicole and Paula, how long will it take for Steve Jones to be named People magazines Sexiest Man Alive?
Cowell: Do you think hes better-looking than Ryan Seacrest? [He says jokingly] That never crossed my mind.
Abdul: Panties, throw at him as many as possible.
Scherzinger: Im not going to lie. I was like, Dude, youre going to get so much ass once the show comes out!
For more info: "The X Factor" U.S. website
RELATED LINKS ON EXAMINER.COM:
Interview with Simon Cowell for "American Idol"
Interview with Simon Cowell for "The X Factor" U.S., February 2011
Interview with Simon Cowell for "The X Factor" U.S., April 2011
Interview with Simon Cowell for "The X Factor" U.S., June 2011
Interview with Paula Abdul for "The X Factor" U.S., June 2011
Interview with L.A. Reid for "The X Factor" U.S., June 2011
Interview with Nicole Scherzinger for "The X Factor" U.S., June 2011
Interview with Simon Cowell for "The X Factor" U.S., September 2011
