FOX paraded out the stars of their shows this week and of course that included their new hosts of X Factor: Cheryl Cole, LA Reid, and Paula Abdul. I’m sure Simon was there somewhere as well, but probably busy promoting his X Factor baby.

Extra got Simon Cowell to sit down and talk about the LA audition filming for the upcoming season premiere of XFactor. I love how the interview exclaims, “wow!” when Simon says he saw a few standouts during filming. What? Did she think Simon would say, “nah, it was a boring crowd. No one really good in there. You probably shouldn’t either bother tuning in for the first few episodes.”

Simon does go on to explain more on the standouts. He says one was pretty young, 12 or 13, and the other was “older.” Cowell was most impressed by how polished the younger auditioners were, noting they were “12 going on 18.” Ah ah ah, Simon. America has laws about that kind of thing! I kid, I kid. California doesn’t have those kind of laws!

Watch his whole X Factor 2011 interview and see if you’re ready for the new series.

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X Factor started up its 2011 season filming today but they were still working out contractual details yesterday to get all their judges in place! Whether this was the intention all along or they just ran out of time it worked out well for Paula Abdul because she’s now set to be the 4th judge, reports Deadline.

We’ve seen this coming for a long time now as Simon Cowell always appreciated the attention and drama his former American Idol co-judge brought to the table. Now he’ll be able to use her fandom status to bring over Idol viewers to his new show when X Factor 2011 premieres this fall.

Do you think Simon made the right choice by bringing Paula on board for the new season? I’m curious how she’ll do as a mentor since X Factor isn’t just about judging but also coaching the musical acts through the season. Raise your hand if you’d want to be on Paula’s team.

So much for Corbin Bleu, the previously speculated co-host of The X Factor. Allegedly, Nicole Scherzinger rejected Bleu over his youthful looks so Simon Cowell had to come up with someone new. That someone new was X Factor UK guest judge Steve Jones. Deadline has all the details:

Multi-talented performer and chart-topping artist Nicole Scherzinger and British TV personality Steve Jones will host THE X FACTOR, the highly anticipated singing competition series debuting this fall on FOX. Scherzinger, who recently served as a guest judge on the U.K. version of “The X Factor,” is a singer, songwriter and performer and Jones began his career as a fashion model and has gone on to host some of the U.K.’s biggest TV shows.

From the auditions right through to the live performance shows, the duo will follow the contestants and judges onstage and backstage to share the raw emotions and electrifying performances with viewers at home every week.

“These two are going to be great together,” said Simon Cowell. “I have always wanted Steve to work with us; I think he is a real star. Nicole is fantastic. I loved working with her on the U.K. ‘X Factor’ last year. She is gorgeous and super-talented.”

It’s a little surprising that they’ve brought over so many players from the UK version, but I guess you go with what you know works even if that means your audience doesn’t know them. What do you think of the hosting duo of Nicole and Steve?

It’s been as good as done for months now, but we can finally say it’s official. Cheryl Cole, Simon Cowell’s co-judge on the original X Factor, has been confirmed as the third judge when the series premieres this fall on FOX. The news was announced via FOX’s official Twitter account for X Factor and no press release has been made just yet.

BRITISH POP SUPERSTAR CHERYL COLE JOINS ANTONIO “L.A.” REID AND SIMON COWELL ON “THE X FACTOR” JUDGES PANEL #THEXFACTORUSA

Not sure it’s SHOUT worthy news, but good to have it out there and in writing.

You probably haven’t heard much of Cole as she’s a UK pop star, but if things go her way then she’ll end up with a whole new music career on this side of the Atlantic.