Oh, Simon Cowell, when will you ever decide? Now we’re hearing that even Fergie is being considered as a judge for the X Factor USA installment:

In a press conference call this afternoon, ‘X Factor’ mastermind Simon Cowell confirmed that Fergie’s name was “put forward” in the ongoing saga of settling on a panel of judges for the fall show.

“We’re still having nightly arguments (over the judges’ selection),” said Cowell. It seems ‘The X Factor’ creator is willing to wait it out to find the right fit, rather it’s the show’s audition process he’s more concerned with.

I’m not a big fan of Fergie’s so I’m hoping this is all just rumor mill or distraction news from the X Factor camp. There are a lot better options out there than Fergie. Like this mug here on my desk or my dog. Her English isn’t great, but she’s eager to please. See, those were two quick, easy alternatives.

Source: PopEater

X Factor 2011 is officially underway for the new US installment. Auditions kicked off today in Los Angeles as the first of six currently planned events around the country.

Entertainment Weekly estimated there were around 15,000 X Factor Hopefuls, but we’ll have to see if FOX comes up with a higher official count or not on that one.

From an elevated platform, a spirited emcee warmed up the crowd, which arrived at 6 a.m. under drizzling skies. It was the first day of auditions, and the announcer exhorted contestants to have winning personalities, not just vocal talent, if they want to become the next Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga or Black Eyed Peas. The mass of aspiring pop stars waved “Simon, pick me!” posters and joined in sing-alongs of numbers like Teenage Dream and Forget You.

Similar to Idol, this preliminary round is a cattle call in which contestants perform in front of a small group of producers. If the contestants are impressive enough, they’ll return later in the week to sing for the show’s judges: Cowell, L.A. Reid (a record exec who’s worked with the likes of Mariah Carey, Pink, Usher and Kanye West) and two others who have yet to be named publicly.

I’m sure there will be a lot in the X Factor experience that will be similar to Idol considering this show flows fro Simon Cowell’s experiences, but as long as it has its own unique twists I think we’ll be alright.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

Maybe he’s just teasing us along because he knows how much attention it gets, but Simon Cowell told Entertainment Weekly that he’s still considering Paula Abdul to be a judge on X Factor:

Cowell also let slip that one (and perhaps two) of the show’s female judges could be announced on Monday. “Right now, there’s one person who we have a financial deal with, but now we have some issues over their dates,” he says. While talking about the vibe of The X Factor, he interestingly brought up his former American Idol table-mate Paula Abdul. “I’m not saying that Paula’s definitely got the gig, because we don’t know what’s going to happen,” he says, “but part of the fun of Idol when it first started was that it didn’t take itself too seriously.”

I’d honestly be surprised if Simon brought on Paula, but not because I think it’s a bad idea. He’s starting a whole new show that he wants to challenge Idol, so can he really do that if he’s simply replicating American Idol?

Simon indicates we should know more in just a few days, but he also promised this information would be announced in February, so don’t hold your breath!

Would you want to see Paula sitting next to Simon again, or is it time for someone new? Keep in mind that there will be four judges, so there’s space for two more women.

Source: Entertainment Weekly

Simon Cowell has been promising us the names of his X Factor US judges since back in February but we still haven’t heard anything official. THR is now claiming that LA Reid will be sitting next to Simon Cowell as one of the four judges:

It was long rumored and now looks like it’s come true: Island Def Jam chairman Antonio “L.A.” Reid will be a judge on Fox’s The X Factor.

Sources tells The Hollywood Reporter “it’s a done deal.” Reid, whose contract with Universal Music is up in December, will get an early release so that he can take part in Simon Cowell’s show, which awards a Sony Music recording contract worth $5 million to the winner. Auditions for The X Factor begin March 27 in Los Angeles.

An announcement regarding Reid is to be made this week, according to an insider.

Sometime this week? We’re running out of time so either it’s in the next two days, or it’s another news tease from Simon as the pressure builds up for X Factor’s premiere in 2011 fall.

Update: FOX has confirmed LA Reid as the first official judge, besides Simon, of course.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

I guess you can’t always have your cake and eat it too. ITV, the UK host of Simon Cowell’s X Factor television show, is considering options to delay their winter season of the competition now that Simon is taking his show on the road. Cowell’s plan for a fall 2011 premiere of X Factor US would make it practically impossible for the master of reality TV to be in two places at once and his bosses are finally starting to realize that.

What makes the situation worse is that Simon is likely planning to drag away his UK co-judge, Cheryl Cole, as we have often reported here on the site. If they lose 2 of their judges would the show press on without them? Possibly. Maybe.

Despite being desperate to hold onto Cowell and Cole for the UK show though – for which auditions kicked off earlier this month- ITV bigwigs fear it will mess up the entire TV schedule.

‘ITV is looking at a range of options to keep Cheryl and Simon. But changing dates would play havoc with ITV’s schedule and the auditions have already begun.

Plans for both the US and UK shows are still up in the air. Despite promising details by the end of February, music mogul Simon is yet to confirm any judges positions – apart from his own – for either show.

I’d say plans for X Factor 2011 in the US is a lot less up in the air then they’re claiming. While the UK flavor might be the original there’s a much more massive audience waiting for Cowell on this side of the Atlantic.

Source: Metro.co.uk