'X Factor' Ratings Disappoint In Debut On Fox

Fox's "The X Factor," Simon Cowell's newest venture and the American counterpart to the hugely popular British singing competition, debuted to underwhelming ratings on Wednesday night.

The premiere of the new reality show got decent results, drawing 12.1 million total viewers and a 4.2 rating in the advertising-friendly 18-49 demographic. But in the 9 p.m. time slot, it fell behind ABC's "Modern Family, which delivered 14.3 million total viewers, and CBS' "Criminal Minds," which had 14.1 million total viewers.

"The X Factor" also drew about half the audience of the season 10 premiere of "American Idol," which drew 26 million total viewers. The new show, which reunites Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul as judges, has drawn numerous comparisons to Cowell's earlier smash hit.

Cowell exited "American Idol" in 2010, and proceeded to work on the American launch of "The X Factor." He expressed the utmost confidence in the new show, telling the Hollywood Reporter that drawing less than 20 million viewers would be a “disappointment.”

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Comments

[Charismatron]

08:30 PM on 09/25/2011

Don't watch Idol, don't see how this is any different than Idol = don't watch X Factor or Idol. Now, I'm going outside to play.

[SotallyTober]

02:13 PM on 09/25/2011

Watched it, loved it, thumbs up!!

[stonewiki]

12:34 PM on 09/25/2011

Didn't watch the X Factor. So how is it different from AI?

[andrewlgm]

02:19 AM on 09/25/2011

Same old-boring style. American Idol lacks truth when judging the contestants since Simon left. You get the worst singers winning due to "cuteness" instead of talent. How many other singers were better than McGreery last season? With the exception of a few, almost all of them sang better. Now hopefully Simon can focus the direction of the show and commentate on the best and worst. Would it really hurt saying "scotty you can't sing for your life," or "casey abrams you need to stop yelling like a horse."

[Muzzle Me]

09:18 AM on 09/24/2011

Simon obviously doesn't get it. The so-called judges he has for this X-Factor are passe and boring. Did he really think bringing back Paula would in some way be the magic bull@t for a show that has grown very tired of his so-called caustic wit alone, which he only seems to be continually enthralled with? Simon: it's the talent, stoooopid, and not you or any of the other judges that folks tune in for.

[CocaColaKid]

07:15 AM on 09/24/2011

Too much like American Idol, and once a year is enough for me.

[hearmeloudandclear]

02:53 AM on 09/24/2011

I thought it was in many respects the same as "American Idol" however with more bells and whistles and graphics. For me, something was amiss, seemed not to be put together well.

I believe that after they get the "not-a-chance" contestants out of the wasy...maybe it will pick up.

Some good talent nevertheless...

[eproudmary]

07:37 PM on 09/23/2011

We'll just have to wait and see if X factor makes the cut. I like it well enough for now .I just hope they get rid of the ' misfits ' soon and the competition really starts .

[Herbert Ragan]

06:59 PM on 09/23/2011

Watched the opener, that's enough for me.

[jalowe1957]

01:01 PM on 09/23/2011

If the X Factor is reality, then we're all delusional.

[neverconservtve]

12:26 PM on 09/23/2011

I don't get it. Don't people see how manufactured this kind of "Reality" show is? Who cares.

[auramac]

02:01 PM on 09/23/2011

I prefer it to Idol, but the pretense and manipulation is so much more obvious I feel like I'm watching a movie about a talent show than a talent competition itself. Nicole what's-her-name has the open-mouthed gape down so well you just know it's a contrived camera magnet. Simon arches his eyebrows for dramatic effect. The whole thing appears scripted, and there are far too many mental health cases getting through. Don't know how much longer I can continue watching... And I hate, hate, hate Nicole.

[hearmeloudandclear]

02:56 AM on 09/24/2011

auramac -- Well now...you just stated what I attempted lamely to explain and couldn't... I felt exactly as you did when you said: "I feel like I'm watching a movie about a talent show than a talent competitio­n itself." That's it! Too scripted - agree again.

(I already wrote my input and the only thing I could come up with was that something was amiss. Now - all I have to do is quote you ! :)

[CraigVale]

02:06 PM on 09/23/2011

My thoughts exactly. The contrived vignettes are so blatanly phony and they spend far too much with them. People want to see and hear new talent and not a reprise of the old Gong Show .

[FloridaLady131722]

11:51 AM on 09/23/2011

Move over, I mean wayyyyyyyy over American Idol, there is a new sheriff in town and he is not playing LOVE, LOVE X-factor. Funny, unpredictable. Love the judges, all of them. Paula is still all kind of crazy and I LOVE IT.

[ruffmama]

09:20 AM on 09/23/2011

It was a great show!

[JJBUFF]

08:58 AM on 09/23/2011

Looks like American Idol to me.

[Freedom Rush]

08:50 AM on 09/23/2011

paula is just there for the crazy factor. simon will be spiking her pepsi in no time.