When Simon Cowell brought "The X Factor" to the United States, he told Matt Lauer that if his talent show didn't match the monstrous ratings of "American Idol," he'd consider it a flop. With the Season 1 finale of "The X Factor" coming up on Thursday, it's clear that the show hasn't reached those lofty expectations. Now Cowell has admitted that he was "too cocky" when he boasted about how big a hit the show would be in America.
"Good Day LA" (weekdays, 7AM PT on Fox) reported on a press conference in which Cowell admitted that he set the bar too high. "I think I probably came here a bit too cocky, but I'm cocky by nature. I'd come off the back of a massive final in the U.K., had the adrenaline, couldn't wait to put the show on here, and it's going to take a little longer than I thought," he said.
While "The X Factor" may not be ratings disaster, it's under-performed in comparison to the gargantuan expectations Cowell set for it. It premiered to 12.1 million viewers, a far cry from the 26 million viewers who tuned in for the Season 10 premiere of "American Idol." In its 9PM hour, "X Factor" was beaten out by the hit ABC comedy "Modern Family."
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