Well the wait is almost over! Simon Cowell is now set to launch the 'X Factor' juggernaut on a highly anticipating American audience. It begs the question though, will this be Simon Cowell's finest hour, or will the tides begin to turn against TV reality shows.Undoubtedly Simon Cowell has scored enormous success and built up a massive global media empire under both the 'idol' 'got talent' and 'x factor' formats, and unearthed some truly global superstars in the likes of Leona Lewis, Susan Boyle, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, JLS.
However for every Leona Lewis there is a Steve Brookstein. Will this be the same with his new show?
The benchmark to judge how the show is going to fare is the 'old lady' of American talent shows 'American Idol'. Of course Cowell is partly repsonsible for the shows enduring success (as executive producer), after he took a back seat from front line judging on the show, it is now in its 10th season. However despite an new influx of high profile judges in Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler, it has depsite warm reception so far has failed to ingite the viewing figures and continues its recent slump down the figures.So the questions remains, what exactly can Cowell and the X Factor USA bring that is fresh and exciting to the American table?
Well firstly there is the different format, in that the judges themselves will be taking a more proactive role in the mentoring of the acts. There is also the fact that it no longer features just solo singers- as we have Girls, Boys, Groups and the over 28's categories. This of course us UK viewers are already aware of.
Plus there is now a bumper prize for the winner of the show in the form of a $5,000,000 recording contract- which is a record as the biggest prize on any TV show in the world versus the £1,000,000 UK winners can expect to recieve.
The key however to the shows success is the pulling power of the people he invites to join him on the panel. Many names so far have being flying around. Simon himself is the only confirmed member of the panel so far, but who will be joining him?
Cheryl Cole is the likely choice of the current UK judges to follow Simon over the pond and grab a seat on the panel. Already reported to have signed a $10,000,000 contract to join the panel, Cheryl seems already set to join simon as she has recently been seen looking at potential apartments in the area close the studio where the series will be filmed and broadcast from. Cheryl has broad appeal already across the UK and this potential move will fit in very well with her plans to launch her solo career in America. However problems may arise with her Geordie accent and being easy to understand.Mariah Carey is a name that is being floated about also, Mariah would be a massive coup for long time admirer Cowell, and would be the Stellar name that he would be looking for in order to launch the show on a major platform. However with her being due to give birth to twins around the time that the auditions are beginning it raises major doubts as to whether she will be there for the jambouree.
Nicole Sherzinger after her popular stint as a guest judge filling in for Dannii Minogue on the UK version of the show seems a very apt shoo-in onto the panel. However she seems more likely to be heading for Cheryl Cole's vacant spot on the UK panel.
Similar with Katy Perry, after her stint on the UK version of the show seems like a good potential choice for the panel, and along with Nicole Sherzinger seems more likely to be UK bound.
Of course only time will tell whether Simon Cowell hits the right note with this show in the states, it has the potential to be spectacular and successful, but in equal measures it could also be a monstrous disaster.
I personally feel that this will be a huge success, and put the final nail in the coffin of 'American Idol' but dont expect it to last as long as 'Idol'
I personally cannot get enough of the X Factor and cannot wait for a second helping of the show in the year. Roll on Summer 2011.
