The X Factor Winner: To Get $5 Million Prize AND Super Bowl Commercial

I recently attended a taping of The X Factor and was quite impressed by the talent which remained on the show at that point – there were 72 hopefuls at that stage.

At today’s Television Critics Association press panel, Simon Cowell discussed key details and dates of the show which is sure to be a hit:

Why was Cheryl Cole replaced after auditions were already held in two cities:
“We felt that she was going to be more comfortable doing the UK show than the American one [and] I thought it would be been good for the show over there.”

What is the grand prize?
$5 million plus a feature in a Pepsi Super Bowl commercial.

Key Show Dates:
Wednesday, Sept. 21 – Season Premiere
Wednesday, Oct. 5 – Contestant Boot Camp Begins
Tuesday, Oct. 25 – : Finalists Revealed
Wednesday, Nov. 2 –  First Live Performance Show
Wednesday, Dec. 21 –  Live Season Finale, Part 1
Thursday, Dec. 22 –  Live Season Finale, Part 2

Cheryl Cole Loses Her Job On The British X Factor As Well – Replaced By Kelly Rowland

Cheryl Cole is having a really really bad week. Not only was she replaced as a judge for the American version of The X Factor, she may have also lost her job at the U.K. version as well.

The Daily Mail reports that Cole has refused to take any calls or meetings with producers of the show after she was offered “an olive branch” from them to return to the British version as a judge.
Per The Daily Mail‘s sources: “Cheryl will not be returning to the British ‘X Factor. She hasn’t returned phone calls. And you can’t exactly negotiate with someone who won’t even speak to you.”

Former Destiny’s Child singer Kelly Rowland will fill the vacated seat on the British judges’ panel along with hip hop star Tulisa Contostavlos from the group N-Dubz, Gary Barlow of Take That and longtime judge Louis Walsh. Meanwhile, former Pussycat Doll singer Nicole Scherzinger, will take Cole’s spot on the American show.

Here is a pic of Cheryl with Paula Abdul during Cheryl’s short stint on the American version of The X Factor:

Kelly Rowland

Want $5 Million? Enter Simon Cowell’s “The X Factor”

Simon Cowell picked the biggest audience in America to announce that he is back!

During Super Bowl XLV, Simon launched the commercial of all commercials announcing the debut of his new show, The X Factor this fall.

Today, Cowell topped his commercial by announcing that the winner of The X Factor will hit the highest jackpot yet of any televised talent competition to date: A cool $5 million record deal with Sony Music.

Unlike American Idol who has strict age limits on the contestants, you only have to be at least 12 years old to enter Simon’s new show. You can be old as dirt, and you still qualify.

Cowell said: “I like the idea that a 12-year-old on this show can compete with an older singer and a singing group. I’ve never believed there should be a cut-off age for talent, and we are going to put our money where our mouths are with the $5 million recording contract. I’m doing this show in America because I genuinely believe we can find a superstar.”

Auditions begin March 27 and will be held in Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, Chicago, New York and Seattle.