Simon Cowell giveth and Simon Cowell taketh away.
Cowell, co-creator of “The X Factor,” is seeking to kick Britney Spears to the curb after a single season in the judge’s chair. According to US Weekly,
“Britney will get the boot,” an insider told the magazine. “Producers wanted her for the long haul, but it isn’t working.”
Facing competition from AMERICAN IDOL and NBC’s THE VOICE for ratings amongst the key 18-49 demographic, Cowell channeled his inner George Steinbrenner by opening up the vault to sign big name talent for the judges’ seats earlier this year.
Spears signed a $15 million one year contract before last season. The return on the investment was minimal. The hope with signing Spears was that she would bring high energy and crucial ratings to the young Fox show. Alas, her reign as judge has misfired on multiple levels. Ratings never rose to the level that it was perceived that she could bring. On more than one occasion, Spears displayed little reaction other than uttering the word “amazing” and clapping as if she were being audited. Spears’ signing, along with Demi Lovato had been tremendously hyped by the network executives.
The pair replaced previous judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger last January.
Cowell had defended Spears early in the season on a conference call with reporters. She’s been “a lot better than everybody thought,” he said at the time.
On December 20, the second season finale was viewed by just 9.6 million viewers. That was an 18 percent decrease from the first season.
Mainstay judge, L.A. Reid has announced that he is leaving “THE X FACTOR” to return to his recording company obligations. Fox has not commented as to whom might fill the vacancies for season three.
We at VeryAware will remember the Spears era as one of the biggest flops in network history. One of epic proportions not seen since the failed FRIENDS spinoff, JOEY.
