The X Factor: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 83 Ratings

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5.8

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5.8	Your Score
5.8	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 83 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

FOX | Season Premiere Date: September 21, 2011

Starring: Steve Jones, Britney Spears, Simon Cowell

Summary: The American version of the British singing reality competition show features creator Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, L.A. Reid, and Nicole Scherzinger as judges. The competition is open to solo and group artists with no age limit, and the contestants compete for a $5 million music contract with Cowell's Syco Music.

Genre(s): Reality

Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E26. LIVE Results Show 9
Air Date: December 22, 2011
tbd
S1:E25. LIVE Performance Show 9
Air Date: December 21, 2011
tbd
S1:E24. LIVE Results Show 8
Air Date: December 15, 2011

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Tom Gliatto

Oct 28, 2011

The talent is good, and on the long road to announcing a top 16, the show expertly milking every drop of pathos. [24 Oct 2011, p.39]

Robert Bianco

Sep 21, 2011

Simon. He's the gold standard, the judge against whom all others are judged, and his presence is enough to make Factor a factor. Read full review

Verne Gay

Sep 21, 2011

The X Factor is a hugely entertaining endeavor full of malarkey, good performances (and bad), and enough momentum to keep you engaged from the first overblown second to the last. Read full review

Daynah Burnett

Sep 21, 2011

The X Factor is one reality competition show that delivers that experience to its home audience also. At least on this show, when Paula's moved to tears, so are you. Read full review

Ellen Gray

Sep 21, 2011

While The X Factor may not on the surface offer anything that can't be found on "Idol," "America's Got Talent" and "The Voice" or their many cable imitators, it does have a level of showmanship that makes me want to believe again, whether it's in 13-year-olds who sing like established stars three times their age or in recovering addicts whose lives just may be about to change forever. Read full review

Mark A. Perigard

Sep 21, 2011

The X Factor is "America's Got Talent" with lockjaw, "The Voice" with a smoker's hack and "American Idol" on steroids. It is a garish, crass spectacle, and just might produce America's next superstar. Read full review

Brian Lowry

Sep 22, 2011

And so it goes. The same mix of sob stories, as anxious relatives looking on from the wings. And if there's not quite a Susan Boyle or Paul Potts moment (though one in particular comes reasonably close), the tears flow freely, and one or two genuinely stirring performances emerge. Read full review

User Score

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5.8

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User Reviews

magicfrank61

Sep 21, 2011

I loved it. I thought the crowds in the audition was a great idea and added a lot of energy. I love the diversity from young to old and single and groups. I thought the Judges were good and LA will give Simon a run for his money. I liked that they showed more quality auditions and lessI loved it. I thought the crowds in the audition was a great idea and added a lot of energy. I love the diversity from young to old and single and groups. I thought the Judges were good and LA will give Simon a run for his money. I liked that they showed more quality auditions and less of the crap ones.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

megacritic08

Dec 29, 2011

Honestly this is a good show, might be a repetition/copy of American Idol although the show's good. Good panel of judges. Entertains us all, so why hate on the show? No reason to hate.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MichaelD

Mar 19, 2012

I'm from Ireland so if I had to pick from the UK version or the US version, I'd have to go with the UK version. But I still like the show and I would watch the second series if they make one.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

drlowdon

Jan 16, 2014

Both the original UK and US versions of The X-Factor have involved a number of talented artists and some of the cover versions sung of the show have been very good. Unfortunately, as with most other modern TV talent shows, its primary objective is to make money not produce artists that willBoth the original UK and US versions of The X-Factor have involved a number of talented artists and some of the cover versions sung of the show have been very good. Unfortunately, as with most other modern TV talent shows, its primary objective is to make money not produce artists that will go on to create original music in the future, something that pretty much sums up the state of modern pop music.

If there is nothing else on I'll occasionally tune in as there is usually a good performance or two to be seen but I detest what this sort of thing stands for.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

michael777110

Jun 22, 2013

This is the cookie-cutter singing show, with too many contestant backstories, emotional content, and low quality of singing compared to other singing shows such as The Voice and American Idol. However, I did enjoy the judges and their critiques this season.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

upnorth

Sep 24, 2011

Nice show if you want to see just how cool the judges are! Is it possible to show Simon on camera anymore? And does he make a lot of money; look at my car! The audience doesn't help...the back stories are too many...the performances not too many...and how can the judges complain about theNice show if you want to see just how cool the judges are! Is it possible to show Simon on camera anymore? And does he make a lot of money; look at my car! The audience doesn't help...the back stories are too many...the performances not too many...and how can the judges complain about the talent when everybody is picked by other show employees before they go to the stage! It makes me miss Ryan and Idol even more!… Expand

6 of 6 users found this helpful60

lbolen

Nov 20, 2011

OK, so I thought I would give the X Factor a chance because I somewhat like American Idol. I only made it through about a half of one episode. It was so contrived and couldn't stand it...had to shut it off!

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 20 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

71

Series Overview
Season 13

tbd
- Season 13 Overview
  Air Date: August 27, 2016
Season 12

tbd
- Season 12 Overview
  Air Date: August 30, 2015
Season 11

tbd
- Season 11 Overview
  Air Date: August 30, 2014
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: September 11, 2013
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: September 12, 2012
Season 1

70
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 21, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E26. LIVE Results Show 9
  Air Date: December 22, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E25. LIVE Performance Show 9
  Air Date: December 21, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E24. LIVE Results Show 8
  Air Date: December 15, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E23. LIVE Performance Show 8
  Air Date: December 14, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E22. LIVE Results Show 7
  Air Date: December 15, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E21. LIVE Performance Show 7
  Air Date: December 14, 2011
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  S1:E20. LIVE Results Show 6
  Air Date: December 8, 2011
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  S1:E19. LIVE Performance Show 6
  Air Date: December 7, 2011
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  S1:E18. LIVE Results Show 5
  Air Date: December 1, 2011
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  S1:E17. LIVE Performance Show 5
  Air Date: November 30, 2011
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  S1:E16. LIVE Results Show 4
  Air Date: November 23, 2011
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  S1:E15. LIVE Performance Show 4
  Air Date: November 22, 2011
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  S1:E14. LIVE Results Show 3
  Air Date: November 17, 2011
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  S1:E13. LIVE Performance Show 3
  Air Date: November 9, 2011
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  S1:E12. LIVE Results Show 2
  Air Date: November 3, 2011
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  S1:E11. LIVE Performance Show 2
  Air Date: November 2, 2011
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  S1:E10. LIVE Performance Show 1
  Air Date: October 25, 2011
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  S1:E9. Judges' Homes, Part 3
  Air Date: October 18, 2011
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  S1:E8. Judges' Homes, Part 2
  Air Date: October 16, 2011
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  S1:E7. Judges' Homes, Part 1
  Air Date: October 13, 2011
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  S1:E6. Boot Camp, Part 2
  Air Date: October 6, 2011
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  S1:E5. Boot Camp, Part 1
  Air Date: October 5, 2011
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  S1:E4. Auditions Episode 2
  Air Date: September 29, 2011
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  S1:E3. Auditions Episode 1
  Air Date: September 28, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E2. Season Premiere, Part 2
  Air Date: September 22, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E2. Top 10 Success Stories
  Air Date: August 27, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E1. Season Premiere, Part 1
  Air Date: September 21, 2011