The X Factor

:

Season 1
  • Network: FOX
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 21, 2011
Season #: 13, 12, 11, 3, 2, 1
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7

Critic Reviews

  1. People Weekly
    Reviewed by: Tom Gliatto
    Oct 28, 2011
    75
    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]
    All this critic's reviews
  2. Newsday
    Reviewed by: Verne Gay
    Sep 21, 2011
    75
    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.
  3. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Robert Bianco
    Sep 21, 2011
    75
    Simon. He's the gold standard, the judge against whom all others are judged, and his presence is enough to make Factor a factor.
  5. Philadelphia Daily News
    Reviewed by: Ellen Gray
    Sep 21, 2011
    70
    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.
  6. PopMatters
    Reviewed by: Daynah Burnett
    Sep 21, 2011
    70
    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.
  7. Boston Herald
    Reviewed by: Mark A. Perigard
    Sep 21, 2011
    67
    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.
  8. Variety
    Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    Sep 22, 2011
    60
    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.

Awards & Rankings

45
#45 Best TV Season of 2011
46
#46 Most Discussed TV Season of 2011
43
#43 Most Shared TV Season of 2011

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 83 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 41 out of 83
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 83
  3. Negative: 21 out of 83
  1. upnorth
    Sep 24, 2011
    1
    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;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 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!… Full Review »
  2. CriticalCritic
    Sep 23, 2011
    4
    I don't know what makes this show think it is better than American Idol. Yeah, I'm tired of American Idol and its horrible judging andI don't know what makes this show think it is better than American Idol. Yeah, I'm tired of American Idol and its horrible judging and talentless winners, but X Factor is not adding anything new. The audition process is nothing different other than the fact that there is an audience. The only noticeable difference are the new classifying groups and while this change does lower the discrimination and opens doors for some, it adds little excitement to the entertainment value. I thought Simon would provide some much needed judging to the table, but he proves to be lackluster so far. Nicole Scherzinger should not even be a judge on the show. Too many commercial breaks and sob stories also lower the appeal of the show.… Full Review »
  3. Beau
    Sep 29, 2011
    0
    This is the biggest piece of crap ever. End of story. America already has too many singing shows, and this is just another one to add to theThis is the biggest piece of crap ever. End of story. America already has too many singing shows, and this is just another one to add to the pile. People are clearly only watching to see Simon making rude comments, and that's not worth the millions of dollars Fox has spent on this.… Full Review »
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