Simon Cowell Cleans House At X Factor

It would seem all the rumors swirling around for months have come true.  X Factor‘s host, Steve Jones got fired.  That rumor was the first one I heard.

Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger have been let go as well.  The two women spent most of the season crying or telling us they couldn’t vote to send people home.  Paula was also the first judge to have all her contestants eliminated, rather early in the competition.

Simon evidently has another project for Paula.  I don’t think Simon ever cared for Nicole.  Steve grew on me as the season went along but he certainly doesn’t have the appeal of a Ryan Seacrest.  Even though Simon and LA Reid fought a lot, LA Reid was a fierce competitor to the end and has probably gained Simon’s respect because of it.

Names circulating around are Mariah Carey, Nicki Manaj and Katy Perry for judges.  Cheryl Cole is also allowed to return if she wants to.  Perez Hylton also threw his “hat in the ring’. (Please ignore that train wreck!)

So we wait and see who Simon ultimately chooses.  It would seem that things can only get better.

And The Winner Is? Melanie Amaro Crowned Winner Of X Factor USA

In a star-studded finale that concluded months of competition, Melanie Amaro was crowned the first winner of the American version of X Factor and the winner of a $5 million recording contract.  The biggest prize ever awarded for a singing competition.  Melanie will also appear in a Pepsi commercial.

Star after star graced the stage this evening, Justin Bieber w/ Stevie Wonder, Leona Lewis, 50 Cent, Pit Bull and Neo.  The final twelve returned to perform group numbers and several of the finalists made cameo appearances with the superstars.

Josh Krajcik finished in second place and Chris Rene finished in third place.

Congratulations to all this evening’s finalists. 

X Factor USA will be back in 2012 for a second season!

Simon Cowell’s X Factor

I watched the X Factor last night and throughly enjoyed it.  I miss Simon and Paula on Idol.  I do enjoy Jennifer and Steven as Idol judges, so no offense to them.

Simon seemed a little kinder and Paula was very lucid.  The addition of L.A. Reid as a judge is great.  Nicole I can take or leave.  I never thought I would say this but Ryan Seacrest is a better host than whoever they have on X Factor.

I like the fact that Simon appears to pay attention to the audience reaction more than when he was on Idol.  There were times on Idol that Simon should have paid a bit more attention to an overwhelmingly positive audience reaction and did not.

I am looking forward to next week already!  I want more!