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The X Factor: Season 1
  • Network: FOX
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 21, 2011
  • Season #: 1
The X Factor Image
Metascore
70 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critics What's this?

User Score
5.3 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 42 Ratings

Your Score
10 out of 10
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  • 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.… Expand
  • Genre(s): Game Shows, Reality

Critic Reviews

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

See all 7 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 15
  3. Negative: 7 out of 15
  1. megacritic08
    9
    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.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  2. CriticalCritic
    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 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.… Expand
    • 3 of 4 users said yes
  3. upnorth
    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; 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
    • 5 of 5 users said yes

See all 15 User Reviews