By HOLLY THOMAS

Waterworks: Tulisa Contostavlos broke down in tears as she announced that she was eliminating girl duo Two Shoes

It was a tense opening to the night's show, and the judges have clearly felt the weight of their decision over the past 24 hours.

Tulisa, who said she hasn't slept a wink told Dermot: 'Ive changed my mind twice today, made my mind up half an hour ago.'

But the choice had to be made, and it was with many tears that Jonjo, James Michael, 2 Shoes and Amelia Lily said goodbye to their X Factor dream.


Too much: Kelly Rowland couldn't keep her eyes dry as she eliminated 16-year-old Amelia Lily

As Dermot asked the judges how they had felt over the last 24 hours it was 23-year-old Tulisa who appeared the most affected.

Brevity-loving Gary followed simply with '5 o'clock', while Louis added that this choice was 'the worst ever.'

Kelly clearly found the decision hard in light of the time the judges have now spent with their acts, and said: 'I'm mad you waited til now to do this, we've been getting to know these kids, getting excited about their careers.'


Out: Solider Jonjo Kerr was the first act to leave the show, with mentor Louis Walsh saying he had based his choice on who the public would like the most

While they agonised a little longer last year's winner Matt Cardle performed his Gary Barlow-penned hit Run For Your Life, after which Cee Lo Green performed a medley, rounding things off with his number one track 'Forget You'.

Louis' first choice to go through to the next round was Sami Brookes, who was not among his original final four, but wowed the judges the previous night with her performance of the Yomanda classic You're Free.


Hitting home: The 27-year-old buried his face in his hands

While they agonised a little longer last year's winner Matt Cardle performed his Gary Barlow-penned hit Run For Your Life, after which Cee Lo Green performed a medley, rounding things off with his number one track 'Forget You'.

Louis' first choice to go through to the next round was Sami Brookes, who was not among his original final four, but wowed the judges the previous night with her performance of the Yomanda classic You're Free.


Unable to speak: James Michael was eliminated from the boys category by Gary Barlow, and immediately started to cry

Next through was an ecstatic Kitty Brucknell, after which Louis said: 'This was not easy, I agonised, but at the end of the day I have to keep the person I think the public will like most.'

The judge picked Johnny Robinson, eliminating Jonjo Kerr, who failed to impress last night with his forgettable rendition of the 1964 Kinks hit 'You Really Got Me.'

As the soldier told Dermot 'I could have done better' Louis chipped in with a contrived-sounding: 'I changed my mind twice as well today.'


Still friends? Tulisa sobbed as she eliminated girl duo 2 Shoes from the groups category

Gary was more business-like in his announcement, first boy first putting through Marcus Collins, followed by Craig Colton, who the Take That singer said had given the best performance last night.

The judge continued: 'I've really based this on last night, I found last night very useful'

'There are only four left we're at such a high level here,' he added.


Distraught: 16-year-old Amelia Lily, who gave a confident performance of Billie Jean last night, was Kelly's choice to go
The last boy Gary put through was 'hearthrob', Frankie Cocozza eliminating James Michael.

James had divided the judges with his interpretation of the Beatles classic 'Ticket To Ride' last night.

Dermot asked him how he felt, but the singer was unable to speak, and with tears streaming down his face said: 'I'm just going to cry.'


Thoughtful: Gary was clearly sad to have to see James go, but said that he had found last night's performance 'useful' in making his choice

And there were more waterworks to come during the group elimination, as Tulisa choked: 'I've spent the last 24 hours crying tears, tearing my hear out. You're my friends, I can honestly say that.'

The first group the 23-year-old put through was girl foursome Rhythmix, followed by boy band The Risk, who whooped as they crossed the stage.

Tearing up further, Tulisa said that she had been a 'little disappointed' in the next group's performance the previous night, but based on their potential put Nu Vibe through, eliminating girl duo 2 Shoes.


Used to it? Louis said that this part of the show was 'the worst' but there was no signs of tears from the X Factor old-hand


Consolation: The Nu Vibe boys hugged 2 Shoes after their elimination
Tulisa started to cry along with her act as the girls' performances were shown on screen.

She told them: 'I can't even find a reason why, but I had to pick an act. I swear I want to stay in touch with you.'

The Essex pair had performed Girls Aloud hit Something Kinda Oooh from inside a pink Peugeot and a stage full of topless male dancers.


Thrilled: Craig Colten looked delighted to be going through


Safe bet: Tulisa's group The Risk are thought to the next round

Kelly said as she announced her choice: 'This was so touch of a decision to make.'
The Destiny's Child star picked 16-year-old Janet Devlin first, followed by Misha B.
Before she revealed her final choice she broke down in tears, telling the last two: 'I want you both to know that you are such stars.'


Disbelieving: 16-year-old Janet Devlin always seemed a shoe in to get through, but looked nervous all the same

But 16-year-old Amelia Lily, who opened last night's show with a sensational performance of Billie Jean, was eliminated, with Sophie Habibis, who performed Katy Perry's Teenage Dream through to the next round.

This has clearly been an emotional 24 hours all round.


Joining in: Girl group Rhythmix got through, but cried anyway

Tulisa tweeted last night: 'So I still haven't decided, can't sleep, who do I choose, all so talented n love em all so much...'

Still struggling in the early hours, she added: 'Watching back performances, its killing me, need 2 think x' and then later: 'Think its time 4 food 4 thought.'


Shocked? Controversial Kitty Brucknell is through to the next stage of the competition

X FACTOR TULISA DECIDES ON WHICH ACT SHE IS SENDING HOME LIVE 9/10/2011


source: dailymail

By HOLLY THOMAS

Waterworks: Tulisa Contostavlos broke down in tears as she announced that she was eliminating girl duo Two Shoes

It was a tense opening to the night's show, and the judges have clearly felt the weight of their decision over the past 24 hours.

Tulisa, who said she hasn't slept a wink told Dermot: 'Ive changed my mind twice today, made my mind up half an hour ago.'

But the choice had to be made, and it was with many tears that Jonjo, James Michael, 2 Shoes and Amelia Lily said goodbye to their X Factor dream.


Too much: Kelly Rowland couldn't keep her eyes dry as she eliminated 16-year-old Amelia Lily

As Dermot asked the judges how they had felt over the last 24 hours it was 23-year-old Tulisa who appeared the most affected.

Brevity-loving Gary followed simply with '5 o'clock', while Louis added that this choice was 'the worst ever.'

Kelly clearly found the decision hard in light of the time the judges have now spent with their acts, and said: 'I'm mad you waited til now to do this, we've been getting to know these kids, getting excited about their careers.'


Out: Solider Jonjo Kerr was the first act to leave the show, with mentor Louis Walsh saying he had based his choice on who the public would like the most

While they agonised a little longer last year's winner Matt Cardle performed his Gary Barlow-penned hit Run For Your Life, after which Cee Lo Green performed a medley, rounding things off with his number one track 'Forget You'.

Louis' first choice to go through to the next round was Sami Brookes, who was not among his original final four, but wowed the judges the previous night with her performance of the Yomanda classic You're Free.


Hitting home: The 27-year-old buried his face in his hands

While they agonised a little longer last year's winner Matt Cardle performed his Gary Barlow-penned hit Run For Your Life, after which Cee Lo Green performed a medley, rounding things off with his number one track 'Forget You'.

Louis' first choice to go through to the next round was Sami Brookes, who was not among his original final four, but wowed the judges the previous night with her performance of the Yomanda classic You're Free.


Unable to speak: James Michael was eliminated from the boys category by Gary Barlow, and immediately started to cry

Next through was an ecstatic Kitty Brucknell, after which Louis said: 'This was not easy, I agonised, but at the end of the day I have to keep the person I think the public will like most.'

The judge picked Johnny Robinson, eliminating Jonjo Kerr, who failed to impress last night with his forgettable rendition of the 1964 Kinks hit 'You Really Got Me.'

As the soldier told Dermot 'I could have done better' Louis chipped in with a contrived-sounding: 'I changed my mind twice as well today.'


Still friends? Tulisa sobbed as she eliminated girl duo 2 Shoes from the groups category

Gary was more business-like in his announcement, first boy first putting through Marcus Collins, followed by Craig Colton, who the Take That singer said had given the best performance last night.

The judge continued: 'I've really based this on last night, I found last night very useful'

'There are only four left we're at such a high level here,' he added.


Distraught: 16-year-old Amelia Lily, who gave a confident performance of Billie Jean last night, was Kelly's choice to go
The last boy Gary put through was 'hearthrob', Frankie Cocozza eliminating James Michael.

James had divided the judges with his interpretation of the Beatles classic 'Ticket To Ride' last night.

Dermot asked him how he felt, but the singer was unable to speak, and with tears streaming down his face said: 'I'm just going to cry.'


Thoughtful: Gary was clearly sad to have to see James go, but said that he had found last night's performance 'useful' in making his choice

And there were more waterworks to come during the group elimination, as Tulisa choked: 'I've spent the last 24 hours crying tears, tearing my hear out. You're my friends, I can honestly say that.'

The first group the 23-year-old put through was girl foursome Rhythmix, followed by boy band The Risk, who whooped as they crossed the stage.

Tearing up further, Tulisa said that she had been a 'little disappointed' in the next group's performance the previous night, but based on their potential put Nu Vibe through, eliminating girl duo 2 Shoes.


Used to it? Louis said that this part of the show was 'the worst' but there was no signs of tears from the X Factor old-hand


Consolation: The Nu Vibe boys hugged 2 Shoes after their elimination
Tulisa started to cry along with her act as the girls' performances were shown on screen.

She told them: 'I can't even find a reason why, but I had to pick an act. I swear I want to stay in touch with you.'

The Essex pair had performed Girls Aloud hit Something Kinda Oooh from inside a pink Peugeot and a stage full of topless male dancers.


Thrilled: Craig Colten looked delighted to be going through


Safe bet: Tulisa's group The Risk are thought to the next round

Kelly said as she announced her choice: 'This was so touch of a decision to make.'
The Destiny's Child star picked 16-year-old Janet Devlin first, followed by Misha B.
Before she revealed her final choice she broke down in tears, telling the last two: 'I want you both to know that you are such stars.'


Disbelieving: 16-year-old Janet Devlin always seemed a shoe in to get through, but looked nervous all the same

But 16-year-old Amelia Lily, who opened last night's show with a sensational performance of Billie Jean, was eliminated, with Sophie Habibis, who performed Katy Perry's Teenage Dream through to the next round.

This has clearly been an emotional 24 hours all round.


Joining in: Girl group Rhythmix got through, but cried anyway

Tulisa tweeted last night: 'So I still haven't decided, can't sleep, who do I choose, all so talented n love em all so much...'

Still struggling in the early hours, she added: 'Watching back performances, its killing me, need 2 think x' and then later: 'Think its time 4 food 4 thought.'


Shocked? Controversial Kitty Brucknell is through to the next stage of the competition

X FACTOR TULISA DECIDES ON WHICH ACT SHE IS SENDING HOME LIVE 9/10/2011


source: dailymail

By LIZ THOMAS and ELEANOR GOWER

Fired: Cheryl Cole, pictured arriving at the Los Angeles X Factor auditions in June, will appear in tonight's episode

She was dramatically fired from the U.S. X Factor after just three weeks as a judge back in June.

Yet Cheryl Cole has had an overwhelming response from U.S. critics who hail her as the better judge over her replacement – the pop singer Nicole Scherzinger.

Many prestigious U.S. television critics saw previews of the opening episode, which airs tonight, and branded Nicole a 'downgrade' from the British star, who appears in approximately half of the programme before she is replaced.


Old line up: Cheryl was one of the original judges alongside L.A. Reid, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell, with Steve Jones and Nicole Scherzinger as hosts

'The opening episode gives a surprising amount of screen time to Cheryl Cole, a British pop star whom Mr Cowell jettisoned from the panel last spring, in the middle of auditions,' said Neil Glenzinger of the New York Times.

'In the premiere she just kind of disappears midshow, without much explanation, and suddenly Nicole Scherzinger of Pussycat Dolls is in her chair.


'No improvement': Some U.S. media critics have been scathing in their reviews of Nicole Scherzinger's performance on the X Factor judging panel in comparison to Cheryl

'It’s a downgrade. Ms Cole showed glimmers of being interesting; in two seasons as a judge on The Sing-Off on NBC, Ms. Scherzinger was a pretty face but, judicially speaking, not much more than a seat warmer. '

The Los Angeles Times's Mary McNamara is equally unimpressed with the former Pussycat Dolls singer.


New panel: Nicole replaced Cheryl as a judge on the show, after Cowell said the Girls Aloud singer seemed bewildered and uncomfortable on the talent show

'Cowell has said he replaced Cole because she seemed 'bewildered,' but on a first impression, she is much more interesting than Scherzinger, if only for her fabulous Geordie accent,' she writes.

'In early scenes [Nicole] seems more interested in tearing up and out-glamming Idol’s Jennifer Lopez than bringing much to the commentary.'

Steve Johnson of The Chicago Tribune says: 'Scherzinger doesn't come off as an obvious improvement in the early going. She's more earnest like Kara DioGuardi than lovable like Jennifer Lopez.'


In action: Nicole sits to Paula's right on the show, which Cowell is hoping will compete with American Idol


'Irrelevant': USA X Factor host Steve Jones also gets short shrift from the critics in today's reviews

source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Pretty in pink: Cowell's sweater and sincere gaze echo the demeanour of Idol judge Jennifer Lopez in the spoof


Applauding and praising tuneless auditions, cosying up to fellow judges, driving an environmentally-friendly car and wearing a pink jumper - it all adds up to Simon Cowell's worst nightmare.

But there is a seam of reality in the first X Factor USA promo, because the crew are cheekily sending up Cowell's former U.S. show, American Idol.

The action opens in an audition room that looks suspiciously like the hotel room used in the hit show, and the panel of judges are dressed in pastel hues, a favourite palette of Jennifer Lopez.


Emotive: Nicole Scherzinger mirrors Lopez' encouraging hand gestures


An immediate focus on positivity is evident - which was the all pervading force of the last Idol series, even between the judges, thanks to the sardonic British producer's departure.

Simon, clad in cotton candy cashmere, leads the way by lavishing praise upon awful acts and holding hands with Paula Abdul, while all the judges make emotional gesticulations, like the Idol Panel.

But perhaps the most obvious dig is Paula Abdul's opening remark that the young girl who murders Tomorrow from the film Annie has 'spirit.'


Parody: The X Factor crew send up their Idol counterparts


Detail: Even the drinks on the judges' table in Idol was echoed in the skit


This is most definitely Simon Cowell setting out his stall, the promo implicitly promises that the X Factor USA will have the edge over all over other talent shows.

And as the X Factor is on Fox, the same network as Idol, it's a typically audacious piece of bombast from the celebrated producer.


Rude awakening: With his face in his hands, Simon Cowell wakes up in his luxurious bedroom after a nightmare about the X Factor USA


Thank God for that! A look of relief on his face, Simon snaps back into reality


The promo opens with Simon sitting with his fellow X Factor judges Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger and L.A Reid, wearing a pink cable knit jumper.

A small girl then presents herself to them and starts to sing Tomorrow from Annie very badly.

But rather than cut her off after a couple of notes, Simon patiently waits for her to finish, claps and says, 'That's what I've been waiting for.'

Abdul, to Simon's left, praises the plucky child's spirit, and as the camera pans to the dream-breaker, there's a sharp intake of breath.


No more Mr Nasty Guy? Simon Cowell wears pink and applauds contestant in the new preview for X Factor USA


Times a changing: The new cuddly Simon gets a kiss from Paula Abdul in the new promo


New Look: The panel. including Simon, Nicole and L.A Reid appear to have gone soft



Lucky girl: The awful rendition of Annie would usually have earned her a rejection


A New Decade: 'It's not about me, it's about them,' Simon insists


Eat my dust: The back of Simon's Bugatti, with personalised number plate is seen whizzing past


Jet Set: The team mean business as they are seen strutting away from their private jet


Welsh boy done good: Host Steve Jones (far right) joins the team as they head into the studio


Primed and ready: The four judges will be ready to find a new pop star when the show air on September 21


'We wanted to make something which showed what the show ‘could’ have been, my nightmare basically, then transitioning into what we really are and I thought it would be fun to make that.

'I literally really imagined my worst nightmare, and I put myself into that place and it was that.. Me, loving this song, Paula and I holding hands and I’m now turning into Paula everything is just... awful!. I just suspended my disbelief!'

The X Factor has it's two-Night Series premiere Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 8/7c and Thursday, Sept. 22 at 8/7c on FOX.




source: dailymail