[HoveringKestrel]

I don;t really know who Demi Lovato is except for she starred in a Disney Channel film. Simon Cowell and L.A Reid weren't enough for last years X-Factor, could Britney draw in the viewing figures?

[Cloudbuster]

Its a car crash in the making, and that is what the producers want. Poor Britney.

The show here is tired and I can't see the USA version lasting half as long.

The concept is jaded

[HenryBane]

It'll end in disaster, we're already being told of how she's walking out of auditions and not really into it.

[Dennis C]

Cowell needs the Britney Bitch more shan she needs him. I think that the American public is getting fed up with endless talent shows and putting money into Cowell's bank account. Like what we are in Britain.

I'd like to see any of his talent shows have a really good ventriloquist come before the judging panel. Then I predict that Cowell would say "I'm a sleazebag and I have no talent! I've been groping Britney under the table" and Britney would say "The Voice is better! Christina is a better judge than me! Hell, she's a better singer than me, she's a better person in every way than me!"

Both would deny it of course but the evidence would be there and soon be up on youtube for everyone to see and hear for evermore. LOL.

[Hit Em Up Style]

Britney was sadly never in control of her own career, and I still think her father is in charge of all her affairs?, so to expect her to now manage others was always without credibilty.

Whether it works or not remains to be seen but I wish her well.

I do agree though that Simon only went for Britney because Christina is on The Voice.

[HenryBane]

Originally Posted by Hit Em Up Style

Britney was sadly never in control of her own career, and I still think her father is in charge of all her affairs?, so to expect her to now manage others was always without credibilty.

Whether it works or not remains to be seen but I wish her well.

I do agree though that Simon only went for Britney because Christina is on The Voice.

She never seems to spend much of her well earned money, always dressed like someone with very little money and always seems to be working, so I imagine what she earns goes to fund her family and various hangers on.

[granted08]

Yes like Scherzinger will save the uk version.

[HoveringKestrel]

I think she'll probably be told by the producers what to say (and everyone will know it), but I think it will improve her star power, and ultimately the power of the show over in the States. She is one of the most famous people in the world (unlike Paula and Nicole from last year) and what she says on camera will probably be focused on quite a lot. She will no doubt lead to lots more profit for lots more producers.

[TessaRae]

According to this journalist who saw Britney in action at the auditions she's doing a bang-up job


http://www.examiner.com/article/brit...from-the-facts

[HoveringKestrel]

Wow, I do believe that article. I'm slightly disappointed that the staging isn't very concealed, but I'm not at all surprised. However, Britney's reactions on the live shows may be interesting viewing?

[Hootie]

Nobody can save the U.S. xfactor . .
It's sh*t . .
The public aint daft, we're bored with this 'find a popstar' programme now.
It's so over . .
Goodbye Simon . .

[C14E]

Given the general trend for talent shows in the US this year, I think if they hold steady with last year it'll be a mighty relief. The Voice crashed during the live shows (I think it was 7 weeks of consecutive declines and a total of 40% of the audience gone in that period). American Idol was down 33% to the point where it was frequently not the #1 show in the key demo. Dancing With The Stars also collapsed for both its cycles last season. America's Got Talent is down double digit %'s this summer. ABC's latest attempt at a talent show has bombed massively.

These shows can still rate very well - AGT is easily the #1 show of the summer and rated strongly for the episodes that aired during the regular season (beating shows like DWTS and Glee). X Factor was the biggest new show among A18-49 last season (albeit not by much). Idol remained #1 if you discount NFL and I'm pretty sure The Voice (Monday episodes) was #2. But I think the days of dominance might be over. When people say "Idol sized ratings" now, it means something very different to what it did this time last year.

The series average last year was a 3.6 in the demo. Minus Britney I'd have expected it to fall this year to something like a 3.0/3.1 - decent but not huge by any means. With Britney, they might be able to hold that 3.6. But who knows. The competition is very tough this year, especially on Thursdays and now that NBC have given in to desperation and put The Voice on twice a year it means US TV will have a singing talent show 4 nights a week for at least 6 hours in total. The public benchmark for success (and perhaps Cowell's given his competitive nature) will probably be to beat The Voice in the weekly ratings.

I think Britney might end up being a bit dull - although I doubt it'll be a full scale car crash. By the sounds of it, Demi could be the surprise star of season 2.

[jackbell]

Britney is stunt casting, but I'll wager Demi will be the one to watch.

I was watching a clip of the Greensborough auditions and Britney has very little to say. Look.

[Nyota]

Originally Posted by Hootie

Nobody can save the U.S. xfactor . .
It's sh*t . .
The public aint daft, we're bored with this 'find a popstar' programme now.
It's so over . .
Goodbye Simon . .

What made it a non-starter for me was when I realised they let children as young as 12 perform.

I can't stomach child acts at all. Why can't they just make a seperate version for the children?

[Zone_Out]

Going by The commercials she's actually doing great and it looks like a lot of her old self is coming back to her, her confidence looks like its back and her personality which is great.

I don't think it's fair to say car crash waiting to happen I can only assume
People say that judging on her past. Especially when years have past and her life is on track!
Saying that I do think people are curious since she hasn't really been that much out there publicly on tv in years.

[jackbell]

The reason people are expecting a car crash is in recent times the XF has been very stressful. Kelly going off 'sick', Tulisa/Misha B, Nichol/Rachel (how would Britney have coped with that?).

[MICH78]

I think Britney is a lot smarter than people give her credit for. As long as her medication is managed, there's no reason why she would be "car crash" TV and i think her critiques so far have been way more coherant than Paula's ever were on Idol.

Given the current decline in reality TV ratings, if XFUSA manages a slight increase on last year, then it will be deemed a success. I don't see them losing ratings as much as The Voice did this year.

[Lewnaticc]

I think Britney looks old on it... She's not ageing well at all.