Network: FOX
Episodes: 80 (one – two hours)
Seasons: Three

TV show dates: September 21, 2011 — December 19, 2013
Series status: Cancelled

Performers include: Simon Cowell, Nicole Scherzinger, Paula Abdul, L.A. Reid, Demi Lavato, Britney Spears, Louis Walsh, Kelly Rowland, Paulina Rubio (judges/mentors) with Steve Jones, Khloé Kardashian and Mario Lopez (hosts).

TV show description:      
Unlike American Idol, this singing competition has no upper age limit and is open to both solo artists and groups.

Potential contestants first audition in front of the judges and thousands of people in the theater audience. Hundreds try but far fewer make it. If the majority of the judges and the audience like what they see, then the person(s) move on to the next round.

Contestants who make it through the audition phase are then sent to a performance boot camp. Under extreme pressure, they must prove themselves by singing, dancing, and performing. Many contestants are cut from the competition during this phase.

Each judge is then assigned one of four categories — either girls between 12 and 30, boys between 12 and 30, individuals over 30, or groups (some of which may be formed from rejected soloists after the audition process). The contestants travel to their respective judge’s house where each judge selects the best acts, those with the biggest chance of winning, to take to the live show.

When the show goes live, only the best performers remain. Drawing from their experience, the judges coach the acts in their individual categories on what to sing, what to wear, and how to really “own” the stage. The judges critique the live performances every week, but it’s the viewers who vote and ultimately decide who will win a $5 million recording contract.

What do you think? Do you like The X Factor TV show? Do you think it should have been cancelled or renewed for a fourth season?

Image courtesy FOX.