# Simon Cowell / American Idol / X-Factor **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 1, 2011, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-cowell-american-idol-x-factor/573125 "2011-03-01T23:40:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2011, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-cowell-american-idol-x-factor/573125/1 "2011-03-01T23:40:05Z")
So – Do you think Cowell’s absence from AI has made a difference (positive or negative) and do you plan to watch the US version of the X Factor later this year? And what do you predict will happen re. ratings of AI and X Factor? Seems Cowell is offering a much bigger prize ($5M) than AI and it’s opened up to any age and groups, like the UK version (there’s a minimum age, but it’s very low). And X Factor is much more “dramatic” and flashy than Idol, and centered a lot more around the judges and rivalry between them as they mentor each category (boys, girls, over 25s, and groups). I’ve always preferred the X Factor - it’s simply more _entertaining_ - but that’s just a taste thing. And personally, I’m finding AI a bit lackluster and boring without Cowell - dunno if I’ll last the season. AI ratings are down again - it now has about 22M viewers, which is similar to X Factor viewers in a country a sixth of the size (i.e. a much smaller market share). What about you? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-cowell-american-idol-x-factor/573125/2 "2011-03-02T00:02:41Z")
I’m liking Steve Tyler and J-Lo as the replacement judges - Randy is his usual placeholder self. I haven’t noticed the lack of Simon Cowell at all - between Steve and Jennifer, they seem to get the message across to people who shouldn’t be singing quite well (with a few Simon-type zingers thrown in, mostly from Steven who can’t quite seem to help himself). Steven Tyler is much more entertaining than Simon, too. That all said, I probably will watch X-Factor, too, but I’m watching AI for now. ---
**Author:** ![Brynda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e79b87/32.png) [@Brynda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brynda)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-cowell-american-idol-x-factor/573125/3 "2011-03-02T00:06:10Z")
What **Cat Whisperer** said. Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez have more than filled Simon’s shoes. I will probably watch x Factor, too, though, since I love contest shows. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/simon-cowell-american-idol-x-factor/573125/4 "2011-03-02T00:17:03Z")
Too late to edit - I meant that they got the message across quite well, not that the people were singing quite well. 🙂