Cheryl Cole not the only sour note for Cowell's "X Factor"

Simon Cowell is interviewed following the Variety Children's Charity 2010 Hollywood World Conference in Los Angeles May 23, 2010.

Credit: Reuters/Phil McCarten

By Jill Serjeant

LOS ANGELES | Wed Jun 1, 2011 7:52pm EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - "American Idol" made Simon Cowell a household name in the United States, but the prickly British music Svengali is hitting some flat notes as he tries to launch his own TV singing competition.

Cowell, 51, has been working on a U.S. version of his hit UK talent show "The X Factor" for more than 18 months. But as the clock winds down to its much-hyped debut in the fall, he is facing some last-minute challenges.

His personal pick for the judging panel -- British singer Cheryl Cole -- was reportedly dumped from the lineup, possibly because of her thick accent. She was also dropped this week from the panel of the UK version of "The X Factor".

Perhaps more ominously yet another singing show, "The Voice," has become a surprise hit by borrowing some key "X Factor" components.

TV pundits also wonder whether viewers have the appetite for another months-long singing competition. "X Factor" will join a list that includes "The Sing-Off," "Platinum Hit," "The Glee Project", "American Idol", and Cowell's own "America's Got Talent."

Last month, Fox television touted Cowell and "The X Factor" as the highlight of its new fall schedule. Fox Networks Group chairman Peter Rice described Cowell as "the absolute star of the genre at the pinnacle of his game."

Two weeks later, something had clearly gone wrong after two rounds of auditions before Cowell, Cole and fellow judges Paula Abdul, record producer Antonio "L.A." Reid.

Cole was seen as an odd choice: A style icon and a household name at home but unknown in the United States.

Depending on whom you believe, Cole was apparently dropped because of concerns that her Northern English accent might prove tough for U.S. viewers, or because she lacked chemistry with "Idol" alumna Abdul, or because she was uncharacteristically nervous when "X Factor" shooting started.

"To get so far and discover it is not working -- that is a little bit of a shock," said Michael Slezak, senior editor with TVLine.com.

"But expectations are so high that if some key element isn't working, it doesn't shock me that they are not worried about personal feelings and are making whatever changes they feel necessary," Slezak said.

TOO MANY TV TALENT SHOWS?

Fox and Cowell's Syco production company have declined to confirm reports that ex-Pussycat Dolls singer Nicole Scherzinger -- initially hired as "X Factor" co-host -- will take over from Cole.

They also declined to comment on whether any re-shoots will be necessary, or how production has been affected.

"It could be a very big setback because the Fox marketing machine been pushing 'X Factor' since January," said Craig Tomashoff, a TV writer for Xfinity and TV Guide. "Cole was Simon's pet project and now she has gone. I am certain that's not how everyone at Fox envisioned it would work."

But Tomashoff said the bigger issue might be a surfeit of talent shows, "and in the fall there are also a lot of other new TV shows that people are beginning to check out."

While Cowell was working on "X Factor," rival network NBC jumped in with "The Voice." Making its debut in April, it boasts a stellar coach/mentor lineup of Christina Aguilera, country singer Blake Shelton, R&B star Cee Lo Green and Maroon 5 front man Adam Levine -- who also perform together on the show.

The audience for "The Voice" has grown, reaching a high of 14 million viewers on Tuesday. Perhaps more significantly, it adopts two of "X Factor"s distinguishing features -- celebrity coaches compete against each other to mentor contestants, and auditions are held in front of a live audience.

"The success of that show has got to make Fox and Simon a little bit nervous. You don't want someone getting into the market before you," said Slezak.

But he noted that the Cheryl Cole debacle has kept the show in the headlines. "How many shows premiering in the fall would kill to have people and the media talking about them every single day?", he said.

Indeed don't count out Cowell just yet, Tomashoff warned. "I don't think he takes losing very well. If anything, this will fire him up even more,"

Fox is a unit of News Corp; NBC is controlled by Comcast Corp; the UK version of "X Factor" is broadcast on ITV

(Editing by Dean Goodman)

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'I am NOT the bad guy' Simon Cowell insists it was a group decision to axe Cheryl

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 4:31 PM on 2nd June 2011
X Factor boss Simon Cowell defended himself following the controversy over the Girls Aloud star's unceremonious firing as a judge from the U.S. version.
The X Factor boss is upset at being made out to be the 'bad guy' and ib fact Cowell, 51, said he had 'moved heaven and earth' to get the Geordie singer back on the show.
However, clearly keen not to be made the fall guy, he insisted the decision to axe her was made by a group and not him alone.
No bad guy: Simon Cowell apparently 'moved heaven and earth' to get Cheryl Cole back on the X Factor
The latest development in the saga comes as new judges Take That singer songwriter Gary Barlow, Tulisa Contostavlos and former Destiny's Child singer Kelly Rowland made their debut yesterday at the first X Factor UK auditions at Birmingham's LG Arena.
A show producer told the newspaper: 'He (Cowell) moved heaven and earth for that girl – effectively offering to double her salary to take up a role on the UK show.'
The unnamed source said the 27-year-old was 'never herself' on the U.S. show and it came across on camera but there was 'nothing anyone could do about it'.

He said the decision to ask her to leave was made by a group - not Cowell alone, adding: 'Simon won’t be losing sleep over someone who has just rejected a multi-million pound job offer.'
Sources close to the two stars believe they will get their friendship back on track.

Television Programme: The X Factor with Judges Cheryl Cole and Simon Cowell.
Cheryl, who has not been seen in public since her dismissal, is believed to be refusing to answer calls from Simon or respond to texts.

Even Louis Walsh waded into the debate and apparently said there was no hope for the pair's friendship now.
But the 58-year-old said Cheryl is strong and will return to the spotlight soon 'even more fantastic than before'.
Yesterday Take That star Gary Barlow revealed Cheryl had 'turned a corner' and 'is going places'.
Barlow, 40, said he had spoken to the petite brunette - and revealed that she had wished him luck as he prepared to take over from Simon Cowell as a judge on the ITV talent hit.
The new crew: The official new line-up, Gary Barlow, Tulisa Contostavlos, Kelly Rowland and Louis Walsh, pose together for the first time
Cheryl's sacking has made headlines on both sides of the Atlantic all week and when Simon Cowell appeared on the Britain's Got Talent semi-final two days ago he was instantly teased by show hosts Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly - hammering home the back lash he faced following the decision.
Cowell took to the stage just hours after it was confirmed that the Girls Aloud star would not be a judge on this year's UK X Factor after being sacked from the U.S. version.
And Dec couldn't resist having a pop at the show's head honcho over the treatment of fellow Geordie Cheryl, saying: 'Can you understand my accent Simon?' as he reclaimed his seat on the BGT judging panel alongside Michael McIntyre, Amanda Holden and David Hasselhoff.
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