I was really looking forward to The X Factor. I respect Simon as a judge and feel just about anything he touches will become gold. After the stint with "Astro" and his disrespectful, ugly mouth, whether it was part of his "act" or not, I could no longer stomach the show. That night the judges had the opportunity to give him a much needed life lesson. They chose not to use the opportunity and his behavior was condoned. I have three grown, successful adult children. None of them were ever allowed to speak to any adult in that manner. Maybe it helped the ratings and I'm just one lost viewer. This is just like everything else my opinion, but I learned long ago if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything. Guess I'll just have to go back to Idol.

i've not watched this show,but i can't believe that simon cowell,could stomach a chris rene.

What about all the offshoots like America's Got Talent or the Rock version of American Idol?

We're in an economic depression-more time on white guys hands means more audience share and maybe more gumption to try.

Hmm, it's even more shocking how Viacom/MTV has thrown away their influence on the musical Zeitgeist . Why isn't any of these types of shows are on Viacom? Instead, we get pregnant teenagers, drunken Jersy Shore kids, and women fighting?

X-Factor should be X-ed! The overly-produced numbers, complete with dancers, fireworks, CGI screens really detract from the "talent" we are supposed to be focusing on. Is there lip-synching too? Sometimes it seems like it. Maybe it's just the horrible production. Put em on a stage with a microphone and let them wow us.

I never watch any of the so-called reality shows, and never will.

As someone who stopped watching Idol ages ago I'm shocked at how much I love American X-Factor. LA Reid's movements when he savors a song and Scherzinger's face shuddering into emotion (some say theatrical, I find her totally dear) alone are captivating. One interesting aspect I'd like to ask is about its age policy -- resulting in perhaps too-young contestants -- Drew, Rachel, Astro -- whose breakdowns during their not unjust eliminations were arguably unfit for spectatorship. (Astro actually had his crisis earlier; handled himself w/ impressive poise when leaving.)

I love Marcus Canty, btw, who, like LA Reid said, totally seems to be a Bobby Brown (from his golden days) for our age.

And if nothing else the show was useful in discovering / displaying Melanie Amaro, whose musicality and sheer beauty of tone are very special. To speak in cliches, she's like Beyonce + Mariah but ultimately of finer material than either.