X Factor USA Ends With Disappointing Averages
The X Factor USA concluded last night, with 19-year-old British Virgin Islands-born singer Melanie Amaro winning to take the $5m recording contract and a chance to star in a commercial for Pepsi. While her mentor Simon Cowell might be pleased at winning the competition, he believes that much is to be desired when it comes to the show’s ratings, as the first series of the Fox reality show clocked in at an average of 12.3m viewers (average taken before this week’s final).
It is definitely a reality check for Cowell, who brashly predicted earlier in the year that the show would break American Idol‘s regular milestone of 20m. He said of his personal reflection on the show’s progress: “It didn’t get the numbers I predicted. I’m not going to lie and say I’m thrilled. But I’ve also learned a lesson that you can’t be too cocky, and it may take a few years. You’ve got to earn the right to those numbers.”
Cowell added his more positive verdict on production of the series in general, and plans for the future: “I think it’s been really, really, really good. Compared to the first season we made in England, which was horrific… the first American show was a million times better. I can see the second show in my head now, where we need to go with it. We’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves still.”
David Scardino, representative of advertising agency RPA, gave an independent verdict on the show’s success, stating: “Hype and all that aside, I think the show is a major factor in sending Fox into the second half of the season in extremely good shape. Probably a little of the responsibility for setting the bar a bit too high has to go to the network.”
On the show itself, Cowell had given his opinion on Melanie, who beat Josh Krajcik to win the show, saying: “America, thank you for giving this girl an opportunity. She’s going to represent this country. She is a star. I’m very proud and very grateful. And Josh was a great runner-up.”
With season two now being prepared for, will The X Factor soon be ringing the changes to get the higher viewing figures it craves?
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