X Factor (Syco) producer and judge Simon Cowell has decided Paula Abdul will not be returning to the show. Judge Nicole Scherzinger and host Steve Jones will not be returning either. That leaves just Cowell and L.A. Reid as the two returning on-air players at the show—at least as it stands for now.
Nigel Lythgoe, the longtime showrunner of “American Idol” tweeted “Shocked to see Simon has fired Paula Abdul, Nicole and Steve from the X Factor,” according to E! Online.
While Jones admitted that he had been let go from the show, Scherzinger claimed it was her idea that she leave the reality series, according to another article at E! Online: “‘[Scherzinger] wants to focus on her music career,’ a source said. ‘She’s spoken to Simon [Cowell] and he’s given her his blessing. ‘X-Factor’ took a lot more of her time than she ever expected. She didn’t have any time really to work on her music. She was doing ‘X Factor’ six days a week.’ “
The Hollywood Reporter said that according to a show insider, a series of ‘X Factor’ season 2 offsite meetings are taking place where Cowell has assembled his team and creative brain-trust for a post-mortem. The purpose: detailing what went wrong and what was done right on season 1 of the Fox singing competition.
Among the findings, says THR: Abdul’s role was seen as ‘irrelevant to the mix,’ in part through no fault of her own (as mentor to the groups, her contestants were picked off early in the competition)..Still, Abdul was not without her controversies on the show. Many blamed her for the dismissal of season 1 favorite Rachel Crow, precipitated by advice Abdul gave to Scherzinger to let the decision be made by the public vote. America then sent the 13-year-old packing.”
Fox is confirming that Jones and Scherzinger will not be returning, but Abdul’s firing remains unconfirmed by Fox.
