RENEWAL ALERT: The X-Factor

The first new show of the 2011-2012 season to get a renewal for a second season is FOX's The X-Factor. The new reality franchise from Simon Cowell was expected to be the one sure thing for this fall. Simon Cowell and many observers predicted over 20 million. But instead it debuted with 12.5 million viewers and a 4.4 demo. That was the bad news. The good news is that it has been remarkably steady this season and just posted its best numbers since the premiere with its first live show (airing on a Tuesday night). American Idol will take the slot in the spring and presumably The X-Factor will return again next fall in the same timeslot.

The X-Factor joins cartoons The Cleveland Show, Family Guy, and The Simpsons for early renewals next year.