CANCELLATION ALERT: The X Factor

In a move that was necessary, FOX has cancelled The X Factor after three seasons. The reality show debuted to big numbers in 2011 (though well shy of what Simon Cowell predicted). It dumped Paula Abdul after season one and had a buzzy addition of Britney Spears for season two. But the ratings dropped and Britney was gone after one season. The show revamped again for season three, bringing in new judges Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio. It was down 39% on Wednesday and 40% on Thursday to pretty horrible numbers for a show airing three hours a week on FOX. Some thought it would get reduced but FOX opted to cut it entirely and put its eggs fully back in the American Idol basket. Despite Simon Cowell's attempts, Factor was always the third reality competition after Idol and The Voice.

The X Factor is actually the first cancelled show for FOX this season. Sure to join that list are Enlisted, Raising Hope, and Rake. Bubble shows are Almost Human, Dads, The Following, and The Mindy Project while American Idol, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Family Guy, and New Girl are sure to join official renewals Bob's Burgers, Bones, Glee, Masterchef Junior, The Simpsons, and Sleepy Hollow. Still to premiere is Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, Surviving Jack, 24: Live Another Day, and Surviving Jack. One reason The X Factor became expendable is the number of half-season shows FOX has now and so there's not that "holding place" for Idol that there used to be.

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