The X Factor creator and judge Simon Cowell confirmed that NBC will revive the singing competition show in the U.S. after a 10-year hiatus, but its return could affect the schedule of another fan-favorite series, The Voice. The X Factor originated in the UK in 2004 and has had many versions around the globe. The American X Factor premiered in 2011 on FOX, where it aired for three seasons. The most successful act created by The X Factor in the U.S. was Fifth Harmony, who placed third in season 2. Its members, Ally Brooke, Normani, Dinah Jane, Lauren Jauregiu, and Camila Cabello have been successful solo artists as well.
When The X Factor aired on FOX, American Idol was still a series on the network. The shows took turns on the television schedule, with The X Factor appearing in the fall and American Idol airing in the spring. On NBC, The Voice had been airing two seasons a year, in the fall and the spring, but only one season aired in 2022. The only other time that just one season of The Voice aired in a year was in 2011 when it had its inaugural season in the spring.
The X Factor Could Replace An Installment Of The Voice On The NBC Schedule
When The X Factor premieres on NBC, the show will join not only The Voice but America's Got Talent, Simon's summer talent competition. That show's spin-off, America's Got Talent: All-Stars, is also currently airing. It's unclear how The X Factor will fit into the schedule. The most logical move would be to air just one installment of The Voice per year. Deadline reported that this could be a way to "prolong the lifespan" of The Voice. With the exit of the last remaining original coach, Blake Shelton, after The Voice season 23, the show will look different moving forward, and having only one season per year will keep it fresh.
How The X Factor Is Similar To & Different From The Voice
The X Factor and The Voice are different because the latter has blind auditions. However, they are similar because they both feature groups of singers being mentored by celebrity coaches. On The X Factor, the contestants were split into groups based on categories such as Boys, Girls, Over 25s, Groups, and others, who were guided by mentors. The mentors for the U.S. version of The X Factor throughout its three seasons were Simon, L.A. Reid, Nicole Scherzinger, Paula Abdul, Britney Spears, Demi Lovato, Kelly Rowland, and Paulina Rubio.
No matter what NBC decides, the return of Simon Cowell's The X Factor is an exciting development for fans. Watching the mentors mold new artists into superstars is always intriguing. The show took five solo artists and created the group Fifth Harmony. The same thing happened in the UK version of The X Factor when One Direction was formed. Although fans might lose a season of The Voice to The X Factor, having only one installment of the former will keep viewers wanting more. The X Factor could be just what NBC needs to keep things exciting for all the network's shows.
Source: Deadline