Did Simon Cowell's faith in his pop princesses pay off?
Britney Spears and Demi Lovato joined Cowell and L.A. Reid as the new judges on the much ballyhooed premiere of The X Factor Wednesday night. Their unique personalities, combined with a new documentary style of presentation, reinvigorated the singing-competition show in its second season. We break down how the ladies did:
The X Factor's Simon Cowell on "reinventing the genre," a Britney-Demi duet and ones to watch Britney Spears
The Look: No over-the-top cleavage or fascinator hats here (yeah, we're talking to you, Christina Aguilera). The 30-year-old keeps her image sexy but simple with short, glamorous dresses and loose hair. Considering we mainly see her from the waist up at the judges' table, it's a surprisingly subdued look for the pop star. And we imagine some young girls will run out to buy thick-rimmed glasses to copy her cerebral-chic look.
The Attitude: Early on, her body language — crossing her arms and chewing gum — makes it appear she was holding back a little. But she eventually gets into the groove and appears perkier and interested in engaging with the auditioners.
The Honesty: Wow, who would have thought that Cowell was right to dub her "The Queen of Mean"? She tells more than one hopeful that they need a new teacher, are singing off-key or that she just doesn't "get it." But even those dismissive comments are nothing compared to when she tells the creepy "Candy Girl" guy, "I feel uncomfortable with you even looking at me." She doesn't go to Cowell-esque lengths to insult someone, but somehow, her bluntness is far more effective.
The Heart: The flip side of that honesty is that Spears is genuinely complimentary when she likes someone. She tells Paige Thomas she's flawless, that Bieber-wannabe that he's "completely and utterly adorable" and Emblem3 that they are funky and have smooth voices. She even lets down her former duet partner Don Philip as respectfully as possible: "I feel that you've been through years of hardships and battles, but your voice isn't up to the bars and standards of what we want."
TVGuide.com's Judgment: No train wrecks here (yet!). Spears is occasionally reserved, but when she speaks up, she means what she says with no frills. It's surprisingly refreshing and works for her. This no-nonsense attitude also shows that she's taking the job seriously. She's ... classy! Demi Lovato The Look: Neon, youthful, layered and funky — there's a lot going on with her attire, but most of all, it's fun. What pop-loving 20-year-old wouldn't like to streak her hair pink and wear a furry coat?
The Attitude: Lovato's bright and energetic demeanor matches her fashion. She brings enthusiasm, positivity and playfulness to the panel.
The Honesty: She tends to stay away from really harsh criticism, usually sticking with "Sorry, no." But occasionally she'll try to find reasons why some people aren't hitting the mark. When "Candy Girl" man tries to list all the hours he'd put into training, she tells him, "A lot of people work really hard for their dreams, but sometimes" it's not a fit for them.