Now, THIS is the X Factor!

It was Britain's X Factor that produced One Direction, who open Season 2 of X Factor USA this week but I can't see the show on any channels here in Britain so, with enormous thanks to MJ's Big Blog, here are the highlights from the first show.



Simon Cowell seems to have got the judges right and the crowd certainly voiced their approval loudly, especially for Britney Spears, who seems a natural in this role and comes across as confident, with views she's happy to express and we're not clouded by memories of her teenage performances or past problems. Demi Lovato is not someone I'm aware of but is clearly a big star over the pond. She's got amazing photos all over the web but looks pretty ordinary on the panel. The jury's out on her as a judge but these are very early days. LA Reid seems to have got smaller since last year.

The first act is fairly safe and average. You can see this is going to be quite a heavily produced first few weeks with a story developing from the start - check out the blond girls...





Naturally, it wouldn't be X Factor without some dumb auditions. At least we don't have a dumb compere, though. It seems to work without a Ryan, Dermot or, please don't remind me, a Steve, but I guess they'll get someone on for the live shows as and when we get there.



Here comes the first kid. Seems a nice boy. The audience love him and if he doesn't make it on his own I can see Simon dropping him in a boy band later.



Now we get the Kaci story. You can skip this if you like. It's not good.



Next comes the cringe and laugh moment. I guess every week needs its weirdo.



Back to what the show is all about and, unlike X factor UK, we do actually get to see a group before week 4 and this one we'll be seeing a lot more of.



After some more embarrassing attempts and some guy who once duetted with Britney, not easy watching as he's neither very good nor did it seem fair to expect Britney to comment on someone she'd worked with ten years ago - all a bit odd for my taste but it may have made good tv - after all that we get a really pretty girl with a rock edge and an audition that worked on all levels. Imagine her with better clothes and an Essex tan and, although it's a long way to go to the live shows, she's a contender.



Now, brace yourself for the big emotional closing act. This one really does get the full treatment. I'm not sure how far this girl will really get but she certainly won a few hearts here tonight.



And just to close things off and get us wondering what else is to come, there's a montage of what's in store. I like the Brit references at the start! Pity no-one else has made it across the pond though. Strange how few have actually crossed over from any of this type of show.