U.S. Premiere of X-Factor

Cowel with fellow judges on the show, Paula Abul, Nicole Scherzinger and L.A. Reid

Simon Cowell gave birth to his new television baby, "X Factor," with a glitzy premiere in Los Angeles, Wednesday night. He says US audiences can expect a different beast to the other TV talent shows already out there.


"Well, I've made a lot of these shows. I was there at the beginning with 'Idol,' 'Got Talent,' 'X Factor' and they have to be different otherwise you start canceling each other out. But this was the show I always had the most fun on when I was doing it back in the UK. There was something about the show I loved and I always wanted to bring it to America. But you know the viewers will make their own minds up whether its the same or different. And I think they are going to go with me. It is a different experience," says Cowell.

Paula Abdul was excited to be working with Cowell again.

"There is so much that goes into the show. You're going to be able to see as a viewer, behind the scenes of what it takes to put on a show of this magnitude,You're going to get a look into the spirit and psyche of these talented performers, and what adversity they have to climb over to gear up, and put that behind them to deliver each week. You are going to see the mentoring, it's very intense, it's not just, kind of working on a song with them. We are very much involved. It's what I love to do, it's how I started my career, working behind the scenes fostering and mentoring talent, that's my wheel house. So I'm excited about this. Not only do we pick songs, we are studying the stage. We are deciding what we want creatively to go into the performance. We are deciding their look. There is so much that goes into it, and that's exactly how I was brought up in this business. I couldn't be more thrilled," Abdul said, adding she's grown fond of the show's creator. "I'm very fortunate and it's a great feeling to be on a show that allows for that. And it's great that Simon hung in there with me and it took all this time for us to really understand each other. I don't know what that says, but having said that he's a man of his word, and that goes a long way with me."

For L.A. Reid, sitting at the table with Simon and crew is a brand new experience.

"I've never had to share the stage with anyone when it came to judging talent," he admits, "I didn't do it on television, but when an artist came to audition for me at my record companies throughout the years it was my opinion. Now I have Simon's opinion, Nicole's opinion, Paula's opinion and the fifth judge, which the audience, right? So, it's much tougher. You know, I'd rather it be just my opinion."

Former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, who is dating Formula one racing driver Lewis Hamilton, says she couldn't help but feel inspired by some of the contestants.

"For me the X factor is someone who is going to move me and inspire me, so I am looking for that. What's been so wonderful about the show is we have found some unbelievable talent and these people have inspired me. They move me. I was just in London performing yesterday. When I'm in the studio, in my live performances, this is making me even an better artist now and I'm still growing and I love that."" said Scherzinger.

The question of how up front talent show contestants can be about their sexuality hit headlines this year, after another show, "The Voice" showcased two gay finalists - a first for a prime-time TV.

Other shows such as "American Idol" and "America's Got Talent" had featured gay performers, but not in an open way. For example, Adam Lambert, who won second place on "American Idol" in 2009, didn't address his sexuality until after the competition ended. He's since had success as an openly gay performer, earning a Grammy nomination, a gold-selling CD and a pair of Top 40 hits.

Cowell made it clear that all his "X Factor" contestants could be totally open on the show, in regards to all aspects of their lives .

"Oh, one hundred percent open," Cowell said. "You know the last story we showed was about this guy who was in rehab. A lot of shows wouldn't do all that stuff but that's real life, you know it happens. People want to make life better for themselves, this gives them a shot. The music business is very indicative of that. If you run a record label, don't care whether you're gay, straight, short, tall, big, small whatever. If you've got talent we're interested. This show has a no rules policy."

The" X Factor" premieres stateside September 21st on FOX.

Source: AP