The Yes List - Why 'X Factor' Trounces 'American Idol'

Richard Rushfield loves ‘X Factor’ and discussed his love with Simon Cowell… IN WITH THE NEW December 02, 2011 Why X Factor Trounces American Idol Simon Cowell's singing competition is far less popular than American Idol—its contestants are edgy and it's mean. But Richard Rushfield loves it, and discussed it with Cowell. Mark Davis, PictureGroup / Fox A couple of weeks ago, X Factor viewers saw what might have been the most incredible elimination episode in the now-extensive history of TV talent competitions. Facing elimination, Astro—the show's 15-year-old Brooklyn rapper—initially refused to perform in the sing-off that would determine who goes home, not wanting to honor the fools in the audience who had failed to see the brilliance of his work. Across the stage, Stacy Francis, the show’s controversy-ridden 42-year-old superdiva, glared daggers of hate at the judges, whose harsh commentary had put her in this position. She would, ultimately, after receiving the boot, lambaste her judge-mentor Nicole Scherzinger for the poor guidance that had destroyed her chances, voicing the opinion that had she been guided by someone else she would still be singing. Read the rest of this article on The Daily Beast Want more culture from The Daily Beast? Click below to read this week's top stories on entertainment and the arts. Carey Mulligan's Naked Turn in Shame Mulligan talks to Lorenza Muñoz about Shame, her passion for acting, and ‘Last Tango in Paris.’ Adam Kirsch's Why Trilling Matters Reminds Us of Power of Reading For a generation Lionel Trilling was the only critic that mattered as a new book by Adam Kirsch explains. By William Giraldi. GET The Cheat Sheet A speedy, smart summary of news and must-reads from across the Web. You'll love the featured original stories on politics, entertainment, and more from The Daily Beast's diverse group of contributors. GET The Yes List Weekly cultural recommendations from The Daily Beast. Wayne Gretzky's Daughter’s Twitter Scandal by Chris Lee Why Enrique Iglesias Is Still Hot by Ramin Setoodeh Stars in Ugly Christmas Sweaters by The Daily Beast

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