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Both Demi Lovato (l.) and Britney Spears have reportedly signed on as judges for “The X Factor.â€
Even as the network was busy divulging the rest of its plans at the upfronts on Monday, Fox has yet to make an official announcement about the two newest judges coming on board for "The X Factor" this fall.
In what may be the worst kept secret in the TV business, Britney Spears has already signed a $15 million deal and is in New York City for the official announcement, according to several media reports.
Late Sunday, TMZ.com also reported that former Disney star Demi Lovato has signed on.
There are at least two openings for judges on “The X Factor†because Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger, as well as host Steve Jones, were fired from the show in January. Producer Simon Cowell has been searching for some big names to join him and compete with his former show, “American Idol,†and NBC’s upstart “The Voice,†each of which boasts celebrity singers in the judging seats.
A number of other bold-faced names were linked to Cowell’s show since. Producers also apparently considered Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Pink and Whitney Houston, before her death in February.
Cowell needs all the help he can get, as his show has fallen behind both Fox's "American Idol" and NBC's "The Voice" in terms of both buzz and numbers.
The former “American Idol†fixture predicted the Americanized version of his popular British show “The X Factor†would draw 20 million or more viewers in its debut season last fall.
It didn’t, averaging closer to 12 million.
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