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Changes afoot for 'X Factor'? Schedule and notes

By April MacIntyre Jan 9, 2012, 4:30 GMT

Melanie Amaro and Simon Cowell - "The X Factor" Season Finale - Arrivals - CBS Televison City - Los Angeles, CA, USA © Andrew Evans / PR Photos

The X Factor readies for season two on FOX.

At the Television Critics' Association press tour in Pasadena today, FOX Chieftain Kevin Reilly addressed questions over the new reality series that some critics' felt underperformed in ratings splash.

Reilly says, "I’m thrilled with the fact that the show has helped provide us with a schedule that’s up 14 percent for the fall, one of the strongest falls we’ve had in our history. We are consistently almost always winning Thursday night. And it’s a show that’s returning that people loved. It inhabits its own space. The mechanics, and there’s an awful lot of similarities to IDOL and other imitators, but it’s its own show. It’s its own energy. It’s its own spectacle. And I loved it. I will tell you, there are things Simon is going to do. If it did twice the rating, he would still change it. He’s relentless in that way. So there are changes. I can tell you I have no idea what they are going to be. You’ll talk to Mike and his team, who are here today. Mike is not going to tell you because he doesn’t know yet. Neither does Simon. He’s off decompressing right now on vacation. There will be some changes."

"The only thing I will say is, as we know, it is a much harder job than meets the eye. I think everybody now has come to realize the value of a Ryan Seacrest. If you dialed the clock back 11 years, I’m not sure everybody in this room would have given him all of the credit at that time. Those are very hard jobs to do. So whether Steve’s the guy or not, some of it comes under the heading of growth in general. So there will be some tweaks to the show, but I’ll tell you, I’m very happy to have it, and it’s going to be a part of us for a long time."

“The X Factor” premieres Wednesday, September 21 and Thursday, September 22, on FOX.

Boot Camp Begins Wednesday, October 5

Judges’ Homes Start Wednesday, October 12

Finalists revealed Tuesday, October 25

Finalists First Live Performance Show airs Wednesday, November 2

From FOX

Judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, L.A. Reid and Nicole Scherzinger will travel the nation searching for undiscovered talent 12 years old or over – both solo artists and vocal groups – who are worthy of the largest prize in television history: a $5 million recording contract with Syco/Sony Music.

Hosted by Steve Jones, the two-night series premiere of THE X FACTOR will showcase the live auditions which took place in front of audiences of thousands, around the country Wednesday, Sept. 21 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and Thursday, Sept. 22 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Auditions from Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark and Seattle, as well as from YouTube and the nationwide MyStudio audition booths, will continue the following week on Wednesday, Sept. 28 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and Thursday, Sept. 29 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT).

Hopefuls who pass the initial auditions will travel to Los Angeles for “Boot Camp” beginning Wednesday, Oct. 5 (8:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) and continuing Thursday, Oct. 6 (8:00-9:30 PM ET/PT). During this phase of the competition, the contestants will face the panel of judges and a live audience as they are judged on their singing, dancing and overall performance styles.

Those who make it through “Boot Camp” will earn a place in one of four THE X FACTOR categories: young guys, young girls, older singers and groups. After the categories of semifinalists are set, THE X FACTOR producers surprise the judges with the category they will mentor. Then, the remaining contestants from each category will visit the “Judges’ homes” for their chance to make it to the live shows on Wednesday, Oct. 12 (8:00-9:30 PM ET/PT), Thursday, Oct. 13 (8:00-9:30 PM ET/PT) and on a special Tuesday airing Oct. 18 (8:00-9:30 PM ET/PT).

During a special extended Tuesday airing on Oct. 25 (8:00-10:30 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), the judges will reveal who has earned one of the coveted spots among the season’s finalists. It will then be up to America, as well as the judges, to decide who moves forward in the competition starting with the first performance show featuring the finalists from each category on Wednesday, Nov. 2 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed).

Wednesday, Sept. 21 (8:00-10:00 PM) Season Premiere, Part 1 
Thursday, Sept. 22 (8:00-10:00 PM)  Season Premiere, Part 2
Wednesday, Sept. 28 (8:00-10:00 PM) Auditions Episode
Thursday, Sept. 29 (8:00-10:00 PM)  Auditions Episode
Wednesday, Oct. 5 (8:00-9:30 PM)  Boot Camp, Part 1
Thursday, Oct. 6 (8:00-9:30 PM)  Boot Camp, Part 2
Wednesday, Oct. 12 (8:00-9:30 PM)  Judges’ Homes, Part 1 
Thursday, Oct. 13 (8:00-9:30 PM)  Judges’ Homes, Part 2
Tuesday, Oct. 18 (8:00-9:30 PM)  Judges’ Homes, Part 3 (Special Tuesday Airing)
Tuesday, Oct. 25 (8:00-10:30 PM)  Finalists Revealed (Special Tuesday Airing)
Wednesday, Nov. 2 (8:00-10:00 PM)  LIVE Performance Show
Thursday, Nov. 3 (8:00-9:00 PM)  LIVE Results Show
Wednesday, Nov. 9 (8:00-10:00 PM)  LIVE Performance Show
Thursday, Nov. 10 (8:00-9:00 PM)  LIVE Results Show
Wednesday, Nov. 16 (8:00-10:00 PM) LIVE Performance Show
Thursday, Nov. 17 (8:00-9:00 PM)  LIVE Results Show
Tuesday, Nov. 22 (8:00-10:00 PM)  LIVE Performance Show (Special Tuesday Airing)
Wednesday, Nov. 23 (8:00-9:30 PM)  LIVE Results Show (Special Wednesday Airing)
Wednesday, Nov. 30 (8:00-9:30 PM)  LIVE Performance Show
Thursday, Dec. 1 (8:00-9:00 PM)  LIVE Results Show
Wednesday, Dec. 7 (8:00-9:30 PM)  LIVE Performance Show
Thursday, Dec. 8 (8:00-9:00 PM)  LIVE Results Show
Wednesday, Dec. 14 (8:00-9:30 PM)  LIVE Performance Show
Thursday, Dec. 15 (8:00-9:00 PM)  LIVE Results Show
Wednesday, Dec. 21 (8:00-9:30 PM)  LIVE Season Finale, Part 1
Thursday, Dec. 22 (8:00-10:00 PM)  LIVE Season Finale, Part 2