2001: U.K. “Pop Idol” launches
Simon Fuller's creation is an unexpected hit, thanks in large part to salty judge Simon Cowell and exceptional talent like winner Will Young (pictured).
Simon Fuller's creation is an unexpected hit, thanks in large part to salty judge Simon Cowell and exceptional talent like winner Will Young (pictured).
Fox's Darnell greenlights "American Idol" in 2002. By season one's end, viewership is 12.7 million.
"The only thing we ever did together was successful," Cowell says of his working relationship with Fuller (left, seen here in 2008) and the birth of Idol. "We both played a role in it."
The Girls Aloud singer got her start in reality TV, winning U.K.'s "Popstars" in 2002. As a judge on the U.K. "X Factor," she coaches two groups to victory.
"Contrary to what people say, it's not always about the money," Abdul says of her "Idol" departure. "I wanted to try something different. Change is good."
With season nine about to kick off, Cowell announces at the TCA winter press tour that it will be his last. “When I left, I was genuinely emotional,” he says. “It had been great for me, but it was time to do something new.”
A month after Simon Cowell's final Idol bow, Fox announces the arrival of X Factor. "People aren't done with the genre," says Darnell.
Cher Lloyd comes in fourth on "X Factor" but has the No. 1 single in the U.K. on Aug. 7. At No. 2: season five's JLS.
Simon Cowell brings The X Factor to the USA with a little help from judges L.A. Reid, Nicole Scherzinger and fellow Idol alum Paula Abdul. Welsh TV host Steve Jones also makes his TV debut in the U.S.
Melanie Amaro is crowned the inaugural winner of The X Factor USA. She went on to land a $5 million recording contract and an endorsement deal with Pepsi. Months later, she appeared in a Super Bowl ad for the soft drink company opposite Elton John.
In a post-season one bloodbath, Simon Cowell axed judges Scherzinger and Abdul, as well as host Jones. The hosting duo were ultimately replaced by pop icon Britney Spears and 20-year-old superstar Demi Lovato. After months of speculation, Khloe Kardashian and Mario Lopez were named co-hosts for the series' second season.