X Factor

On Wednesday, "The X Factor" left off on a cliffhanger. Adorable 13-year-old contestant Trevor Moran was nowhere near the stage when he was called to go on. Where was he? Did anyone have "eyes on" him? The crew finally tracked him down lying on the floor, looking weak and pale, with his head on his worried mother's lap. Paramedics were called in. And? Those of you who guessed he was maybe just a little dehydrated win a prize. A little water and Moran was up and walking around, worrying about getting another shot at an audition.

Demi Lovato will be coming back for a second season as an "X Factor" judge, it was announced Thursday, perhaps proving that it helps to be "really annoying. " "Had an amazing time overseas and so excited to come home and share the news that I'll be returning to @TheXFactorUSA!!!," the singer tweeted after the Fox announcement.  As the Simon Cowell show enters its third season, she'll be the first female judge to make it to two seasons in a row. Cheryl Cole got booted before things even really started, then Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger were gone after the first season.

"The X Factor" results show Thursday packed an even bigger surprise than the return of Diamond White to the competition the previous night. No, I'm not talking about the fact that Jason Brock was sent home and that CeCe Frey had joined him in the bottom two; those results were hardly jaw-droppers. Nor am I referring to the fact that the judges "deadlocked" on the elimination decision and left it for the audience vote to decide; that seemed fairly straightforward. Nor was it unexpected that One Direction, the startlingly successful "X Factor U.K"-created boy band, would perform not one but two of their songs; that had been announced days before.

We're finally nearing the finish line on "The X Factor," with only weeks left before the Season 2 finale. Can I get a Hallelujah? (And I don't mean the Leonard Cohen song that has become a standard on these singing-competition shows, though come to think of it, it wouldn't be a bad song choice for Carly Rose Sonenclar.) On Wednesday night, the top 6 performed for a shot at next week's semifinals, to which only four contestants will advance. Each sang two songs, one "unplugged" song chosen by his or her coach, and one selected via an online vote.

As Britney Spears and Demi Lovato prepare to take their new judges seats on "The X Factor," a diva who's gone before them, Jennifer Lopez, has offered advice. "I was like, 'Live TV! Eek.' It's a big thing to take on, but I think they're both more than capable to handle it," the "American Idol" judge told "Access Hollywood" Monday night after Fox execs finally made it official earlier in the day that both pop singers would join Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid in the talent search.

Britney Spears is in a war of words with her former employers at "The X Factor. "  The pop diva released a statement Friday confirming weeks of speculation that she won't be returning as a judge for the Fox singing show's third season. Except that, according to Spears, it wasn't the producers' decision. It was all hers. "I've made the very difficult decision not to return for another season," a statement attributed to Spears said. "I had an incredible time doing the show and I love the other judges and I am so proud of my teens, but it's time for me to get back in the studio.

New "X-Factor"judges Britney Spears and Demi Lovato can rest assured that Nicole Scherzinger and Paula Abdul, their predecessors on the judging panel, are wishing them good luck. Abdul appeared on the Wendy Williams show Wednesday and said of the new lineup, "I think it's going to be great. " The former judge added , "I think people are anticipating seeing Britney Spears. She's had a long career and she's overcome a tremendous amount of adversity, and I am always for the underdog coming back.

“The X Factor” versus “The Voice” - can the two play nice in the prime-time sandbox next week? Apparently not. Simon Cowell seems to be rolling up the sleeves on that snug shirt of his - and he's ready for battle. During a conference call - which also included new judge (and supplier of “Give Your Heart a Break,” a.k.a. that song stuck in your head) Demi Lovato - with reporters on Thursday, Cowell didn't mince words when addressing NBC's decision to add another night of “The Voice.” A move, announced earlier this week, that would pit the the peacock's reality darling against Cowell's British import.

Right about this time last week a social network chorus sprung up surrounding Lindsay Lohan's "Liz & Dick. " You must watch, said folks in the media, folks on Twitter and folks on Facebook, because it is so bad it's hilarious. They were wrong. They confused the word "boring" with "hilarious. " Pop & Hiss will not do the same to you regarding "The X-Factor. " It is so bad that it's quite horrendous, possibly even depressing. If that is read as a motivating factor to watch, we can only say that we warned you. After all, chances are, you're already not watching it , and it's up to you to decide whether you have an hour of your time to devote to a show that's increasingly relying on off-the-rails camp.

On “The X Factor,” Emblem3 was eliminated this week, while Carly Rose Sonenclar, Tate Stevens and Fifth Harmony moved on. Earlier, on “The Voice,” Trevin Hunte was sent home, leaving Nicholas David, Terry McDermott and Cassadee Pope to duke it out. As the contestants move forward toward the final verdicts, so do our "X Factor" vs. "Voice" rankings, which will take the singers from both shows and put them head to head each week. I'm choosing my top five performers from among the two shows, along with Times music writers Todd Martens and Chris Barton - and you can cast your votes too, at the bottom of this post.