X Factor: 2011

These are apparently the judges' categories this year...

And wasn't Cheryl getting the groups too last year. I wonder if they might bring Simon in to be the "producer" who "randomly" allocates the categories. Of course though Louis will get the Overs or Groups as he always has - indeed it might be best to give Louis the strongest category this year just to level the playing field.

I don't watch it because I find it boring and rubbish, but did anyone who watched X-Factor this evening notice a jump as if they switched to a different feed during the programme? Louis Walsh said something and then said it again. As if the second feed, if they did switch to a different one, was a second or so behind.

I wouldn't know. I watched BBC Comedy Proms on BBC Two.

BTW, I wasn't watching The X Factor on ITV1 Meridian South on satellite.

Yes I noticed that. They'd have been playing internally from a server I would guess so no external Main Circuit/Back-Up Circuit needed - main and back-ups are always synced to the frame anyway. Possibly a jump in the file itself of just an over-looked edit mistake?

New titles for X Factor once the live shows begin (similar to what they did series 3 - old titles for auditions, boot camp and judges houses, then launch the new titles on the first live show). Same titles as the US version.

http://twitter.com/#!/RussHilliard

I thought they might do that - hope though they haven't changed the set for the sake of it as it doesn't really need it, though they could tweak the judges desk area.

Does this mean we get the horrid US logo too?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/63/XFactorUSlogo.png

The font I mean - it's not as distinctive as the Gill Sans.

I was only thinking tonight when I saw the current titles, with the US X Factor lauching this week, I wouldn't be surprised if we got the US titles too - well makes sense really - isn't like it will cost them any more if there've got to make new ones for the US. Although i'm actually a fan of the current ones, they are ~ 5 years old, so are in need of a refresh. I hope the new ones will be good, I imagine they will have more money spent on them, considering the massive budgets of US shows. I guessing the theme music will be changed too. Suppose we will get to see the new titles on the US version, Thursday on ITV2.

I wonder if the theme tune will be altered also, given its similarity to America's Got Talent?

I hope I'm wrong - truly I do, but may these be the aforementioned new titles:

http://youtu.be/HKm2nf1mT34

Speaking as someone with not one iota of an interest in the programme, the above is excruciatingly slow and obnoxious, despite being executionally superior. The current one is pants (the bit where it mirrors the shooting "X" 4 or 6 times ) but is suitably, spectacularly over the top and gets to the point quickly.

Jonny, they were exactly my thoughts - and those are my thoughts on the current. The visuals in that video are superb, but far too slow/graceful for the music.