‘The X Factor’ USA season 3: Faith Hill, Hilary Duff new rumored judging candidates
Remember how Simon Cowell and Fox have said that they no longer have much of an interest in casting judges for any of their competition shows based solely on fame? Based on the current batch of names coming in now, it feels as though they are really making good on this promise.
According to the New York Daily News, the noteworthy candidates that are at the top of the list for the upcoming third season of “The X Factor” USA include the likes of Hilary Duff, Paulina Rubio, Kelly Rowland, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Faith Hill. Ultimately, this all does feel like Simon is really going to have a panel of himself with three ladies, which is a first for the singing-competition genre in America (and a great chance to give ladies their due given that “The Voice” only has one out of four judges).
Is picking Duff a little redundant considering that you already have another Disney star in Demi Lovato? Not exactly, since Britney Spears came from a similar world. What we like about Hilary is that many teenagers watched “Lizzie McGuire” when they were young, and will remember / love her. Plus, we can attest from interviewing her a few years ago that she comes across as extremely normal, grounded, and funny… a complete 180 from the robotic Britney.
Rowland was okay-but-not-amazing on the British version and Hewitt is more of an actress to us, so we personally would rather go for the country name in Faith Hill, who would be a little on the pricey end (given that she is a country legend). We just think that she would play well with Middle America, be a polar opposite to Simon, and carry over some great wisdom from a different era than either Hilary or Demi.
A Hilary Duff / Demi Lovato / Faith Hill / Simon Cowell panel is something we could really get behind. Where do we write to Fox to beg for them to have this happen? They are all famous, but they also have something more to offer than just a name to stick on the show.
Agree with us? Disagree? Either way, we should find out soon given that the show starts up auditions in front of the judges a matter of just over a week.
Photo: Fox