Britney Spears is destined to be a one-term judge on the Fox
show, sources confirm to The Hollywood Reporter. Although no official word has
been handed down by execs to the talent (creator Simon Cowell, for one, is
still on holiday somewhere off the coast of St. Barts), an "X Factor"
insider says the writing was on the wall -- Spears was not going to be asked
back and so she will not return for season three.
Blame the double-digit dip in ratings and a case of mismanaged
expectations for her anticipated exit, which TMZ first reported with the
headline, "I Quit, Y'All!" By several accounts, her performance on
the live shows simply underwhelmed and the constant criticism -- especially
from the media, both traditional and social -- was starting to bother the
show's top brass. Spears' deal with "X Factor" brought her around $15
million, THR had previously reported.
MTV News has also confirmed with sources close to the production
that Spears will be leaving because she won't be asked back.
Fox had no comment. The network has already given the green light
to season three, and at Tuesday's executive session at the Television Critics
Association gathering in Pasadena, Fox entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly
complimented Spears on her performance.
"I think Britney did a really good job," he told
reporters, adding that he would like her to return, but also acknowledging,
"Maybe some people were waiting for more drastic displays of some nature
that never came, so for those expecting that, it didn't happen. … She's just an
interesting figure who's lived a unique life, and I thought she brought some of
that."
To be fair, Spears did have her moments: like the time she told
contestant CeCe Frey, "Sorry, I just don't get it," without flinching
(the song: self-pity anthem "All By Myself"); and who can forget her
funny faces collage, stitched together for the finale? If only Spears could
expand her vocabulary.
With L.A. Reid's previously announced exit, that leaves two seats
to fill next season, and another judges' hunt for Fox, Syco and production
partners FremantleMedia to sludge through.
At TCA, Reilly noted that Cowell "hasn't even talked about
any of this going forward." Indeed, it looks like this wheel is grinding
to a halt, but Spears still has her highly lucrative music career. The singer
is currently in the studio with will.i.am working on a new album.
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