The X Factor premiere recap: Britney Spears, Demi Lovato make impressive debut

X Factor judges

FRANK MICELOTTA/FOX Judges Demi Lovato, Britney Spears, Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid at a premiere event for The X Factor in Hollywood.

Well played, Simon Cowell, well played.

Of course, one of the reasons Cowell is a gazillionaire is his ability to spot talent, whether in the music business or on TV shows.

The X Factor mastermind saw something in Britney Spears the rest of us were missing.

Granted were only into the first audition show, but I was buying what Spears was selling. And that was a direct, unsentimental approach to judging.

Paula and Nicole who?

Demi Lovato was a lighter presence on the panel, which is rounded out by record producer L.A. Reid, but she proved a ready bantering partner for Cowell.

If the tone holds throughout the season, then were in for more of a Voice vibe among the judges than X Factor version 1, which was sometimes snarky and mean-spirited.

Another difference was the lack of narration throughout the episode, which featured auditions in Austin, Tex., San Francisco and Providence, R.I. Instead we listened in on contestants conversations, watched them talk to unseen interviewers and describe their experiences in their own words.

Granted, were not talking cinema verit here; some producer still had to decide who to mike and how long to leave them cooling their heels backstage. So, for instance, we got an extended look at shallow sisters Kaci and Kaylee Newton and their bitchy comments about other contestants.

And was it really just a coincidence that Jillian Jensen shared her experience of being bullied with former victim Lovato just before her emotional audition closed the episode? Saving the tear-jerking audition for last in the show is a well-worn American I! dol trope, so perhaps Cowells retooled X Factor isnt as different as hed like to think.

Nonetheless, it was an entertaining couple of hours, one that netted a couple of potential standouts.

Jennel Garcia was my personal favourite. The 18-year-old high school grad from Rochester, Mass., seemed like a pleasant kid, devoted to her family but eager for something beyond her life in a small town in a small house on a dead-end street.

The fun was that none of us expected her to belt out Paris (Ooh La La) in such a convincing way, pacing the stage, shimmying and stomping and crouching and swivelling her hips in a manner beyond her years. It was terrific to watch audience members jump to their feet, see Reids enthusiastic chair dancing and Lovatos giant grin.

You know what I feel is really, really interesting? You have, like, such a cute face, youre really likable and all of sudden youre, like, on fire, said Lovato.

Jennel, let me tell you sweetheart, you are on the money, said Cowell. Right now what is missing with the pop charts is a young Pat Benatar or someone like that. Youre different, youre exciting. I really, really like you.

Four yeses put Jennel through to the next round.

The other standouts were Emblem3, a group composed of brothers Wes and Keaton Stromberg, 18 and 15, and Wess former arch enemy turned brother from another mother, Drew Chadwick, 19.

The somewhat cocky trio delivered an original called Sunset Boulevard with Wes on lead vocals and Drew rapping. It was energetic and infectious, the vocals were good, and they had the crowd going crazy and the judges eating out of their hands.

Cowell predicted great things for the lads and it was four easy yeses to the next round.

Another quadruple yes went to Paige Thomas, a 21-year-old nursing student and mother of a 3-year-old.

Paige sang Mary J. Bliges Im Going Down. Spears was wrong about it being flawless, but Paig! e had gre! at stage presence and looked hot in her short shorts, tight fuchsia T-shirt and matching booties.

Reid said she reminded him of Rihanna.

Paige was an early target of the Newton sisters disdain, as they heaped scorn on a run in her pantyhose before introducing themselves to her and faking camaraderie so they could all use the same mirror.

You just knew that Kaci Newton was going to stink. If shed been nice and talented, the producers would have put her straight onstage. Instead we got to look at her increasingly sour puss as she listened to other singers getting praises from the judges, watch her fuss over her appearance (a stain on her prissy pink pantsuit was a big emergency) and gloat about being prettier than other people in the holding room.

She described herself as Carrie Underwood mixed with Adele and you just know that meant the exact opposite.

In fact, Cowell said Kacis rendition of Katy Perrys Firework sounded like you were dying.

Buh-bye mean girl.

Speaking of bad auditions, hands up if you looked at Shawn Armentas shlubby jeans and grey hoodie, heard him talk about working with a choreographer and a vocal coach seven days a week and just knew hed be terrible. The 50-year-old baggage handler sang an original composition called Candy Girls about pretty girls in bars (girls who no doubt cringe when they see him coming). And when Lovato told him, without being mean, that singing isnt meant for everybody, he shot back, Thats why you use AutoTune and I dont. (No, thats because no one in their right mind would let him near a studio).

I want to know who let you onstage, said Spears. I feel uncomfortable with you even staring at me.

Other yeses included Reed Deming, a 13-year-old Justin Bieber look-alike who got off to a bad start with It Will Rain by Bruno Mars and partly redeemed himself with Grenade. Hes got a terrific personality, but Im not sure the voice is mature enough to go the distance.

Another big question mark is Quatrele Daan Smi! th, a 21-! year-old cake decorator. He showed up at the San Francisco auditions in short shorts, fishnet stockings, high heels, a long bridal veil and shocking pink lipstick, and did the entirely appropriate Lady Gagas Born This Way.

He can sing, mostly, but the shtick will likely get in the way a la Norman Gentle of Idol fame.

You were off key a little bit, but for the most part youre really entertaining, Spears told him.

By some strange magic, Cowell embraced the madness and sided with the smitten Spears and Lovato, putting Quatrele through over Reids objections.

The most heartbreaking audition for me wasnt the one that had the judges verklempt at the end. It was Don Philip, a 32-year-old vocal coach from the Bronx whod once recorded a duet with Spears.

We didnt get details, but it was clear Don had been through some bad stuff in the 10 years since. Don was in tears even before his awful rendition of Beyonces Halo. After Cowell told him he didnt have a good singing voice, Don turned expectantly to Spears, whod had a hard time looking at him during his performance.

I feel like through the years maybe youve gone through a lot of hardships and battles, but your voice really isnt up to the bar of the standard of The X Factor and what we want, she said.

The last we saw of Don was him crying offstage and worrying that hed hurt Britney.

Spears was obviously shaken but stayed dry-eyed, so at least she didnt pull a Nicole Scherzinger and try to make it all about her.

Besides, there were plenty of tears to come when Jillian Jensen hit the stage.

The 19-year-old piano teacher choked up while telling anti-bullying advocate Lovato about how shed been bullied in school, and how they both had Stay strong tattoos.

Were both up here; the bullies that bullied us theyre at home watching us on TV, Lovato reassured her.

Jillian had a promising raspiness and huskiness in her voice, but Id like to hear her again when shes not singing through tear! s before ! passing judgment.

In the meantime, everybody got swept away by emotion. There was a standing ovation from the crowd, applause in the holding room, hugs from a teary Lovato and even Cowell had to pause before he could speak.

Still, it was a bit much, I think, for Reid to say hes never heard anybody take their pain, take their experiences and pour it into a song the way Jillian did. I mean the guys a record producer. Really?

And thats where the episode ended, with Jillian getting four yeses and her family rushing onstage to engulf her.

Oh, you have a heart, Lovato told Cowell backstage after he admitted hed teared up a little bit. So theres another difference to the season.

Another hour of auditions airs Thursday night at 8 p.m. on CTV Two.

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