Simon Cowell's 'X Factor' Cometh

LONDON, Jan. 14, 2010— -- "What!" Denzel Washington exclaimed to a reporter when he heard the news. "How are you going to have the show without him? Who's going to insult people?"

The actor's somewhat panicked response summed up how many felt upon hearing that Simon Cowell is leaving "American Idol."

While Cowell may be leaving "Idol" Denzel and others need not fear as the acerbic Brit, whom everyone loves to hate, is not leaving U.S. television screens anytime soon. Cowell is going to launch a new talent show, the "X Factor", which will also appear on Fox. With its mix of shockingly good and bad contestants, the "X Factor" has been wowing British viewers since 2004 and has churned out a variety of pop stars, the most successful of which is Leona Lewis.

The formula for the "X Factor", while similar to "Idol," is a consistent winner in the U.K. Saturday night television ratings war. At times the "X Factor" has attracted 19 million viewers taking as much as 60 percent of the overall audience. The panel of judges in the U.K. currently consists of Cowell, Dannii Minogue (sister to Kylie), British pop star Cheryl Cole, and Louis Walsh, pop producer and promoter extraordinaire.

This year there is a new format. Auditions are held in front of an auditorium of family, friends and "X Factor" fans. Cowell is his typical candid, some might say cutting, self. The judges narrow down the contestants in the initial phases, hundreds of thousands are whittled down until the public is given the vote and ultimately decides the winner. The final 12 are divided into categories -- boys, girls, groups and over 25s. Each group is mentored by one of the judges who fight to promote their candidate.

Previous judges in the U.K. have included Paula Abdul, Cowell's former celebrity sidekick in American Idol and reality television favorite Sharon Osborne. Rumours are circulating that Jayzee is jostling to be a judge on the Stateside show and Cowell has hinted he may be reunited with Abdul.

But unlike 'Idol' which has a maximum age of 28 for contestants, the "X Factor" welcomes people from all ages. As Cowell himself has said the likes of the now globally popular, Susan Boyle could apply. This open door policy has led to some spectacularly bad performances and some stunners. Here, ABC News rounds up some of the Xtra-ordinary moments.