Simon Cowell walked away from the highest-rated show on television last year.

As the British music producer admits in the following extended promo, which aired on Fox last night after its NFL doubleheader, the move was a major gamble. But it was all done in the name of The X Factor, a singing competition with no age limit and with an allowance for groups on stage.

Will the decision pay off? Will the 13-year old we see below take home the $5 million grand prize? Why is one contestant not wearing any pants? Sit back, enjoy this eight-minute preview and try to figure out the answers to these questions yourself...