The X Factor Upheaval: Who Is(n't) Out?

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Simon Cowell promised changes for season two of The X Factor, and we all know Simon Cowell speaks the truth.

Three of the five regulars on this singing competition will not be returning this fall, as Steve Jones himself Tweeted confirmation of his ousting last night, while a source close to Nicole Scherzinger claims the singer's departure was of her own volition because "she wants to focus on her music."

"She’s spoken to Simon and he’s given her his blessing," this insider tells E! News. "X Factor took a lot more of her time than she ever expected. She didn’t have any time really to work on her music.”

X Factor Season One Panel

The firing of Paula Abdul, meanwhile, comes as a surprise, although neither Fox nor anyone from the judge's camp have commented on it yet.

The X Factor averaged 12.6 million viewers and a 4.4 rating among adults 18-49 for its Wednesday episodes during its inaugural season, far from disastrous numbers. But critics panned both Scherzinger and Jones and the figures fell far short of Cowell's initial forecasts of 20 million.

The question now turns to who Simon thinks could help him reach that goal. Mariah Carey has been been mentioned as a potential panelist. She'd bring the show attention and credibility, no doubt.

Who do you think could help right The X Factor ship?

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.

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