"The X-Factor"
Wednesday, 8 p.m. on Fox 

Yes, "The X-Factor" is a lot like "American Idol."

But based on the 12-minute presentation reel made available by Fox (the same network that airs "Idol"), it's like someone (Simon Cowell) took "American Idol" and revamped it, making it totally fresh and exciting.

The similarities between the shows are pretty obvious: "The X-Factor" is a singing competition show and two of the judges are Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul. The biggest difference is that there's no age limit for the contestants. Also, groups can compete. And the first time the judges (Cowell, Abdul, former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, and former Chairman of Island Def Jam L.A. Reid) see the contestants, the singers are on a stage with full musical backup and a big, live audience. But even though the performers have presumably already made it through a round or two of auditions to get the spot before judges, that doesn't mean there aren't also some clunkers and weirdos (because they know we like that stuff too).

Our "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance" correspondent, Lenni G, has generously agreed to watch Paula Abdul's new dance show and keep us updated on how that's going. Here's her report from last night's show.

Evening started with great Paula choreography featuring all the finalists. Say what you will about Paula, the girl really knows dancing. And, in a nice surprise, Chi-Town Breakers, who had been eliminated earlier in the competition, received a van from Chrysler. And, we all got treated to another run of the fabulous Eminem/Chrysler Super Bowl commercial featuring the city of Detroit. Absolutely one of the best ads ever!
 
Then it was time to announce the top 3 as chosen by America's vote. They were White Tree Fine Art, D'Angelo and Amanda, and Kendall Glover. Each of these acts did one more dance so the judges could once again tell them how fabulous they were (and are).

Our "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance" correspondent, Lenni G, has generously agreed to watch Paula Abdul's new dance show and keep us updated on how that's going. Here's her report from last night's show.

My winning streak has come to an end with America's selection of Kendall Glover (left), not Shore Thing, as the last finalist. Oh well, at least I had mentioned her as a possibility in my last report, making me sorta half right or half wrong depending on how you look at your half-full or half-empty glass.
 

Our "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance" correspondent, Lenni G, has generously agreed to watch Paula Abdul's new dance show and keep us updated on how that's going. Here's her report from last night's show.

I am now two for two in picking the audience vote winner. Yes people, it will be Twitch (left) moving on to the finals.

Our "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance" correspondent, Lenni G, has generously agreed to watch Paula Abdul's new dance show and keep us updated on how that's going. Here's her report from last night's show.

Another good start to the evening with my favs, D'Angelo and Amanda (left), being put through to the finals thanks to America's vote.
 
First semi-finalist of the night, nine year old Jalen, showed us some pretty impressive B-Boy moves.  Paula was "very proud" of him and Travis thought he was a "joy to watch." Judges' scores: Gold Stars from all three.

Our "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance" correspondent, Lenni G, has generously agreed to watch Paula Abdul's new dance show and keep us updated on how that's going. Here's her report from last night's show.

The night started out really well with the announcement that White Tree Fine Art, the ballet dancers, had won America's vote and become the 18th semi-finalists in the competition. Nice choice, America, nice choice!
 
With Paula providing advice and mentoring to all the dancers on the show, the first group of six semi-finalists hit the floor. First up, The Vibe, all 38 of them! I loved this routine - great energy, great music, just plain great. Paula gave them a standing "O," Travis thought it was like watching a musical, and Kimberly told them they were "the full package." Judges' scores: Gold Stars from all three.

Live to Dance (8pm, CBS) - Do we really need another dance contest competition show? Maybe so, since this one's claim to fame is that Paula Abdul is one of the judges. Tonight: auditions in New York and Los Angles. Each week, six acts face off with two (one chosen by judges, one by viewers) advancing to face winners of subsequent rounds.

No Ordinary Life (8pm, ABC) - The Powells befriend a couple (Rick Schroder, Annie Wersching) after Jim saves the husband's life, but Jim starts to wonder if their family is hiding a secret of their own.

Biggest Loser: Couples (8pm, NBC) - A new round of this show begins and this time players must choose whether they work out with Bob and Jillian or two new unknown trainers.

V (9pm, ABC) - The second season begins as riots erupt during the fourth day of the red sky. Ryan briefly reunites with his offspring before returning to earth, and some are beginning to doubt Anna's ability to lead.

Detroit 1-8-7 (10pm, ABC) - Fitch, Washington and Mason investigate the murder of a high-profile actress who was filming a movie in Detroit.

Southland (10pm, TNT) - In tonight's Season 3 premiere, detectives search for the killer of a cleaning lady and a bank robbery leaves an officer in need of rescue. So happy to see this show return!

Even if you missed the first season of Lifetime's surprising hit drama "Drop Dead Diva," there's no reason at all you shouldn't pick right up with the first episode of Season Two, premiering tonight at 9pm.

Thanks to a brief synopsis restating the premise of the show (which is pretty original, if not slightly complicated) and a quick recap at the opening from our heroine Jane (catching us up on why she's not currently practicing law but instead working the counter at Hot Dog On a Stick) you won't feel like you missed a thing. Which is great because I actually watched Season 1 and had forgotten that Jane, played by Brooke Elliot, is going through disbarment hearings because her client used her to defraud a hospital and she turned him in to the district attorney.

It's official: At today's meeting with Fox executives at the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, sharp-tongued "American Idol" judge Simon Cowell confirmed he's leaving the show after this season, according to the L.A. Times.

His departure, he said, is part of a deal to put his show "The X Factor" on Fox in fall 2011.

The show's a bit hit in England (that's where Susan Boyle made her mark), and as part of that deal he is leaving his duties on "Idol."

The first season of Lifetime's "Drop Dead Diva" has been delightful.

Brooke Elliott's Jane proves that being plus-size character on TV doesn't have to be all about being a preachy symbol or a representative from some kind of special group.

Jane is smart and sexy and worthy of the desire she's earning from suitor Tony. And, it seems, from Grayson.