Record producer L.A. Reid won't return to "The X Factor" next season. FOX
There were two big "The X Factor" announcements Thursday.
First, the top three finalists were named and there was a surprise among them.
Second, L.A. Reid, Epic Records chairman and judge on the Fox reality competition series, won't be coming back next season, according to hollywoodreporter.com.
"I have the utmost respect for (show creator) Simon Cowell. He is the very best, and I have had the opportunity to learn so much from working with him," Reid told the website.
"Working with him on 'X Factor' has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’m honored to have sat on a panel with such incredible talent."
For season two, he was charged with mentoring the over-25s and ended up with one of his mentees in the finals.
"Of course, I will miss the show," Reid added. "In my opinion, Simon attracts the best talent but I'm looking forward to getting back to my core business and the responsibility of running Epic Records."
SPOILER ALERT: in case you DVR'd last night’s live semifinals show, stop reading now. The three finalists are named in the following video.
Teenager Carly Rose Soneclar (mentored by Britney Spears), Tate Stevens (mentored by Reid) and girl group Fifth Harmony (mentored by Cowell) will compete in part one of the finals of the reality singing competition series airing December 19 on Fox. The winner of the show will receive a $5 million prize. Judge Demi Lovato did not have any of mentees make it to the finals.
Boy band Emblem3, which had been a top vote getter all along, did not make it to the finals, despite Cowell’s encouraging words on Wednesday "If this doesn't get you into the final, I don't know what will."
Part one of the finals will air 7-9 p.m. December 19 and the winner will be announced somewhere between 7 and 9 p.m. December 20 on Fox, channel 23, cable 9.
No word yet if judges Spears or Lovato will perform on the season finale.
