Quick: who won the 2011 US X-Factor?

I watched bits and pieces of the woefully boring US X-Factor reality show, and the worst part of the show were the judges. A judge is supposed to remain neutral and unbiased. How can a judge make an unbiased decision when he or she is emotionally involved to the point of breaking down in tears?

The glaring flaws of the judge’s panel drew widespread criticism from the media – especially after Nicole Scherzinger’s fake sobbing during the Top 5 performances show in December. In fact, Nicole’s “performance” was so bad that enraged viewers slammed her on Twitter.com, and even threatened her life.

Judge Paula Abdul was universally hated for telling Scherzinger to let the public make the decision whether to send 13-year-old Rachel Crow home.

It was clear that something had to be done about the celebrity judges.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Simon Cowell has fired judges Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger and the horrible suck-up Steve Jones.

Recording exec LA Reid’s job might also be on the chopping block. THR reports that “a source close to LA Reid says the fourth member of the X Factor panel has not been informed of any change to his status as judge.”

The X Factor news came fast and furious on Monday night — first, that host Steve Jones would not be returning, then that judge Nicole Scherzinger was exiting (both confirmed by Fox) and finally, according to sources, that Paula Abdul also would be shown the door. Now The Hollywood Reporter has learned that all of these major show decisions are coming from one key confab held in the U.K.

As for Jones and Scherzinger, another show insider says the X Factor host was notified by a show producer around 7:30pm Eastern on Monday evening that his option was not being picked up. (Cowell did not call Jones personally to deliver the news.) Soon after, Scherzinger was informed that her contract also would not be renewed.

On the show, both had weathered their share of viewer criticism; Scherzinger even received death threats after she and Abdul voted to send finalist Drew Ryniewicz home. Jones’ handling of contestant eliminations, which some deemed insensitive, also came under fire as unscripted reactions became increasingly emotional.