It takes more than being a celebrity or an interesting personality to host a show. It takes some solid talent. Perhaps that is why “X Factor” has not welcomed back Khloe Kardashian back to its show for its next season. Mario Lopez will be returning solo. Simon Cowell promised an audience of 20 million for the fall of 2011, but ratings have never been that high. The result has been a continual shuffle of hosts, looking for the right mix and match – perhaps a quixotic dream.
Khloe struggled reading teleprompters for the show, and when she told the Huffington Post that at her debut she “lost her confidence,” Cowell advised her to be herself: “I hired you for you – I could have hired any trained host, so be yourself.”
Apparently being yourself works with a show like “Keeping Up With the Kardashians,” but not in a field where some form of actual talent is involved, such as leading a show. Fortunately, veteran Mario Lopez held his own just fine, and so will be the returning magic for the show.
Kardashian isn’t the only star to be shown the door for the ailing show. Paul Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger, and Brittney Spears all had their chance to work as judges or mentors, and failed to garnish the anticipated ratings.