HOT FROM FOX

"THE X FACTOR" GOES FROM CONCERT TO COLISEUM IN THE EXCITING ALL-NEW FOUR CHAIR CHALLENGE ROUND WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2 THROUGH THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, ON FOX

TOP 40 ACTS REVEALED THIS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

Top 16 Acts Revealed Thursday, October 10

First LIVE Show Airs Tuesday, October 29

When THE X FACTOR's nationwide auditions come to a close tonight (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) and Thursday, Sept. 26 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), the judges - Simon Cowell, Demi Lovato, Kelly Rowland and Paulina Rubio - must choose the Top 40 acts. After deliberations in Los Angeles, only 10 acts from each category - Boys, Girls, Over 25s and Groups - will be selected to move forward in the competition, and the category assignments will be revealed to the judges.

Starting on Wednesday, Oct. 2 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), THE X FACTOR enters unchartered territory with an all-new ultimate showdown - The Four Chair Challenge. As the Top 40 acts perform in front of a passionate and vocal audience of thousands, each judge must choose just four acts that they will take with them into the live shows. The tension escalates as the judges make their toughest cuts - and the crowd fights back!

"This is a brand new section of the show and we had no idea what to expect when we filmed it," said judge Simon Cowell, "but it became obvious very quickly that it really raises the stakes - for the contestants, for the judges - and especially for the audience. It's a cross between Musical Chairs...and a Roman Coliseum. At one point, the audience totally disagreed with the judges and was so out of control we actually had to stop filming. What happened next was extraordinary. It's like nothing you've ever seen before."

In the Four Chair Challenge, contestants who impress the judges will be given a chair on the new "X"-shaped stage, and the others will be sent home. But just because they get a chair, it doesn't mean they are safe. Each judge has the choice to replace one of his/her already seated acts with a new act, or send that act straight home, upping the emotion and drama to new heights.

Taped in front of a live audience at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, the Four Chair Challenge round continues Thursday, Oct. 3 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT) and Wednesday, Oct. 9 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), concluding Thursday, Oct. 10 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT), when only the Top 16 acts will remain. Then, on the season's first LIVE show, airing on a special night, Tuesday, Oct. 29 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), the Top 16 will perform. Additional details, including the rollout of the live shows, to be announced.

Track the progress of each act in the competition at www.thexfactorusa.com/contestants.

RECAP

(All THE X FACTOR episodes begin at 8:00 PM ET/PT unless otherwise noted)

Thursday, Sept. 26 Judges' Deliberations - Top 40 Revealed

Wednesday, Oct. 2 Four Chair Challenge, Part 1

Thursday, Oct. 3 Four Chair Challenge, Part 2

Wednesday, Oct. 9 Four Chair Challenge, Part 3

Thursday, Oct. 10 Four Chair Challenge, Part 4

Tuesday, Oct. 29 FIRST LIVE SHOW - Top 16 Acts Perform (ET live/PT tape-delayed)

"The X Factor" format has created more global superstars, including One Direction, Leona Lewis, Little Mix, Cher Lloyd and Olly Murs, than any other singing competition television show. THE X FACTOR is now aired in 205 countries, and local versions of "The X Factor" are now commissioned in 45 territories.

THE X FACTOR was created by Syco Entertainment and is produced by Syco Entertainment and FremantleMedia North America. Rob Wade and Nigel Hall are executive producers for Syco Television. Trish Kinane, Richard Holloway and Andrew Llinares serve as executive producers for FremantleMedia North America. "Like" THE X FACTOR on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TheXFactorUSA. Follow the series on Twitter @TheXFactorUSA and join the discussion using #xfactor. Download The Xtra Factor App at www.TheXFactorUSA.com/mobileapps.