Power ballad singer Melanie Amaro, 19, bluesy Josh Krajcik, 30, and troubled rapper Chris Rene, 28, will sing for a $5 million (Dh18.36 million) recording contract in the two-part finale of the show.
But after major hype from creator and judge Simon Cowell — who had initially predicted X Factor would replace American Idol as the most-watched show on US television — the programme's bickering mentor-judges, big production numbers and flashing lights has left many critics scratching their heads.
"As a viewer, it is agonising to watch and just so fake that none of it is compelling," said Annie Barrett, who covers X Factor for Entertainment Weekly.
"Everything is a gimmick. It is a glossy, shiny version of a reality show that might give you a seizure because of all the lasers and lights."
Thursday's semi-final, in which 20-year-old hopeful Marcus Canty was eliminated, drew 9.6 million viewers — below the audience for a repeat of the comedy The Big Bang Theory and less than half the regular audience for American Idol earlier this year.
Fox executives say they are happy with the viewer numbers, especially among teens, and the show has helped the network reverse its historically patchy autumn ratings in the 18-49 viewer group most coveted by advertisers.
Fox has already ordered a second season, calling X Factor a "monumental success".
Andy Dehnart, editor of realityblurred.com, said that for all the new tweaks in the singing contest formula, few were for the better.
"There is no real national buzz about it. I don't think X Factor has broken through the zeitgeist in the same way as American Idol," said Dehnart.
Indeed, it seems the first season's most memorable moment came a week ago when bubbly 13-year-old Rachel Crow collapsed in tears on being sent home, sparking viewer outrage against judge Nicole Scherzinger.
Whoever wins after public votes are announced on Thursday, Cowell's hopes of discovering a new global singing star — who will be signed to his Sony Music-owned record label SyCo — may be dashed.
Viewer Fatigue
None of the instantly downloadable songs from the semi-final were in the Top 50 iTunes singles charts on Friday.
"I don't see anyone here who is going to be the next Kelly Clarkson or Carrie Underwood, which is what the show claimed it was going to do," said Dehnart.
Barrett said that four months of X Factor twice a week had made her appreciate American Idol.
But with the surprise hit The Voice returning in February and Idol's 11th season beginning in mid-January, Americans may soon lose their appetite for lengthy singing contests.
"I do think there will be some fatigue going into next season with both American Idol and The Voice. Two nights a week is a huge commitment," Barrett said.
But Dehnart was more optimistic. "If we are going to see any kind of fatigue with this kind of show, it is going to show up now. But I wouldn't be surprised if they all work on their own level."
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