‘X Factor’ Host Finalists Include Stacy Keibler and Erin Andrews

The search for The X Factor host is on and according to insiders there is certainly no rush nor frontrunner to replace Stevie Jones.  Today, fans of the reality competition received the first list of names for the gig which includes a handful of well-known figures from the unscripted universe including Stacy Keibler, Erin Andrews, and Mario Lopez.  Other names include Khloé Kardashian, Kelly Osbourne, BET’s 106 & Park host Terrence J, BET personality Rocsi Diaz, radio personality Mike Catherwood, VH1 sketch comedy actress Stevie Ryan, and Vampire Diaries‘ Katerina Graham.

While there are a bunch of names here, Cowell has the lucky winners narrowed down to five as he told a group of reporters, “I want to work with a boy and girl and I definitely think this is a role for two people. [We] have narrowed it down to 5 people.”  The music producer then went on to elaborate on his desire for two hosts by saying the following:

“If you count, which I did, over a two-hour show, we separated what the host says, and it’s 12 minutes — and a lot of that is quite boring information.  There are ways of relaying information that it doesn’t become like a news reader’s role. Like if I go on Jay Leno’s show, I love doing it with someone else because you bounce off each other and it puts less pressure on me and I enjoy the interview more. When the hosts are facing four judges, I think it’s very intimidating and I think you need another opinion.”

Entertainment Weekly says Fox is yet to comment on the matter, but the decision will not come for weeks as the chemistry sessions are yet to take place.  Ultimately, the show’s producers have elected to not use hosts for the audition process because they rather not make the same mistake twice when it comes to landing a good host.  Stay tuned for more as the story develops.