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"Simon Cowell has suggested that The X Factor USA&amp;#039;s ratings will rise as the first season progresses. Prior to The X Factor&amp;#039;s debut, Cowell appeared to claim that the series would be a disappointment if it didn&amp;#039;t pull in 20m viewers for its premiere. The X Factor USA&amp;#039;s two-night premiere fell short of Cowell&amp;#039;s hopes, averaging 12.2m for the first episode and 12.1m for the second. Cowell has clarified his previous remarks, explaining that his actual goal is for The X Factor to reach 20m viewers by the end of its first season. &amp;quot;[There] was a slight misunderstanding. I wasn&amp;#039;t saying I want 20 million for the first episode. I said we wanna hit 20 million,&amp;quot; he told Access Hollywood Live. &amp;quot;Of course that went out there and I thought, &amp;#039;I have really opened my big mouth here because anything now under 20 is a disaster&amp;#039;. As much as people want you to succeed, there&amp;#039;s a ton of people that want you to fail and I took a bit in the neck that first day.&amp;quot;  Cowell went on to say he is confident that The X Factor will continue to attract new viewers on a weekly basis. &amp;quot;I do believe [we&amp;#039;ll hit our goals] - in time, because I believe in the show - we&amp;#039;re gonna hit those numbers. You&amp;#039;ve gotta remember - this is a new show,&amp;quot; the judge said. Cowell previously suggested that many of his critics are rooting for The X Factor to fail. The X Factor airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8/7c on Fox. &amp;gt; Simon Cowell denies Beyonc\u00E9, Lady GaGa, Katy Perry &amp;#039;boring&amp;#039; claims &amp;gt; X Factor USA LA Reid: &amp;#039;I&amp;#039;ve never been harsher than Simon Cowell&amp;#039; Watch the X Factor judges evaluate contestant Tiah Tolliver below:      "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/the-x-factor-us/news/a343763/simon-cowell-x-factor-usa-ratings-will-reach-20-million/>