FIRST ROUND AUDITIONS FOR FOX'S 'THE X FACTOR': SIMON COWELL, PAULA ABDUL, BENNY MEDINA, L.A. REID, CHERYL COLE



Singer Cheryl Cole arrives at the first round of auditions for Fox's "The X Factor" at Galen Center on May 8, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.



Producer Simon Cowell arrives at the first round of auditions for Fox's "The X Factor" at Galen Center on May 8, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.


The most anticipated new TV series of 2011 really kicked off on Sunday as the four "X Factor" judges -- Simon Cowell, singer Cheryl Cole, record-label exec L.A. Reid, Benny Medina, and Paula Abdul -- gathered to audition wannabe superstars in downtown Los Angeles.
Before the judges stepped onto the stage of the Galen Center on the campus of the University of Southern California, the show's hosts, former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger and British TV personality Steve Jones, introduced themselves to the audience. R&B songstress Monica is also slated to join the list of judges. Check out more pics below. Will you be tuning in?

Record producer L.A. Reid arrives at the first round of auditions for Fox's "The X Factor" at Galen Center on May 8, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

Singer/dancer Paula Abdul arrives at the first round of auditions for Fox's "The X Factor" at Galen Center on May 8, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.

Producer/manager Benny Medina arrives at the first round of auditions for Fox's "The X Factor" at Galen Center on May 8, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.