Fox has just premiered the newest season of The X Factor. The popular singing competition on TV is back for its third season and it promises more talent and more surprises, but did it live up to the hype?

X Factor executive producer and music industry mogul Simon Cowell is back on the panel as his ever so mean self again, and this time he is joined by three other female judges - the first time in any televised singing competition in the U.S. Cowell was joined back by season two judge Demi Lovato who may very well be a ratings booster for the show, given the millions of "Lovatics" following the singer's every gig. Also joining them are former X Factor UK judge Kelly Rowland and Latina singing sensation, Paulina Rubio.

The premiere episode aired at 8 p.m. ET on Fox earlier tonight and featured auditions from several states, including North Carolina.

First up on the stage was 23-year-old Latino hunk, Carlitos Olivero, who described himself as the next Chris Brown. Following the show's success with females - remember One Direction and Emblem Three (season two) - it was almost a giveaway that Fox would be starting the show with a crooner. Carlito gave his own rendition of Rihanna's Stay which was well received by the audience and the judges, with four yeses.

Of course, the show wouldn't be complete without a little compilation of the worst auditions in town and Simon's meanest one liners. He even told one 65-year-old auditioner that thousands of dogs lined up to get in when she started singing - that's just mean Mr. Cowell!

The show also never fails to include a little candid (or is it?) banter between Demi and Simon. Check out the clip below:

The first episode also featured some true talents, including a 54-year-old momma who looks like she could pass for 30 years old. Singing a not-so-popular song about an alabaster jar, she blew the judges away with her vocals and "passion", as Kelly noted; even putting Demi and the Destiny's Child member to tears.

A 13-year-old burst of energy also inspired the whole audition theatre. Rion, who has a congenital defect, blew everybody away with her rendition of Carrie Underwood's Blown Away. Needless to say, she got four yeses and Simon even predicted that she'll be huge someday.

So far, the first episode didn't seem to be a killer, but it did offer enough to keep viewers tuning tomorrow for another audition episode. And as the closing shots teased, Simon also could be showing his own singing skills in the next episode. Stay tuned!