Paula Abdul, Steve Jones Discuss Nicole Scherzinger's 'X Factor' Judging Style (Video)

With the U.S. debut of Simon Cowell's The X Factor just over a week away, viewers are anxious and excited to see what the new crew has in store for American fans.

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Rounding out the panel of judges are Cowell, L.A. Reid, Nicole Scherzinger and former American Idol cohort, Paula Abdul. The Hollywood Reporter spoke with host Steve Jones as well as Abdul to get the dirt on what's to come in the premiere season.

"I think all of us stand in our area of what we believe is authentic," Abdul told THR of her co-judges. "It's a real good group, to be honest with you. It's a solid group."

As for which group member has the grit to stand up to the famously abrasive Cowell, Abdul insisted that the crew is equally capable.

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"Nicole's not afraid," she noted. "I'm proud of her. L.A.'s not afraid."

Show host Jones, however, was singing a different tune.

"They're all very strong people. There's nobody particularly malleable," he told THR. "If you're gonna audition for X Factor in the future, keep this in mind, go for Nicole. Nicole is malleable."

"If they all think 'No, it's not working,' look at Nicole and go, 'Nicole, please, please,' and she'll go, 'Ok, I'll put you through.' She doesn't want to upset anybody," he continued.

"I mean, I love her. She's not what you think she would be," Jones noted. "You see her on the stage and she's fierce. She's like, poppin' her hips all over the place, you know, she's wearing next to nothing. In the flesh -- off camera, off stage -- she's such a baby. She cries all the time."

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Where would competition shows be without their empathetic judges? If the shoe fits Scherzinger, then so be it.

The X Factor airs on Fox Wednesday, Sept. 21.