12.5 million viewers tuned in for the U.S. premiere of Simon Cowell's "The X Factor," a singing competition that bears a striking resemblance to the show that made him famous, "American Idol."

'The X Factor' Debuts With Nudity & the Best Audition Simon's Ever Heard

Wednesday night's debut episode was full of inspirational stories and stunning vocals, but last night in Miami, "X Factor" was all about rejection, starting with Ashley Sansone, a trainwreck from the time she stepped onstage until she was voted off with some biting criticism from record executive L.A. Reid: "You were getting on my nerves when you were talking, but when you started singing, I wanted to slit my wrists."

Video: Ashley Sansone's failed "X Factor" audition

Some performers were blatantly awful, but others fell just short of success, like 16-year-old Caitlynne Curtis, who sang Katy Perry's "Firework." She had talent, but the judges all agreed she needed more time to grow. Curtis fell to tears and judge Paula Abdul ran onstage to console her.

After 25 minutes, no one had been sent on and the judges were teeming with frustration. "I hope this is the worst session," said Simon. "Just hopeless hopeless hopeless. I'm beginning to wonder why we came here."

And then Nick Voss took the stage, commanding the room with his energetic southern swagger on Elvis' "Trouble." L.A. Reid and Paula both commented on 21-year-old Voss's lacking vocals, but they voted him on because he was a true entertainer. Former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger told Voss he was "like Jim Carrey meets Jerry Lee Lewis with a little sprinkle of Elvis," and Simon sent him on with a simple: "Nick, I absolutely love you."

Video: Nick Voss' "X Factor" audition, Sept. 22

The rest of the show's first hour passed without any "yes" votes, and it took a spooky turn when the judges rejected 14-year-old Ashley Deckard, a ghost hunter. L.A. Reid told Deckard, "I'm fascinated by you on many many levels but the singing is the least of them." After she left the stage, the power went out in the auditorium several times, a glitch that the judges attributed to the rejected contestant's "ghost friends."

As the episode moved into hour two, the judges approved a slew of contestants: a 55-year-old music teacher, Marivana Viscuso; a quartet of women in matching white outfits, 2 Squar'd; Kendra, a 32-year-old school teacher; and Brendan Ohara, who joked with Paula and Simon: "You guys are getting along. It's kind of nice," after both voted "yes."

Video: Marivana Viscuso's audition on "X Factor"

22-year-old Jeremiah Pagan took the stage, telling the judges that he is one of "only like seven" male sopranos in the world. The judges were stunned, and L.A. Reid told Pagan: "Voices like yours are the reason great songs are written."

NEXT PAGE: The Best Performance Of The Night
AND Simon Meets His Sarcastic Match