The first two-hour live show aired on a special Tuesday time slot on October 29; which followed the same format as the
first season with each of the judges narrowing their number of acts down to three, without a public vote. The public vote then started with the following performance and results shows starting November 6, which aired on Wednesdays and Thursdays respectively. As with previous seasons, each live show had a different theme. The live final took place in on December 18 and 19. Cowell had also said on
Twitter that there may be a wildcard this season. The leaderboard that showed which act had received the most public votes did not return.
Musical guests Each results show featured musical performances from at least two artists. There was no guest performer on the first result show.
Selena Gomez was supposed to perform on the second result show, but was postponed to third result show night which featured a performance from
season 2 contestants
Fifth Harmony.
One Direction performed on the third results show. Michael Bublé performed on the fifth performance show, then again on the fifth results show alongside judge
Demi Lovato.
Emblem3 and
Little Mix performed on the sixth results show, while
Enrique Iglesias performed during the seventh results show.
Paulina Rubio,
Mary J. Blige,
Lea Michele,
Leona Lewis,
Pitbull and One Direction performed on the finale.
Results summary ;Color key Act in Boys Act in Girls Act in Over 25s Act in Groups • There was no public vote in the first week and therefore no final showdown. Each judge was required to save three of their own acts. • Levi returned to the competition in week two because the judges felt that he should not have been eliminated in week one. • Owing to graphic errors in which incorrect voting numbers were displayed on screen during the performance recap, there was no elimination in week two. All acts performed again on Thursday night in week two and a public re-vote was conducted. Carlos Guevara was eliminated on Wednesday night in week three after receiving the fewest votes in week two. • Cowell was not required to vote as there was already a majority, but said after the show that he would have voted to eliminate Olstad. • Cowell revealed in an interview that Alex & Sierra "won every single week" in the public vote except the fourth.
Live show details Week 1 (October 29) There was no public vote in the first week. Instead, each of the judges selected one of their own acts to eliminate. ;Judges' votes to eliminate • Group performance: "
ABC" / "
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" / "
Reach Out I'll Be There" / "
Dancing in the Street" (all top 13 finalists except Josh Levi) One of the four acts that did not face the public vote in week 1, and was eliminated by their mentor, was reinstated to the show as the judges felt that the act "deserves a second shot". The reinstated act was announced as Josh Levi. ;November 7 • Theme: "Save Me" songs • Group performance: "
Perfect Day" • Musical guest:
One Direction ("
Story of My Life") • Rowland: Tim Olstad – based on the final showdown performances. • Lovato: Tim Olstad – gave no reason. • Rubio: Tim Olstad – gave no reason. • Cowell was not required to vote since there was already a majority, but said after the show that his "heart went out to" Olivero, so he would have voted to eliminate Olstad. • Group performances: • Wednesday: "
Cry Me a River" • Thursday: "
Somewhere Only We Know" • Lovato: Josh Levi – backed her own act, Rion Paige. • Rubio: Rion Paige – backed her own act, Josh Levi. • Rowland: Rion Paige – gave no reason. • Cowell: Josh Levi – could not decide and sent the result to deadlock. With the acts in the bottom two receiving two votes each, the result went to deadlock and reverted to the earlier public vote. Levi was eliminated as the act with the fewest public votes. and
Little Mix ("
Move") For the first time this season, each act performed two songs. ;Judges' votes to eliminate • Lovato: Carlito Olivero – backed her own act, Rion Paige. • Rubio: Rion Paige – backed her own act, Carlito Olivero. • Rowland: Rion Paige – based on the final showdown performances though stated both acts did not give their best. • Cowell: Rion Paige – wanted to give Olivero the opportunity to stay in the competition as he felt the competition was "probably his last chance".
Week 7: Semi-Final (December 11/12) • Themes: Viewers' choice; "songs to get you to the final" (no theme) • Group performances: • Wednesday: "
Falling Slowly" (performed by Alex & Sierra and Carlito Olivero) and "
Every Breath You Take" (performed by Jeff Gutt and Restless Road) • Thursday: "
Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)" On December 4, the song choices for the public were revealed. • Musical guest:
Paulina Rubio ("
Boys Will Be Boys") • Group performances: "
One" (all top 13 finalists) and "
Love Me Again" (performed by Alex & Sierra and Jeff Gutt) • Musical guests:
Mary J. Blige ("
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"),
Lea Michele ("
Cannonball"),
Leona Lewis ("
One More Sleep"),
Pitbull ("
Timber") and
One Direction ("
Midnight Memories") ==Notes==