Simon Cowell’s new boyband December 10 send fans wild with release of their first full performance – days after Netflix show the group were created on was savaged by critics

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Simon Cowell’s latest boyband, December 10, thrilled fans with their first official performance on Monday – an acoustic version of *NSYNC’s hit song, “Bye Bye Bye.”

The group was created by the 66-year-old music executive on his new Netflix show, The Next Act, which received very negative reviews after it launched last week.

The band—made up of Cruz, 19, Danny, 17, Hendrick, 19, John, 17, Josh, 17, Nicolas, 16, and Sean, 19—recently performed at Metropolis Studios in London.

This was the band’s first time playing a complete set on their own, beyond the short performances featured in the Netflix series.

Honestly, I was so excited for this show to start, even though some people were saying it was just another talent competition like ‘The X Factor’. But I, along with so many other fans, absolutely rushed to watch the first video drop, and we all agree – the group is incredible! It totally exceeded my expectations.

People were overwhelmingly positive, praising the vocals as the highlight. Comments included expressions of love for the performance, congratulations to everyone involved, and enthusiastic reactions like ‘amazing’ and ‘jaw-dropping.’ Many appreciated the combination of a boy band with live instruments, calling it perfect.

Critics harshly reviewed Simon Cowell’s new show, calling it unoriginal, old-fashioned, and lacking excitement. Some even compared its shortcomings to Cowell’s hairstyle.

The six-episode show, about a music executive searching for the next popular boy band, became available on the streaming platform on Wednesday, December 10th.

Simon has a proven track record of launching successful musical acts, including One Direction, Little Mix, Susan Boyle, and Westlife. These successes are largely thanks to his work on television shows like The X Factor and the Got Talent series.

During the show, Simon was accompanied by his wife, Lauren Silverman, age 48, whom he married in 2013, and several experts from the music industry.

The documentary also features appearances by Savan Kotecha, Kamille, Poo Bear, Pete Waterman, and Robert Stevenson, in addition to the entrepreneur.

Jon O’Brien of Metro notes that it’s been four years since The X Factor ended, and over a decade since the show was truly popular. A lot has changed in the music industry since then, and the way pop stars are made now is very different from the typical televised talent competition.

‘Unfortunately, no one seems to have told Simon Cowell.’

Anita Singh of The Telegraph described Simon Cowell’s new show as lackluster, quipping that it was ‘as flat as his hairdo’.

She explained that while Netflix tries to recreate the appeal of shows like X Factor, this particular effort feels old-fashioned and unoriginal.

The Guardian’s Stuart Heritage described the doc as ‘the billionth take on his one idea’.

He goes on to explain that what seems like a genuine look into Simon Cowell’s life is actually just a disguised version of The X Factor. It’s essentially the same show, rebranded.

It’s quite a switch: one moment Simon Cowell is playfully arguing with his girlfriend, Lauren Silverman, and the next he’s completely changed gears, launching a search for a new boyband and holding auditions.

‘He takes them to bootcamp. He uses pictures of their faces to decide who he wants to send home. 

Let me tell you, some of the backstories we’re hearing are…a bit much. Honestly, one contestant’s big reveal? They work at Nando’s. I mean, come on! Get ready with the tissues, apparently!

Unless something completely unexpected happens – like Louis Walsh accidentally causing a tie – this is exactly what you’d expect from The X Factor. It’s essentially Simon Cowell revisiting the same core concept, just with a fresh coat of paint.

Meanwhile Grazia’s Nikki Peach said : ‘The toxic 2010s called, they want Simon Cowell back.’  

A little later in the series, it’s clear that Simon’s impact has faded over the past ten years. He’s nearing seventy and feels the need to demonstrate – both to himself and his eleven-year-old son – that he’s still capable and relevant. That’s the motivation we’ve been looking for.

The documentary ‘Simon Cowell: The Next Act’ feels like a self-promotional film, and it’s been made with a lot of money and polish. It focuses as much on Cowell’s own career comeback as it does on the search for a new successful boyband. He’s always been known for his sharp wit and ability to express himself.

In a review for The Review Geek, Greg Wheeler described the show as an outdated self-promotion effort disguised as a comeback. He noted that it heavily emphasizes Simon Cowell’s success and importance, as he was also an executive producer.

The documentary explores Simon Cowell’s history, the musicians he’s collaborated with, and his deep connection to the entertainment industry.

‘For obvious reasons, it sidesteps a lot of the allegations thrown his way from said artists.

The show feels a bit old-fashioned in its approach, even without relying on typical reality TV gimmicks. While Simon Cowell occasionally offers his usual comments, it avoids things like drawn-out pauses, forced applause, or manufactured drama.

‘Removing them helps, but it doesn’t modernise the bones of a creaking format.’

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2025-12-15 19:19