Having faced accusations of being boring and of spinning out meager action for far too long, 'The X Factor' producers have decided to ramp up the action for tonight's first live show. Their anti-boredom solution? A mass cull. Of contestants, that is. (Superfluous-seeming host Brian Dunkleman Steve Jones is not, contrary to rumors, being fired: "Our Welshie is staying for the long haul.")

A message on the show's official Twitter page reads: "Breaking news! 5 of the 17 acts will be eliminated by the judges on 10/25." As tonight's live show will clock in at a mammoth two and a half hours long, that's roughly one elimination per pulse-quickening 30 minutes.

The surviving 12 acts will perform for the public vote on another live show, airing Wednesday November 2. That will be followed by a live results show on Thursday November 3.