MTV News takes a look at the pros and cons of bringing Spears onboard as a judge for the reality singing competition. By John Mitchell Britney Spears Photo: MTV News The news that Britney Spears is reportedly in final negotiations to join “The X Factor” has set the MTV Newsroom on fire. Opinion on whether the pop star is a good fit for the reality singing competition has been sharply divided, so we decided to take on the topic the way we’re sure Simon Cowell did before making Spears a reported $10 million offer: a good, old-fashioned pros and cons list. Pro: She’ll attract viewers The debut season of “The X Factor” performed well below expectations. Its heavily hyped premiere pulled in 12.1 million total viewers and a meager 4.4/12 rating in the advertiser-coveted 18 to 49 demographic. That’s about half of what the 2011 season of “American Idol” averaged (“Idol” is having its own ratings woes this season), and it didn’t even win the night: Emmy-winning sitcom “Modern Family” drew 14.3 million viewers and a 6.0/15 for its season premiere. The poor ratings precipitated the overhaul that saw judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger and host Steve Jones fired from the show. There’s no question that Spears would bring viewers to “The X Factor.” She enjoys a large and devout fanbase who will basically follow her just about anywhere. And beyond her own fans, Spears’ celebrity would also likely draw attention from the general public, who will tune in simply to see how she does. Con: She’s become nervous on camera Though she can still wow a crowd live in concert, as evidenced by last year’s successful tour behind her hit album Femme Fatale, Spears has become increasingly tentative during interviews. She rarely grants on-camera sit-downs, and when she does, she seems nervous and uncomfortable. To be a strong judge or mentor on a reality show, you have to be very comfortable on camera. Part of what made Jennifer Lopez click last season on “Idol” was the she came across as confident, direct and often empathetic. She even broke down in tears after sending home contestant Chris Medina , whose fianc
