An aspiring singer who came agonisingly close to joining Simon Cowell's freshly minted boyband has publicly shared his reaction. Sam Meyer was among the final eight contenders for a place in the group, named December 10, but was the only one not selected when the final lineup was revealed.
The Final Cut on Netflix
The formation of the band was documented in the new Netflix series, Simon Cowell: The Next Act, which premiered on the streaming platform on December 10. Over six episodes, the 66-year-old music mogul, alongside his wife Lauren Silverman and a panel of industry experts, whittled down hundreds of hopefuls to find the next major pop group.
Ultimately, the seven lucky young men chosen were: Cruz (19), Danny (16), Hendrick (19), John (17), Josh (17), Nicolas (16), and Sean (19). For Sam Meyer, the dream ended there, but he has now broken his silence in a characteristically modern way.
A TikTok Tribute to Disappointment
Taking to TikTok, the budding musician posted a video of himself making a series of expressive, sad faces while Sisqo's 'Thong Song' played ironically in the background. Over the clip, he wrote: 'Me when I got to the last eight for Simon's new boy band and the other seven lads got in.'
In a gracious caption, Sam clarified his feelings, writing: 'It's okay they deserve it all @netflix @simoncowell @December10.' He expanded in the comments, stating: 'Just to be clear, I am so so grateful for the opportunity I was given, despite the result! The boys in the band are going to do bloody amazing! I’m a big fan of all of them and wish them nothing but the best.'
December 10 Makes Their Debut
The news follows December 10's first full performance, which sent fans into a frenzy earlier this week. The seven-piece band debuted with an acoustic cover of NSYNC's classic hit 'Bye Bye Bye' at London's famed Metropolis Studios.
Marking their first complete set as a fully-formed group, the performance showcased them playing their own instruments—a detail that has excited many followers. Fans flooded social media with praise, with comments including:
- 'The vocals are king'
- 'I'm in love with them'
- 'A boy band and instruments, perfect'
- 'JAW IS ON THE FLOOR'
This enthusiastic reception came despite the Netflix series itself facing a barrage of criticism from television critics.
Critical Reception for Cowell's 'Next Act'
Simon Cowell: The Next Act has been widely panned as a retread of familiar ground. Reviews have described it as 'dated, derivative and as flat as his hairdo' (The Telegraph) and 'the billionth take on his one idea' (The Guardian).
Many critics pointed out that the format felt like a direct lift from The X Factor, complete with auditions, bootcamp, and emotional backstories. The Guardian's Stuart Heritage noted the show's familiar trappings, writing: 'Short of Louis Walsh stumbling in to absent-mindedly take everything to deadlock, this is The X Factor.'
Other reviews called it a 'vanity project' that aimed to prove the veteran mogul, now a father to an 11-year-old son, still has his finger on the pulse of the music industry.
While the show's format may have struggled to impress, the band it created, December 10, has already generated significant fan excitement, suggesting Cowell's ear for a successful group may yet drown out the sound of critical disapproval.
