When we first clapped eyes on these pics of Simon Cowell we though the usually groomed-to-within-an-inch-of-his-life music mogul was suffering from a FTD (Fake Tan Disaster), but no such luck.
Those brown hands are actually down to Simon getting down and dirty during a handprint ceremony held at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in LA.
Si was joined by his fellow X Factor USA judges Britney Spears, Demi Lovato and LA Reid who also got their hands dirty - and in Demi's case - her face too, thanks to her HI-LA-RI-OUS boss.
What a wag.
The second series of The X Factor USA hits US TV screens tonight (it'll be on UK telly from next week) and Simon will be hoping his all-new judging panel will help improve the disappointing ratings of the first series.
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Britney Spears arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Britney Spears arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Britney Spears arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Britney Spears arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Britney Spears arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season Two Premiere
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Singer Britney Spears and fiance Jason Trawick arrive at 'The X Factor' Season Two Premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Simon Cowell arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: L.A. Reid, Demi Lovato, Britney Spears and Simon Cowell arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Simon Cowell arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Simon Cowell arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Simon Cowell arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Simon Cowell arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Simon Cowell and Demi Lovato arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season Two Premiere
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Simon Cowell and singer Demi Lovato arrive at 'The X Factor' Season Two Premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Simon Cowell arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Simon Cowell arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Simon Cowell arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Simon Cowell arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Simon Cowell arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Simon Cowell arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Simon Cowell arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season Two Premiere
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Singer Britney Spears arrives at 'The X Factor' Season Two Premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Britney Spears arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season Two Premiere
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Singer Britney Spears and fiance Jason Trawick arrive at 'The X Factor' Season Two Premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)
"The X Factor" Season Two Premiere
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Singer Britney Spears arrives at 'The X Factor' Season Two Premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)
"The X Factor" Season Two Premiere
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Simon Cowell arrives at 'The X Factor' Season Two Premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Simon Cowell arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Simon Cowell arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season Two Premiere
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Antonio Reid, Demi Lovato, Britney Spears and Simon Cowell arrive at 'The X Factor' Season Two Premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)
Britney Spears
Britney Spears attends "The X Factor" season two premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Britney Spears, Demi Lovato, Simon Cowell
Judges Britney Spears, left, and Demi Lovato embrace at "The X Factor" season two premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Britney Spears
Britney Spears attends "The X Factor" season two premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Britney Spears, Demi Lovato
Judges Britney Spears, left, and Demi Lovato sign their names during a handprint ceremony at "The X Factor" season two premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Britney Spears
Britney Spears attends "The X Factor" season two premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell attends "The X Factor" season two premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato places her hands in cement at "The X Factor" season two premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato attends "The X Factor" season two premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Britney Spears, Demi Lovato
Judges, from left, L.A. Reid, Demi Lovato, Britney Spears and Simon Cowell attend "The X Factor" season two premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Britney Spears, Demi Lovato
Judges, from left, L.A. Reid, Demi Lovato, Britney Spears and Simon Cowell attend "The X Factor" season two premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato attends "The X Factor" season two premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Simon Cowell
Simon Cowell attends "The X Factor" season two premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Terri Seymour arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Melanie Amaro arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: L.A. Reid arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Demi Lovato arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Simon Cowell arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Simon Cowell arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Demi Lovato and Britney Spears arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Demi Lovato arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season 2 Premiere Party
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Demi Lovato arrives at the 'The X Factor' Season 2 Premiere Party at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
"The X Factor" Season Two Premiere
HOLLYWOOD, CA - SEPTEMBER 11: Singer Britney Spears arrives at 'The X Factor' Season Two Premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on September 11, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic)
And new judge Britney has already given the first episode the thumbs up.
After attending the official premiere in Hollywood last night, she tweeted: "So amazing to see @TheXFactorUSA episode for the 1st time tonight - wow! I think u all are in for a treat. Premiere is tmrw... ready people?"
@britneyspears
Britney Spears
We're ready, Brit.
ENTER OUR COMPETITION TO WIN A CAMERA
Also on HuffPost:
Loading comments… 
Posted: 12/09/2012 09:59 Updated: 12/09/2012 10:25