
First Posted: 10/26/11 10:22 AM ET Updated: 10/26/11 11:24 AM ET
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Last night's "X Factor" was a two-and-a-half hour blast of flashing lights, thunderous music and spit-fire fast performances and eliminations. Was this "American Gladiator" we were watching? No, it was the first live show of creator Simon Cowell's British import, which made "American Idol" look like Disney by comparison with all of the barbs thrown at each other and instant, ruthless farewells that brought the crop of 17 contestants down to a final 12.
Like NBC's "The Voice," the four judges -- Paula Abdul, Nicole Scherzinger, LA Reid and Cowell -- each mentored over four groups -- Groups, Over 30, Boys and Girls, respectively -- cherry-picking songs, sketching out choreography and mentoring the hopeful contestants over the past two weeks. Most of the night was spent with the three judges teaming up against surlier-than-ever Cowell, whose snide remarks about their mentorship and song choices could be considered a ploy to boost ratings if his peers didn't look so genuinely pissed off (thanks, live television!). As increasingly stressed-out host Steve Jones declared, "And the Reid and Cowell rivalry begins." Pan to a stone-faced judges' table with Simon and Reid tersely anchoring both ends.
In the end, what matters not is the bickering between the judges but the performances, of course. And the pickings were fairly obvious by the end of each groups' performances. LA bid adieu to Michael Bublé impersonator Phillip Lomax, whose delivery of The Monkee's "I'm A Believer" failed to make a believer out of Simon, who opined, "It's like you're a race car driver, and LA put you through in a tractor. LA, on this guy, you one hundred percent failed." Other departed members include the sweet-but-sad Brewer Boys, Sgt Pepper-jacket-wearing Dexter Haygood (whose crazy rendition of Britney Spears and Katy Perry will forever burn through my mind) and girls Simone Battle and Tiah Tolliver.
As Dexter said, "I'm in a boggle Zone. I'm in a twenty-first century Twilight Zone." I have no idea what that means, but I'm inclined to agree.
The highlights? As LA pointed out, 52-year-old Stacy Francis didn't cry for once after performing "Teacher," which will serve her well when she records her upcoming album "Anthems of Struggle and Empowerment." Simon turned 13-year-old Rachel Crow into Janelle Monae by outfitting her in a suit and funky haircut. Lakoda Rayne finally saw past their diva differences and "gelled" together enough to give a spirited, southern-inspired performance of "Come On Eileen" that could give the Dixie Chicks a run for their money. But the real winners of the night were the ones who stripped out the production and distracting back up dancers for raw, simple performances.
WATCH: Josh Krajcik, "Forever Young"
Burrito-slinger Josh Krajcik was the first person of the night to make me wake up. His husky, rough voice rumbled as he powerfully belted out "Forever Young," causing LA to declare it "soul-stirring" and Simon to say it was the best performance of the evening.
WATCH: Drew Ryniewicz, "What A Feeling"
And the surprise winner of the night was Drew Ryniewicz, who redeemed a worrisome Simon Cowell with an emotional, nuanced, hair-raising performance of "What a Feeling" that proved she's more than just a Justin Bieber fan -- she has the potential to sing alongside her idol in the immediate future.
So! The final 12 are: Astro, Chris Rene, Marcus Canty, The Stereo Hogzz, inTensity, Lakoda Rayne, Leroy Bell, Stacy Francis, Josh Krajcik, Rachel Crow, Drew Ryniewicz, and Melanie Amaro. What do we think? Do we agree or disagree with the final crop of "X Factor" contestants? And what is going on with the judges? Is the bickering real or staged? And is it me, or does host Steve Jones just need to relax, or something?
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Post to Facebook.Post to Blogger.Post to Twitter.Post to WordPress.Post to TypePad.Post to Tumblr.Post to Yahoo! View AllFavorites Recency | Popularity Fletch5591 Fans7 minutes ago (11:29 AM)Other then Josh the talent levels are really really low on this show even worse then American Idol.Fletch55: Other then Josh the talent levels are really really lowhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Fletch55/x-factor-recap-drew-rynie_n_1032622_114961565.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share it
HUFFPOST SUPER USERCandw1middle of the road129 Fans9 minutes ago (11:27 AM)This beautiful young girl brought a tear to my eyes. What a gift to have this voice at such a tender age. I wish her all the best the world has to offer. Josh is wonderful as well. They are going to be hard to beat.Candw1: This beautiful young girl brought a tear to my eyes.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Candw1/x-factor-recap-drew-rynie_n_1032622_114961266.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share it markham860 Fans12 minutes ago (11:24 AM)I like this show. Last night performances were good. I don't see why Nicole is even a judge. Yes, she can sing, but really a judge?markham86: I like this show. Last night performances were good. Ihttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/markham86/x-factor-recap-drew-rynie_n_1032622_114960629.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share it
Mindy Ross47 Fans 12 minutes ago (11:24 AM)Even Simon need 2 learn that changing a person's style is a dangerous move. I thought Rachel's performance was at its worse in Simon's hand. Rachel's style is a little rough around the edges and it's great. No need to make her slick, Simon. But I'm still a fan. Just keep Simon away from her. She did better on her own.Mindy_Ross: Even Simon need 2 learn that changing a person's stylehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Mindy_Ross/x-factor-recap-drew-rynie_n_1032622_114960626.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share it
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERSYour BELIEFS do not trump my RIGHTS...287 Fans29 minutes ago (11:07 AM)More cookie cutter acts that have polluted the charts for the past decade............The only real original act that actually seemed to have potential was the Brewer Boys and of course they were eliminated..............PLAYS_WELL_WITH_OTHERS: More cookie cutter acts that have polluted the charts forhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/PLAYS_WELL_WITH_OTHERS/x-factor-recap-drew-rynie_n_1032622_114957801.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share it
HUFFPOST SUPER USERethiopia1aif it wasnt for TSA i wouden`t have a sex life at913 Fans30 minutes ago (11:06 AM)Nicole Scherzinger is an air head. She is much to young and inexperienced to mentor the over 30 group.ethiopia1a: Nicole Scherzinger is an air head. She is much tohttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/ethiopia1a/x-factor-recap-drew-rynie_n_1032622_114957609.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share it
Mindy Ross47 Fans 10 minutes ago (11:26 AM)Who is Nicole Scherzinger? I'd never heard of her until she got HER big break on X factor.Mindy_Ross: Who is Nicole Scherzinger? I'd never heard of her untilhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Mindy_Ross/x-factor-recap-drew-rynie_n_1032622_114961064.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share it raicha0 Fans33 minutes ago (11:03 AM)Drew and Josh did not sing "a cappella". If you are going to be a music reporter, you ought to brush up on your knowledge of, um, music.raicha: Drew and Josh did not sing "a cappella". If youhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/raicha/x-factor-recap-drew-rynie_n_1032622_114957253.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share it
HUFFPOST SUPER USERrmonroe163 Fans 23 minutes ago (11:13 AM)Exactly. But they were both amazing.rmonroe: Exactly. But they were both amazing.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/rmonroe/x-factor-recap-drew-rynie_n_1032622_114958808.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share it
Neil Eisenberg23 Fans37 minutes ago (10:59 AM)Last I checked, a cappella performances are what they do on The Sing-Off. There were instruments on both Drew, and Josh's performances, making them NOT a cappella performances. FYI.They may have been simple, but there is a big difference.Neil_Eisenberg: Last I checked, a cappella performances are what they dohttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/Neil_Eisenberg/x-factor-recap-drew-rynie_n_1032622_114956600.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share it tigergrrldc71 Fans43 minutes ago (10:53 AM)I think a cappella means without music, not without lights and dancing. Drew bored me to tears. I literally almost fell asleep while she was singing. If she doesn't put a little pep in her songs, she will go the way of Pia on AI. I find it intersting that Simon can dish it out, but can't take it. Very funny!tigergrrldc: I think a cappella means without music, not without lightshttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/social/tigergrrldc/x-factor-recap-drew-rynie_n_1032622_114955547.htmlHistory |Permalink |Share it new comment(s) on this entry — Click to refresh
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