X Factor: From 17 to 12

Um, I almost missed this. I thought it wasn't going to be back on until November 2nd. But I randomly was checking something on the Guide and saw this two and a half hour X Factor episode. We had to cancel some other recordings and have them tape the next time they were on to catch this, but it was worth it.

Now, I checked Twitter last night, and one of the celebrities I follow told me which person from LA Reid's group went home: Phillip Lomax. I'm EXTREMELY disappointed, since Brian "Astro" Bradley is my least favorite from this group of performers.

So, when he was first up for the evening, I truly expected for him to have been really good. I was wrong. I thought his performance was lacking SERIOUSLY. For starters, he SOUNDS like a kid, so it's hard to take him seriously as a rapper. He was throwing in too many references to the show and LA Reid, so it sounded even cornier there. The song also sounded like it was from the 1990's (I know it was, but it's not a good thing that it SOUNDS that way), not current at all. And then he got to the part where he had to rap really fast, and he had to stop and look down and it just wasn't coming very naturally to him, he had to concentrate too hard on the "best" part of the song. And he was extremely out of breath when he was done with that part. I just think this kid needs two or three more years of practice. Let his big-boy voice come in and see what he sounds like then. I just don't get it with this kid. Plus, I don't believe anyone calls him "Astronomical Boy, Astro for short". He just bugs me. (love that Simon called him "Brian" instead of "Astro", by the way)

Chris!!! Love this kid. I'm glad to see he's six months sober, hope he sticks with it. A real role model that shows people CAN come out on the other side of drugs and alcohol and be somebody. I have no idea what song he's singing, but it sounds like something that could be on the radio. I am really hoping America keeps this kid around for awhile. Love him! Yay Chris!!!! (Paula: "When you open up your mouth to sing, there is a genuine truthfulness that's authentic about you." Redundant much???)

Phillip is next...I'm sad to know he's singing for the last time on this show. But...that's the way it goes. I can see why LA didn't put him through, he did lose that crooner thing he had going. Terrible song choice, terrible dancing (dancers didn't add anything, in my opinion). This just didn't show off that beautiful voice he has. Such a shame. And to hear that LA picked that for him...he didn't make anyone else "step outside of the comfort zone", so why Phillip, and then turn around and punish him for it by getting rid of him??? I call B.S.! =(

My Marcus is up! I really like him, too. Song choice was really terrible...LA seriously stinks at this. However, I think Marcus made the most of the oldie. It sounded very current, and I just love him. So I'm glad he's staying.

Sidenote about the host: he needs to interact with the judges and the contestants more!! He's so stiff and boring and vanillla. He's cute as a button and he seems nice enough. He's just boring. LIVEN UP, STEVE!!

I still think Phillip should stay over Brian. I don't know why they aren't allowed to pick their own songs. I really feel like LA Reid screwed Phillip over. Very, very disappointed.

We've got Paula's groups up next. Stereo Hogzz are up first, and I like them. Hopefully Paula's doling out better songs for her contestants. These guys got a song that I freakishly love, haha. AND I LOVE WHAT THEY DID WITH IT!!!!!!!!!!! Choreography wasn't perfect, but these guys HAVE it. Paula's an idiot if she lets them go.

The Brewer Boys are next. They are just precious, I want to adopt them, haha!! They are so young, though, and I hope they can measure up against the other acts. They're given an oldie. I think they sounded good, but they didn't really change the song up much. I think they could've done a slightly slower acoustic version, and it would've sounded better. I DO think they deserve another chance, though, unless Intensity really blows me away. And, um, excuse me: LA Reid is lecturing Paula for putting these boys OUTSIDE of their comfort zone????? I don't think I like him much anymore. What a jerk.

Intensity is next. I really like a couple of the singers in this group. But I didn't like their performance enough at Paula's house to think they deserved a spot. Hopefully they've been working their butts off and have a better group now. Once they started singing, I decided that I was right initially. They just seem so childish and High School Musical. They maybe could be a hit on the Disney Channel or something. But I don't think these guys stand a chance. Love that they have my favorite in the group, Elonna, as their lead girl singer. She's a good little singer and I wish she'd been considered as a solo artist.

Lakoda Rayne is next. I think they could be the next pop/country girl group if they start down that road. They're singing "Come On Eileen"?? Um, not an appropriate song for a girl group to sing, haha. I think it was a bad song choice for them. Maybe give this one to the Brewer Boys and have Lakoda Rayne take their song?? Not sure which one of those two groups is going home. But they did the worst, it's tough to say who was better. Didn't like that performance at all. But I think these girls have mad potential.

The Brewer Boys are out of the competition. It's sad, but they just didn't do that well. They suffered from bad song choice, though, and not making the most of it by making it current.

Nicole's Over 30's are up next (I knew they'd leave Simon's girls for last). Dexter is first, and I want him to do well. And he was assigned a song by...Britney Spears and Katy Perry??? I think I might have gone Def Leppard with some "Pour Some Sugar On Me" or something like that. I think he made the most of the weird song combo he was given, but I think Nicole was high when she came up with this for him. Glad to see the other judges agreed with me.

Leroy Bell is next. This guy is a good singer, but I'm scared to see what Nicole chose for him...a song by Pink?? Another weird choice for sure, but this one actually works better than the last one did. I have to say, too...this man has the SECRET to looking young! I know he's 60-something, but the man is sexy and oh-so-cool looking. I think there was a better song for him somewhere, but I think he did enough to stay. And Paula was right!!! His voice IS like Michael Bolton!!

I hope Nicole is replaced next year: I really do not like her.

Stacy is up next. And I didn't want this girl through. I wanted Elaine instead. This lady has a great story, but she sings like her voice is better than it actually is. A George Michael song was assigned to her...I'm sorry. This may sound bad and I don't mean for it to...but there are SO many powerful, fantastic black women out there that have sung some amazing songs, and I personally think Aretha or Whitney would've been a better artist to take from for song choice. That being said...I think Stacy bombed again. I thought this was her worst performance yet, and it actually had NOTHING to do with the song choice. I'm just hoping that Simon is the voice of reason and points out the flaws in the performance...and he didn't let me down. He didn't like this performance, either, and I really do love Simon. And I love that he thinks Nicole is useless, haha.

Last but not least from the Over 30's is Josh. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: this guy is my second favorite, and I think this guy NAILS IT every time. I will be so upset if he can't overcome whatever weird choice Nicole assigned him. He's got something I've never heard before...he sang his little heart out and I think he sounded good. But the song didn't suit him that well. I'm so over Nicole, I'm sorry.

So now it's the moment of truth. I have no idea who she'll be sending home. I know who I think should leave, but Nicole is unpredictable so...we'll see. First through is Stacy. I am just in shock. Wow. Josh is through, too (thank goodness) but I have to say Leroy was better. And she put him through, Dexter is leaving. I'm sad for him, I liked him.

The host isn't letting the judges talk to their contestants, he seems like he's being rude. There's 41 minutes left and only five girls left to sing. I think there was a minute left for the judges to talk to their contestants.

BUT!!! My girls are finally singing. We lose TWO of them, and I'm nervous.

Simone is up first, and I'm curious to see how she does. Not one of my favorites in this group so up FRONT I think she should get booted off, but her performance may change my mind. I have NO idea what she's singing, but she looks and sounds like she belongs in the 90's with the likes of Salt and Peppa. This is the worst she has sounded yet. Hopefully Simon doesn't like it, either, because I already want Drew, Melanie, and Rachel as the top three. LA was rude with what he said, but I agreed with what he said to Simon.

Rachel is next. Love this little girl, she's too precious and has such a powerful voice in that bubbly little package. I'm not sure Simon did her any favors with song choice...she seemed nervous and she didn't do herself justice. I'm worried he'll chop her for this, and it's his fault. But we'll see.

Drew is up next. I STILL hum her first audition in my head, I LOOOOOOOVE her version of that song (I previously hated that song, haha). She's singing the Flashdance song?? I cannot get enough of what this girl does with a song. She still reminds me of Norah Jones/Sarah McLaughlin and I think she's fantastic. I want an album to buy now. I want these songs she's singing!!! She's my third favorite. Love, love, LOVE her.

Sidenote about Simon...when he shrugged with that smirk on his face and then winked at Drew, it made my heart flutter. Say what you will about Simon...but he's hot (sorry, babe!!), haha!!

Tiah is up next. This girl has had a rough time, two of the judges were just awful to her at the start of this. I'm torn. I like this girl, she's really good. But I like others betters. And I don't think there's anything that she could do to make Simon NOT put her through. His ego won't let him cut her after how hard he fought for her. So she's a guaranteed part of the top three girls...she looks great tonight. Don't dig the song choice. She sounded okay singing it, but I would've gone TLC or Destiny's Child with her, I think.

Last is my Melanie. Simon better have given her a song she can sink her teeth into, she's got a BIG voice. YES!!!!!!! She got Whitney. He used to say on American Idol that Whitney, Mariah, Celine...their songs needed to be avoided because no one does them good at all. But he clearly saw that she had potential. Her first big note broke and she blew it, but I think she recovered nicely and she hit the even BIGGER note correctly. She did sound like she was pushing a little too hard, if she'd backed off a bit it would've been better. She has a huge voice, and it felt like she was trying too hard to prove that. Plus she was crying because she knew she blew some notes big time. Hopefully Simon doesn't cut her for that. I felt for her when she was done singing, she looked crushed.

My stomach is actually in knots, haha. I think he'll put through Melanie, Drew, and Tiah. I think Rachel deserves a shot over Tiah, personally...Melanie and Drew are have-to-have's for me.

Drew is in! Yay!!! Oh snap...Rachel's through, too. There's no way he'll pick Melanie over Tiah. He can't do this...he just can't.

You could knock me over with a feather, he picked Melanie!!!!!!!! My favorite three girls went through!!! That even makes up for "Astro" going through, haha!

Whew. What a show. I hope the contestants are allowed to start picking their own songs next time, I think that would be best. ANYWHO! Until next time...