I’ll be live blogging the X Factor Top 8 results right here! Watch for a DOUBLE ELIMINATION. Josh Krajcik and Alicia Keys perform!
Paige Thomas is eliminated
Vino Alan is eliminated
Holy crap. Could the manipulation be more obvious? I’m not one who typically subscribes to conspiracy theories–but Vino’s elimination smells to high heaven. Truth: When Vino is left to his own devices he ALWAYS picks the right song. “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” has been sung quite a bit on singing competitions. It’s not a dud song. And I’ll bet Vino has sung it before. I refuse to believe that LA’s last minute change was anything but sabotage.
Here’s the thing–I can’t imagine Simon was happy to see Vino beating the crap out of his acts week after week. Also, Vino is such a throwback, he’s not that marketable. Simon wanted Vino out, so his acts could move up, and that’s exactly what happened. LA doesn’t care. He’s got an artist, Tate Stevens, who could win it all. I’ll bet LA figures Tate might pick up some of Vino’s votes. Simon doesn’t have a problem with Tate, because the singer is a marketable country artist. I can imagine Simon dreaming of the day Tate outsells Scotty McCreery. I think Simon would LOVE to be able to brag about making inroads in country.
Geez. At least when Nigel tries to pull this stuff on Idol, he’s not so blatantly obvious about it! It’s not fun watching contestants treated like pawns in a chess game.
The theme of X Factor 2 could be “Nobody really knows the artist I am.” The mentors and back stage producers are FAILING these finalists! FAIL FAIL FAIL! What’s also obvious is the way in which the contestants are being made over into artists they are not. The make overs are twisted and grotesque. And depressing. Because–as we saw with Jason, Jennel, Lyric 145, Arin Beatrice, Paige and Vino–the performances are over produced and inorganic. The contestants hardly look comfortable on stage, resulting in poor performances. The only way to enjoy X Factor is to treat it like the trainwreck it is. Lulz galore.
The only act who seems completely happy with becoming something they aren’t are Emblem3, who seem to be willing to do anything to succeed. They are still suffering from the D (douche) Factor, so Simon has his work cut out for him. Expect the boys to save a basket of puppies from a burning building in their video package next week.
The continuing survival of CeCe Frey must also make Simon very happy. She’s polarizing, to say the least. She’s cast perfectly as the Season 2 villain. When they are ready to ditch her, they will damn her with faint praise. I should have remembered that when Simon tells a contestant they should pack their bags, it’s a cue for the viewers to pick up their phones, en masse, to dial in pity votes.
Also, I’d like to note, that when Mario reveals the leader board, he skirts around the issue of which of the bottom 2 came in next to last. He usually mumbles something like–well X was saved, so they are X. We don’t really know if the contestant the judges saved had the fewest votes. Think about that.
Oh. And Khloe STILL can’t read a teleprompter and continues to be a terrible interviewer. I don’t expect that to improve.
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A recap of last night’s AWESOMENESS *cough* is first. Shakes the Clown looks scary! Vino is worried about tonight. Paige is so happy about her performance. But will she be happy tonight when she inevitably winds up in the bottom 2? CeCe says she’s not packing a suitcase because she’s not going anywhere! Alrighty, then.
WOW WHAT A PHENOMENAL NIGHT says Robo Khloe.
HERE COMES THE INSTANT ELIMINATION! The act with the lowest number of votes and going home right now is…Paige Thomas. PAIGE THOMAS IS ELIMINATED! Paige says it’s ok that she was eliminated, because she has bigger and better things to do. Ooooh. BURN?
Josh Krajcik takes the stage to sing “One Thing She’ll Never Know”. You remember him! He was the runner-up to Melanie Amaro! He just released 4 songs ahead of his spring CD debut.
Khloe and Mario announce the Pepsi Challenge thingy.
The remaining finalists take the stage! The 5 acts that are safe will be announced, in no particular order.
Safe:
- Fifth Harmony
- CeCe Frey
- Emblem3
- Carly Rose Sonenclar
- Tate Stevens
Vino Alan and Diamond White are in the bottom 2!
Simon is not surprised about Vino in the Bottom 2. Of course he isn’t. Vino and Diamond must have been nearly crapping their pants when they were left on stage with Tate. So much suspense right there. Not. BUSSING COMPLETE. Congrats Simon and LA.
Khloe speaks with Diamond and Vino backstage. Vino is OK with LA changing his song at the last minute even if it landed him in the bottom 2. And he loves Diamond.
Alicia Keys takes the stage to sing “Girl On Fire”.
Diamond White sings “I Was Here” by Beyonce for her life – This girl is just…not ready. She should be sent home tonight, but it ain’t gonna happen. Argh the pitchiness. Please. No.
Vino Alan sings “Trouble” by Ray Lamontagne for his life – If LA would have allowed Vino to sing his original song pick, we wouldn’t be in this pickle. He’s singing rings around Diamond, but it’s not going to matter.
The judges choose who they are sending home. Simon had “Christ” bleeped out. Oops on taking the Lord’s name in vain! We don’t do that in Americer Simon!
LA is sending home Diamond White
Britney is sending home Vino Allan
Demi is sending home Vino Allan
Simon Cowell is sending home Vino Alan
Vino Alan has been eliminated. Vino is shocked and says America never got the chance to hear what he can do. It’s the X Factor 2 drum beat. Man. *mj adjusts her tin foil hat*
Now it’s time to reveal the rankings: 1/10th of 1% separates the Top 2!
1. Carly Rose Sonenclar
2. Tate Stevens
3. Emblem3
4. Fifth Harmony
5. CeCe Frey
…and Simon Cowell rubs his hands together. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
