It was Paula Abdul’s ability to mentor that was in question Thursday night on the first results show of The X Factor with two of her group acts potentially on the chopping block.  Grab your tissues—you’ll need them if you are as emotional as Paula—and find out which groups’ dreams were shattered below:
 

The episode opened with an overly excited host Steve Jones reading us the rules and a cinematic performance from the top 12 of the current David Guetta and Usher hit “Without You.”    Footage of the contestants discussing part of the prize—filming a commercial for Pepsi—and a blow-by-blow of the previous night’s performances was shown to fill some more airtime.  It is clear that we are in store for a season of dragged-out results shows.  Can't this be cut down to 30 minutes?

Top 12

Current Pepsi commercialists Out of Sight performed their song “Tonight is the Night” to take up a few more minutes before we learned who was going home.  It’s okay, though.  This song is sweet!

After dramatic commentary from each contestant saying why they don’t want to go home, it was on to the good stuff.  Drew and Melanie Amaro stood out among all the performances of the first live round.  If one of them went home, I would be done with this show, much like when viewers lost interest in American Idol after Pia Toscano was sent packing last season.

The first sent through to the top 10 was Marcus Canty, who was one of the weaker performers on the first live show.  Next up to move on was my favorite of the top 12 (and possibly the next Kelly Clarkson) Drew.  LeRoy Bell, who cursed with relief upon making it through, was the next to f*$^ing move on, followed by the Brooklyn rap sensation formerly known as Brian Bradley, who now goes by Astro.  Although it’s a little diva to change your stage name mid-season, Astro is one of the front-runners, so I’ll give him a break. 

Girl group and Paula’s only team with a shot in hell, Lakoda Rayne, was the next to move on.  Rachel Crow, who made Simon Cowell laugh with happiness after the announcement of her advancement, will return next week.  Chris Rene made it into the top 10, making all of L.A. Reid’s contestants safe from elimination.  Over 30 contender Josh Krajcik moved on (surprise, surprise) as did front-runner Melanie Amaro.  Stacy Francis was the final contestant to be safe, leaving Paula’s groups Stereo Hogzz and supergroup InTENsity to perform for the final spot in the top 11.  Uh, oh!  It might be time for Paula to go back on the crazy meds.

inTENsity

Stereo Hogzz and InTENsity performed before the judges decided that it was the end of the road for InTENsity.  I think they made the right choice.  The idea of a 10-person group is a good one in theory, but these guys never stood a chance against some of the individual talent in the competition.  Paula was tearful, but I was relieved that the show was almost over.  Sigh.

The only thing that makes The X Factor more tolerable than other singing shows is that the entire top 12 are better than Idol winners like Taylor Hicks and Jordin Sparks.  Whoever wins this season (Drew, Drew!) is really going to be someone to reckon with in the music business.  Find out who is one step closer to winning five million dollars next Wednesday on Fox at 8 p.m.
 
 
Images: Ray Mickshaw/Fox
 
Katherine Epstein (@RTNowRadio) for RightNowRadio © 2011