Idol Chatter & Voice Views

The X Factor wraps up it’s first season this week with a performance show Wednesday (8 to 9:30 p.m.) and a two-hour grand finale on Thursday (8 to 10 p.m.).

And, honestly, this mess can’t end soon enough.

Recognizing Simon Cowell’s contribution to making American Idol a mega-hit, I was looking forward to the debut of The X Factor this fall.

Now that the final episodes are upon us, I think the show needs a major overhaul to be bearable viewing in season two.  And, yes, there will be a season two. FOX decided that weeks ago.

So here goes — my suggestions for improving The X Factor.

1. End the mentoring nonsense: This won’t happen, because it’s about the only thing that prevents The X Factor from being a total rip-off of the American Idol concept. But we can all hope, right?

The judges’ mentoring relationship with the contestants ruins much of the suspense of the results shows.  Did a judge ever vote to send his or her contestant home this season when they had another choice?  Not once.  That means we know how half the judges are going to vote before the sing-off ever begins.

More annoying is the fact that because they’re all mentors, the judges wind up critiquing one another more than they do the contestants.  I really don’t care what Simon Cowell thinks of Nicole Scherzinger and vice versa.  I do care about what Simon thinks of the contestants, since they’re supposed to be the ones being judged.

And there was very little real judging taking place during the finals.

2. End the theme nights: OK, when Chris Rene sings reggae and when Melanie Amaro and Drew Ryniewicz sing ballads on rock night, you clearly aren’t serious about the themes, right Simon?

But then you have the gall to criticize Josh Krajcik for singing an ill-suited song on dance night?  Please, name a dance tune well-suited for Josh Krajcik.  At least he tried to stay true to the theme of the week.

If you need themes for some reason, do what Idol did in season 10 — pick broad themes that allow all the singers to do what they do best.  Finally, Idol came to the realization that forcing the contestants so far out of their comfort zone, then expecting something special to happen, wasn’t realistic.

3.  Eliminate the groups: I wanted to throw something at the TV screen last week when L.A. Reid informed us stardom “isn’t about singing,” it’s about being lovable.  But that’s telling in the emphasis The X Factor has placed on back-stories in season one.

Josh Krajcik is the former burrito-maker.  Chris Rene is the guy working on sobriety.  Marcus Canty was the guy given a two-year window to find success in the music business by his mom.  Melanie Amaro is the girl trying to make the best of her second chance.  (By the way, did Simon eliminate her early in the competition just so she’d have a back-story?)

Bottom line: How’s a group supposed to compete with the emphasis on personality rather than talent?  How many people out there can name one of the Stereo Hogzz?  A member of Lakoda Rayne?  I remember Paige Ogle because I thought she had one of the best voices in the competition, but that’s it.

As a plus, eliminating a category would allow us to eliminate a judge.  Nicole, anyone?

4.  Raise the age limit: The X Factor began the finals with three solo contestants 15 or younger.  Well, let’s see how that worked out.

Drew Ryniewicz, a fine singer who probably could have used more seasoning, spent most of an entire results show in tears upon learning she was in the bottom two.  Somehow, she managed to sing a save-me song. Then the tears quickly returned.

Astro, aka Brian Bradley, proved he was nowhere near ready to handle the responsibility or the stress of being The X Factor winner when he threw an on-stage tantrum after landing in the bottom two.  And Rachel Crow, admittedly one of the most charismatic contestants, collapsed on stage, wailing and crying upon her elimination.

But, hey, before she was eliminated, she got to belt out “Satisfaction” at age 13 in one of the season’s most forgettable moments. How young is too young on a show with this much pressure? I think The X Factor just found out.

5.  Find some talent: With apologies to Melanie Amaro and Josh Krajcik, who deserve to be where they are, the X Factor failed to deliver in the most critical way of all — finding talent worthy of its $5 million prize.

Back-stories are great, but it’s those magical musical moments we remember from American Idol.  Magical musical moments have been largely missing from The X Factor.  Blame it on a pretty pathetic cast of finalists.  That vocally challenged Chris Rene still has a shot at the $5 million prize pretty much sums it up.

In season one, The X Factor failed to find a single performer as authentic as Adam Lambert from Idol season eight or Crystal Bowersox from Idol season nine.  And The X Factor cast didn’t come close to the diversity or quality Idol offered up in season seven or season 10.

Better luck next year, Simon.

For your sake and ours.