Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Two of the final nine go home tonight on The X Factor.

The low vote-getter automatically gets the boot. 

Astro, anyone?

The second and third lowest vote-getters will get one last save-me performance to impress the judges.

Not that the judges seem to have been very swayed by the save-me performances so far.

In the meantime, we’re guaranteed at least one quality performance tonight because Kelly Clarkson will be singing “Stronger” (aka “What Doesn’t Kill You”).

And at least one in-show commercial as the final nine perform some Pepsi stunt.

When the dust settles, let’s hope Melanie Amaro, Drew Ryniewicz, Josh Krajcik and Leroy Bell remain, since they’re clearly the best singers on the show.

And let’s hope we’re rid of two Chris Rene, Rachel Crow and Astro, who have proven they shouldn’t be in the running for a $5 million prize.

Kelly Clarkson kicks off the show.  But she’s off the stage in a flash because we apparently need an extended reminder of what happened just last night.  Really?

Oh, well, Kelly was better than opening the show with a group performance.

OK, the Pepsi bit wasn’t as bad as I suspected it might be, though the idea of three minors singing “Raise Your Glass” isn’t exactly classic.

Then Steve Jones calls Lakoda Rayne and Drew to center stage and announces that one is going home. It better not be Drew, otherwise this show is toast.

Drew stays.  Lakoda Rayne heads home.  So the competition loses its last group. And, thankfully, keeps one of its four singers.

After a Bruno Mars music break, it’s time for more results.

Also going through to next week …

* Chris Rene. Really? The guy cannot sing!

* Rachel Crow.  Really? The girl shouts every song.

* Josh Krajcik survives.  As well he should have.

* Melanie Amaro survives.  Well, the show’s best singer wasn’t going anywhere, right?

* Astro makes it through to next week.

That’s leaves Marcus Canty and LeRoy Bell to save for their X Factor lives.

And that means we’re stuck with the show’s worst three contestants for at least another week.

Marcus Canty:  He’s singing Christina Aguilera’s “You Lost Me.”  Not bad.  Not fantastic.  In other words, typical Marcus.  I think he would have been better served by doing something more upbeat to draw a distinction between he and LeRoy.  Grade: C

LeRoy Bell:  He’s singing “Don’t Let Me Down” by the Beatles.  And he’s displaying vocals far superior to anything we’ve seen from Marcus over the course of the show.  No way this doesn’t blow Marcus’ performance out of the water.  Grade: B

And now it’s in the hands of the judges, who have proven oblivious to the final performances so far.

L.A. Reid:  Votes to send LeRoy home.  No surprise.

Nicole:  Votes to send Marcus home.  No surprise.

Paula:  Votes to send Marcus home.  Wise choice, Paula.

Simon:  Votes to send LeRoy home.  Bad choice, Simon.

For the first time, the decision goes to deadlock.

And the person going home is:  LeRoy Bell.

Marcus Canty survives.