Idol Chatter & Voice Views

The X Factor returns Tuesday with its 17 finalists for a two and 0ne-half-hour marathon episode.

I’m not quite sure how the finals will proceed from here, but it’s pretty obvious we’re going to have some multiple elimination weeks.

After all, 16 contestants need to be eliminated between now Christmas week, when the U.S. version of the show is expected to crown its first champion.

Hmm, there are only something like nine weeks between now and then.

Four contestants were eliminated in the first week of the U.K. version of The X Factor this year. Last year, the first two weeks featured double eliminations. Both years, 16 acts made the finals.

(An update on how Tuesday’s show will work.)

Regardless of how Simon and company proceed, though, it’s time to rank the finalists.

So, here goes, my rankings for the final 17.  Check back Tuesday.  I’ll be blogging live during the show and grading each performance.

(Editor’s Note: Photos of some of the top 17 appear in this blog. For a photo gallery featuring all of the finalists, go here.)

1. Marcus Canty: Hey, I think this guy is going to surprise everyone. Good looking, great smile, confident without coming off as cocky. Oh, not to mention silky smooth vocals. Give him the right material — which I’m sure L.A. Reid is capable of doing — and I think the sky’s the limit for 20-year-old Marcus.

2. Drew Ryniewicz: I’ll forgive her affection for Justin Bieber because she’s the most talented of the under 18s, and perhaps the best singer among the ladies. She also has enough every-girl appeal to attract support from those inclined to vote, but who usually don’t vote for girls.

3. Chris Rene: He’s trying to make the climb from trash collector to $5 million star and stay sober in the process. Great story, X Factor, but you’re wearing it out. Meanwhile, I have two questions about Chris. 1. Will voters who tend to watch these shows support a rapper? 2. Will we get sensational audition Chris or so-so judges’ mansion Chris?

4. InTENsity: A group has never won the UK version of The X Factor. This group just might have a chance on the U.S. version. They’re young and fun and sorta Glee-like. They were entertaining in their judges’ mansion debut. And there are 10 of them, so you’ve gotta figure they enter the finals with lots of fans watching (and furiously voting) at home.

5. Josh Krajcik: Looking back on it, that audition segment was silly, contrived nonsense. What isn’t silly is the guy’s vocal ability. There was never any doubt he’d make it to the finals. The only doubt is whether viewers at home will vote for a 30-year-old burrito maker who isn’t going to remind anyone of Scotty McCreery, Lee DeWyze or Kris Allen.

6. Stereo Hogzz: Far and away the most impressive of the groups invited to the judges’ mansion. I honestly haven’t figured out which Stereo Hogzz is which yet, but whoever sang lead vocals during the judges mansion performance displayed the best voice we’ve heard from any member of any of the groups.  The only problem, boy bands seem so outdated.

7. Astro (aka Brian Bradley): He got a shorter moniker heading into the finals. What he needs most is a healthy dose of humble pie. Hey, kid, you aren’t the next Michael Jackson yet. My pick for most annoying contestant, albeit one with undeniable talent. I’m predicting him to finish here; I’ll be rooting for him to finish 17th.

8. Melanie Amaro: I wish, really wish, I could predict a better finish for Melanie because she’s a contestant who has proved deserving of the early hype she got on the show. But the best voice doesn’t always win on these fan voting competitions. In fact, seldom wins. See Pia Toscano, Season 10, American Idol. See Crystal Bowersox, Season 9, Idol.

9. Phillip Lomax: A good-looking guy with undeniably excellent vocal skills. But he wants to sing Sinatra on a show that’s looking for the next big star. John Stevens tried that on Idol and wound up finishing sixth in season three, which was probably the show’s worst ever in terms of top-to-bottom talent in the finals.

10. Lakoda Rayne: I was pleasantly surprised to see this foursome make the finals. Cari Fletcher is a true beauty. Paige Ogle struck me as one of the best female singers during the early rounds. I’m hoping the fact that there are four of them will draw four times the support a female contestant usually gets on a show like this.

11. Rachel Crow: She’s spunky, chatty and seemingly fearless, so I understand this finals pick from a casting viewpoint. Problem is, she took a spot that should have gone to the far vocally superior Caitlin Koch or the far more unique Tora Woloshin. No wonder Simon wanted an extra singer in the finals.

12. Dexter Haygood: A case of casting over talent, because Dexter’s over-the-top performances haven’t been very good, but the homeless back-story was just too good for The X Factor to abandon pre-finals. I think he’s already shed more tears on this show than Ramile Malubay on season 7 of Idol. For those who don’t remember, that’s a lot of tears.

13. LeRoy Bell: Congrats, Nicole, on this selection for the finals. It’s tough to imagine a 60-year-old walking away from the first X Factor with a $5 million prize and going on to become the next big thing in music. But this guy earned his spot with brilliant vocals every time he performed.

14. Stacy Francis: It’s all a matter of control for this 42-year-old single mom. Because when she controls her voice, she’s got one of the best and biggest on the show. When she goes over the top, it borders on grating. Young female singers have trouble attracting a large enough voting base on Idol? How will an Over-3o female fare on X Factor? Not as well as she should, I fear.

15.  The Brewer Boys: A surprise pick for the finals because they’ve gotten so little airtime on the show compared to … well, nearly everyone else. They were just good at the judges’ mansion (even Paula said so). I just can’t see this wholesome twosome going very deep into the finals given the competition they’re facing.

16. Tiah Tolliver: Simon sees a star. The female judges didn’t. Neither do I. On Season 10 of Idol, Ashthon Jones was more prepared, more entertaining, sexier and a far better singer. And look what happened to her. Don’t remember, Ashthon ? She finished 13th out of 13 finalists.

17, Simone Battle: We met her long legs when she showed up on stage in hot pants during the first audition episode. Unfortunately, weeks later, that’s still what we remember about Simone rather than superior vocal skills. She might not go first, but she won’t last long.