Idol Chatter & Voice Views

Update: Well, we only learned the identity of 10 advancing contestants thanks to some screwy scheduling on the part of FOX. For more on that, go here. At some point, I’ll post who else advances on the show.

Update #2: OK, FOX kept airing the show for a while in some markets and MJsBigBlog reports that among the young adults, Cece Frey and Paige Thomas advanced; tear machine Jillian Jensen and overconfident rapper Nick Youngerman were cut. Among the groups, Lyric 145 and Emblem 3 (yuk!) advanced; Dope Crisis (no surprise) was cut. At which point FOX must have decided it was spoiling all Tuesday’s surprises and cut to a repeat of an earlier episode. Go to MJ’s site for details of the final cuts.

Original blog: Tonight we learn who advances to the live shows on The X Factor.

That means the 24 singers or groups that advanced to the judges’ mansions will be whittled down to 16.

Or maybe not, if someone has a last-minute change of heart.

You know, the type Simon had last year after cutting Melanie Amaro. Who, of course, went on to win the show.

Who should stay? Who should go? I expressed my opinions last week, but to recap:

Teens: The must-keeps includes Beatrice Miller, Diamond White and — first and foremost — Carly Rose Sonenclar, my early pick to win this thing. On the other hand, Reed Deming deserves to exit after last week’s tortured performance of “Hey There, Delilah.” Key question: Will Britney actually keep three 13-year-old girls? Doubtful.

Young Adults: In my opinion, CeCe Frey can paint paw prints all over her face if she keeps singing like she did last week. She’s a must-keep. Honestly, no one else in the group was so strong or so bad vocally that I’d label them a must-keep or a must-go. Key question: Will tonight be the last night we get to see Jillian Jensen cry on camera?

The Overs: Vino Alan is a must-keep. He won me over with last week’s heartfelt version of “Sober.” Tara Simon should be a must-go. Last week she scored a double — her voice and attitude were annoying. Key question: Does anyone in this group really have a chance of winning once the fan voting begins? Doubtful.

The Groups: Simon put rapper Lyric Da Queen with two guys known as One4Five. The resulting Lyric 145 sounded great. Call them a must-keep. Emblem 3 proved again that they’re a vastly over-rated trio. Call them a must-go. Key question: Will Simon again show his dislike for country music by axing Sister C instead? Probably.

And after a long delay because of a baseball rain delay, The X Factor begins. Still think it’s a little cruel to put such young contestants through this pressure cooker.

And the Teens start hearing their fate …

• Diamond White  makes the live shows. That’s one good selection.
• Carly Rose Sonenclar is up next. She’s a cinch to make it. And she does.
• Arin Ray is next. He, too, should go through. He made it as well.
• Young rapper Josh Tanner gets his turn in front of Britney. Not impressed by him as a finalist. And he’s going home.
• Beatrice Miller discovers her fate next. She was excellent at the judge’s mansion and needs to advance.  And she does.
• Reed Deming, however, did not do well in his judge’s mansion performance. He’s going home.

The Over 25s

• David Correy is the first of the group to face L.A. Reid. He should advance. And he does.
• Daryl Black up next. His judge’s mansion performance was cut seriously short, not a good omen. And it wasn’t. He’s homeward bound.
• Jason Brock was interesting on “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” but will he get support on the live shows? Well, we’ll find out.
• Tate Stevens will likely make it through. This show is shy on country singers. And the likeable guy goes through pledging L.A.’s going to see confidence he’s never seen before.
• Vino Alan is one of the last contestants standing and better make it. No way he goes home after “Sober.” And he doesn’t.
• Tara Simon, the vocal coach, says she’s been taking no’s that should have been yes’s all her life. She should get another. And does.

The Young Adults

• Jennel Garcia is young and fun, so I’m sorta rooting for her. And she makes the live shows.
• Willie Jones is one of the most unique contestants on the show, and one of the prime contenders for the crown. He’ll stay. And, of course, he does.

Oops, we’ll have to wait until Tuesday for the rest, I guess. It’s baseball time on FOX. A scrolling message at the bottom of the screen tells us The X Factor will air in its entirety on Tuesday at 8 p.m.