Ricky was the rejected boy thrown out to make way for Liam - as all good tabloids would have informed you last week.
The boy band thing just didn't work this year - and wasn't really explained in the show at all, unlike last year when they made a big deal out of it.
Looks like the live shows are going to be later this year, and the results show is dragged out over 45 minutes. Next weeks shows air at 7.25pm and 10.10pm.
To spoil, or not to spoil - that is the question. Sod it, we'll discuss it anyway.
Looks like the Judges vote has been axed - instead the bottom two will perform a "Song for Survival", a song picked by themselves (not the producers, honestly!) in an attempt to win enough votes to remain in the competition, with their fate in the hands of the voters.
So it'll be interesting to see how much ITV try to milk this, and whether they resort to resetting the vote so people have to vote again. A shame though the judges vote has been dropped.
Does take away a lot of the relevance of the judges, Simon wont like this after a while i think. Also, about the new looks... What did they do to Austin!!!
Caught up with the judges homes episodes last night after being on holiday, just in time for tonights first live show. I think most of the right people have been put forward for the live shows, surprised that Simon didnt put Liam through tho.
It was amusing when Sinitta appeared and Simon said to her "what are you wearing" lol
Wrong decision IMO to change the judges vote in the final showdown - it wont have the same tension in the studio if its just the public voting for the bottom 2.
To spoil, or not to spoil - that is the question. Sod it, we'll discuss it anyway.
Looks like the Judges vote has been axed - instead the bottom two will perform a "Song for Survival", a song picked by themselves (not the producers, honestly!) in an attempt to win enough votes to remain in the competition, with their fate in the hands of the voters.
So it'll be interesting to see how much ITV try to milk this, and whether they resort to resetting the vote so people have to vote again. A shame though the judges vote has been dropped.
For the first time ever, the acts which receive the fewest public votes must choose an all-time favourite track to perform for the judges; they must sing it while the panel decide whether or not they should be saved.
the judges final vote remains the same - the twist is that the bottom two don't sing the same song again - they get a free choice of song??
For the first time ever, the two bottom-placed contestants will choose an all-time favourite track to perform while the nation registers their final votes. Until this point, contenders have performed the night's rehearsed track again.
Anyhow, the show is now a complete parody of itself - the intros are truly awful. Also notice Dannii has been shoved out of her seat next to Mr Cowell. And surprised they've got Brian Friedman back considering they constantly criticised his choreography last year.
The singers and songs have been universally awful this week. Going through one by one, without trying to do a Tumble Tower:
Alexandra: Predictable song, though well sung. One of the better performances of the night.
Daniel: Unfortunately his voice has a very small range, and it was really shown up by the poor choice of song. Distinctly average.
GirlBand: Dodgy harmonies and a much below professional performance. Awful outfits, too.
Austin: Shiny jeans and wishy-washy song, and a less than powerful vocal. Another average performance.
Rachel: I quite like the song, and felt that Rachel performed really well and worked the stage. I love her Mary J Bilge make over and think that with a song choice that's more suited to her she could go really far.
Scott: What the hell was that? Is Simon deliberately picking terrible songs for the acts he doesn't want to work with? Horrific.
Diana: Ew. Awful song choice, and far too many upwards flicks at the end of the notes which made me think she was trying way too hard to be earthy and *new age*. Crap.
JLS: From what I heard, solid harmonies and a decent song.
Eoghan: Ruined one of the best songs in the world with a completely inappropriate choice. Sorry, not very nice at all!
Bad Lashes: Can't remember seeing them, so can't say much.
Ruth: Oh look, she's singing in Spanish. Shaky but emotional vocal. Song was too big for her.
Laura: Oh my God what was that? Way too much screaming up and down the register and far too throaty, she'll ruin her voice by week 4.
Anyhow, the show is now a complete parody of itself -
Say's the Big Brother fanatic. Pot Kettle Black
If Big Brother put any effort into producing the show you might have a point.
Anyhow, as for the acts - Alexandra was the stand out for me, while Scott was the biggest disappointment - but that was down to the song more than anything. Eogeon was impressive too - and should benefit from their being no text voting now. Hopefully Daniel will go - he's just making up the numbers.
Sharon Osbourne is much missed though - the judging panel is dull without her. Only other criticisms are the audio was a bit dodgy on two or three of the performances, and the ridiculously over produced, far too negative VTs.
Overall though a much higher standard than last year.
Pot Kettle Black