The road to boot camp is about to reach its
harrowing climax as the X Factor takes a bite out of the Big Apple. Is there any
talent left in New York City? ... Well, Newark, technically.
NEWARK
Prudential Center
Just so we are clear, this is not the
Izod Center in East Rutherford that USED to be the Prudential Center.
Now that that's settled, let's face the music.
Brian Bradley (14, Brooklyn!) is here with his
mom and stepfather. He loves music, and he wants to be bigger than Jay-Z and
Kanye West. Give him about five more years. Let's see how he does in the next
five minutes. He blames politics for not having a record deal. He'll have no one
else to blame but himself if he fouls up tonight. He drops a rhyme called "Stop
Lookin' At My Moms". He's good... for 14. Simon calls him arrogant and
obnoxious, but very talented. It's a sweep with a mop on top. And if you don't
know... now you know.
Kelly Warner (22, hair dresser) sings
"Hallelujah"... and the judges say amen. Aaron Surgeon (27, store manager)
doesn't want to miss "Don't Wanna Miss a Thing"... and he misses one yes. Good
thing he needs but three. The next few acts... take it all in. Liliana Rose
Andreano (26, office worker) is the sunshine behind "You Are My Sunshine".
Next up, Andy Silikovitz (43), actually a good
friend of this site and of mine and Gordon's. His ambition... to have a house on
an episode of Cribs. And he's hoping that he's going to get a girlfriend out of
this. He tries out "Hero" by Mariah Carey. And... he gets a quick exit, but that
took brass ones to get Paula's digits, my friend...
Josh Katzman (22, college graduate)... not nearly
as charming. Clarissa Cheatham (27, Philadelphia office worker) goes by
"Cashmere"... She enjoys karaoke... so she's right at home with her rendition of
"Always Be My Baby" by Mariah Carey... and she can't even get past the opening
scats without blowing it. Also blowing it: Nouf Taraman (21, bartender), Jean
Loup Wolfman (42, life coach), or Maya Lehmann (58, teacher).
Cari Fletcher (17, HS junior) is going to make
the most of this audition. She says that it's important to her. How important?
We'll see when she sings "Alone" by Heart. VERY important, apparently. She has
the dynamic to hit the notes, but will she have the approval? Simon thought she
was boring. But she ends up sweeping the panel cautiously. Joining her: Joshua
Blaylock (30, PR manager), Emily Michalak (12, student), and Dorit Yehudai (48,
office manager).
Next up, Austin (15) and Emily (15). Together,
they're "Awesome".... Sorry, "AusEm". They met at a production of a school play.
They've brought out more than a few tears, but will they be awesome together
with "Jar of Hearts" from Christina Perri. They're a bit weak on the vocal (but
hey, they're 15). And they nail their target demographic. That's "AusEm". LA
thinks Austin is a hero, but Emily... needs work. Will Nicole ever come to a
decision? She will... she says YES! And Paula makes it four.
And with that, Newark is a done deezy... or is
it? It's time for...
AMERICA
The Best of Whatever's Left
Tora Woloshin (21, Tucson, AZ) is going to school
to be an auto tech. Will she drive us to victory lane or spin out on lap 4? She
goes with "I Want You Back" by the Jackson 5ive. Tattooed, race cars, and can
sing... I think Simon's doing something other than judging right now... But he
loves her, as does the rest of the panel. It's a sweep.
Next, Jor-El Garcia (22, personal assistant) says
he can perform his butt off. He calls Madonna his pop goddess. He's nowhere near
her in "Lucky Star". Good luck siring Superman. Take John Duff (21, student),
Darlene & Sherone (22), and Ric White (45, artistic director) with you.
Next, a group of besties from Houston called the
Stereo Hogzz. One of them just had a baby, and he's in line for the baby. How
will they do on stage, though? Dallas seems to like them, but it looks
over-rehearsed. But they get the requisite three yeses... and then some.
Brennin Hunt (26, Nashville) is a graphic
designer, musician, and a model who will blame any failure today on being too
good looking. He wants to rule the world. Will he? He sings an original, "How We
Make It". Risky. He can't write a song to save his life, but he sounds good. The
panel likes him, so he's in it.
Hoping to join him is Paige Elizabeth Ogle (18,
secretary) with "Yoü & I"... and the judges. Hoping to join HER is Leroy Bell
(59, song writer) with "Lean on Me" with Bill Withers. The judges lean on him.
The Brewer Boys hope to feel the "Rhythm of Love"... and they do. Nick Dean (14,
student) wows with "Walk Away".
Devon Talley (21, New York) works at a retail
store, but today, we're going to hear "Seasons of Love".... I want my 525,600
minutes back.
Final contestant to take to the stage is Jazzlyn
Little (16, HS sophomore), who... is freaking out right now. She only posted one
video on YouTube, and it got 500 hits. So obviously she's a bit frazzled. Will
she freak out in front of the judges with "Upside Down" by Mary J. Blige? Let's
hope not, or else the result may get more than 500 hits. But after hearing this,
she may get more than 500 either way. Talking 500,000 hits, 200,000 likes, and
about 145 Facebook links. This lady might just have the X factor. The judges
make it official and send her through to boot camp in one of the easiest
decisions Miami had coming to it.
And with that, auditions end. Next week, we
separate the good from the spectacular in Boot Camp. Thirty-two will survive,
the rest will fall by the wayside. Who will the judges pick to mentor their way
to the live shows? We'll see you next week.
To see extras from this episode and a Pepsi
Precap of the next episode, visit
thexfactorusa.com.