Last week, 162 acts were whittled to the final 32 - eight guys, eight girls, eight elders, and eight groups. But now it's a free-for-all for one of the spots on the live shows. The competition between the acts... and the judges... is about to begin.

Here's what happens... the eight acts from each bracket are about to live within the judges' homes - LA's New York home with the boys, Simon's villa in the south of France with the girls, Paula's house in Hollywood with the groups, and Nicole's house with the over 30s. Within the course of the next three shows, 32 must become 16.

The contestants have NO IDEA who they're going to meet. We start in...

SOMEWHERE IN FRANCE
Simon Cowell's House

For the girls, this is where the competition begins. The field will be cut in half over the next two days. And now reality sets in... Eight girls are going to sing for their life... in front of America's most notorious critic.

... or maybe, the winner will be in...

SANTA BARBARA
Paula Abdul's House

For the record, the groups created by the solo artists are... Intensity (the seven youngsters) and Lakoda Rayne (the girls). She was very excited... but she specialized with a LOT of groups. This is going to be a cakewalk for her...

... or maybe it'll be easier for ...

MALIBU
Nicole Scherzinger's House

Did we mention that Nicole is younger than ALL OF THE SINGERS IN THIS BRACKET? Now... Nicole knows what the singers are going through, and she knows what it takes to win, because she's been there. That gives her the advantage...

... or does it? Let's go to...

THE HAMPTONS
LA Reid's House

A house on the beach with a starmaker. A proven musical genius. This group has the most talent of the semifinalists... And America likes a good looking guy. Maybe with a guitar, maybe not.

So every judge has an advantage. But only one can say that they honed the skill of the X Factor winner. This is where the competition REALLY begins.

Oh, and each judge has a little help with their decisions. Nicole has Enrique Iglesias, Paula has Pharrell Williams, Simon has... nobody. Seriously. It WAS going to be Mariah Carey, but this is one of those instances when reality gets in the way of reality TV, as she is grounded by Hurricane Irene. Simon will go it alone. LA Reid will enlist the help of... the "Only Girl (in the World)", Rihanna.

Each judge has selected something for the acts to perform, either to live music or a backing track.

Featured tonight:

- Brian "Astro" Bradley (B): rhyming to a sample of "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash. Rihanna calls him "a mini-J. Cole". Fayetteville in the hizzy.
- Simone Battle (G): "Help" by the Beatles. Simon says she's fantastic, and that the crack added emotion.
- The Anser (GP): "F***in' Perfect" by Pink. They were tight according to Paula.
- Dexter Haygood (30): "Crazy in Love" by Beyonce.... At least the verses of it. The rest was all him.
- Skyelor Anderson (B): "Nobody Knows" by the Tony Rich Project. They said it was polished, but wondered if he chose country as a genre or if he's a genuine country singer.
- Tora Woloshin (G): "Satisfaction" by the Rolling Stones. She's going to be hard work.
- Lakoda Rayne (GP) - Dani Knight, Paige Ogle, Cari Fletcher, and Haley O, who all auditioned as solo artists, but were offered a lifeline at Bootcamp: "Born This Way" by Lady Gaga.
- Stacy Francis (30): "Purple Rain" by Prince. Beyond energetic, but will it sell in this market today?
- The Brewer Boys (GP): "Only Girl (In the World)" by Rihanna. Mumford & Sons would be proud.
- Phillip Lomax (B): He's going to sing Rihanna as well... TO the woman herself. He's rearranged "Please Don't Stop the Music".
- Elaine Gibbs (30): "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" by Oasis... with her own little lilt into it.
- Caitlin Koch (G): "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" by the Shirelles. Simon loved the phrasing. Not exciting, but something about her.
- Nick Voss (B): "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears. "I've seen better." Uh oh.
- 4Shore (GP): "If You Love Me" by Brownstone. The 90s called, they want their smooth R&B boy band back.
- James Kelley (30): "Russian Roulette" by Rihanna. Could be a rock-star along the lines of Maroon 5.
- Drew Ryniewicz (G): "It Must Have Been Love" by Roxette.... Lull inducing.

Sixteen down... sixteen to go. Part 2 will air Sunday unless the Rangers and the Tigers take it to seven.

To see extras from this episode and a Pepsi Precap of the next episode, visit thexfactorusa.com.