"The X Factor" Performance Finale: I'm Still Confused...

Tonight should have been the crowning moment of “The X Factor.” The moment that would make us forget all about “American Idol” and appreciate the talent and intelligence of Simon Cowell.

Instead, tonight made me realize just how different “Factor” is from “Idol.” And that’s good for “Idol” and terrible for “Factor.” I think some serious changes will need to be made before next season or the show’s stay in the states will be a short one…

But before I get to that, let me talk about tonight’s show. Because I have not been able to see the show each week, I have been unable to experience the growth of the final three—Josh Krajcik, Chris Rene and Melanie Amaro. And I honestly didn’t see any growth tonight because the show wouldn’t let us…

As they kept reminding us all night tonight, the prize here is a $5 million recording contract—a huge prize. But apparently someone forgot to tell the producers or the judges or whoever decided that one of the only two songs the finalists sang would be a duet with a star. Duets that were nowhere near the finalists’ comfort zones, keys or nowhere near any duet we’ve ever seen during an “Idol” finale.

From the minute Josh began “Uninvited,” it was bad. The key was off, the song was off and Alanis Morrisette ended up completely outsinging him. Chris had better luck with Avril Lavigne and “Complicated,” but not much. And the usually amazing Melanie had zero energy at the start of “I Believe I Can Fly” and got absolutely schooled by a sensational R. Kelly. And then the judges had to critique the duets? What?

Then instead of allowing the contestants to concentrate on their final songs, they had to come out and sing a few lines of “They Don’t Really Care About Us” to accompany Cirque de Soleil’s performance from Michael Jackson: The Immortal Tour. And that was why? That’s something you see during a two-hour finale, NOT during the final performance show. Yes, they had to fill 90 minutes, but there had to be a better way. How about letting each finalist sing three songs as the FOX press release sent out two hours before show time promised?

So how about those final performances? I thought they were all great although I was confused by Melanie’s anger. It’s appropriate for the song, but she seemed like she wanted to beat someone up after the performance and barely cracked a smile at the judges’ praise. Normally, I’m opposed to hearing a contestant sing the same song three times in a season, but Chris had no choice but to close the season out with his signature “Young Homie What You Trippin’ On?” I think it will all come down to whether Melanie’s powerful voice can overcome the emotion of Chris’ story. I think it can, but it will be close…

However, since I always root for the Ohio team, I’d love to see Josh pull out an upset…

Now back to those things that need changed. I guess Simon likes the whole gladiator arena aspect of things, but to me, it’s ridiculous. Random, fake-sounding screaming by the audience does not create energy. In fact, it deters from the performances. The screams completely stepped all over the key change in Melanie’s song that should have been her moment. Maybe that’s why she was mad…

I also don’t get the cheesy announcer announcing each contestant after his or her mentor has already introduced them. And the video montage and the opera music that goes with it? What are they going for? If they’re going for unbelievably cheesy, they’ve unbelievably succeeded. I think the show needs to dial back the theatrics and dial up the performances AND the one thing that sets the show apart from the others—the interaction between the judges.

And one other thing needs dialed up—the host. I know I said I would take it easier on Steve Jones from now on, but I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t state the obvious—he’s just not meant for this. If he had more energy, maybe we wouldn’t need such fake energy from the audience. And a little more interaction between host and judges could go along way as well. I think the show seriously needs to look at that before next season.

So what did you guys think? Who do you think will win? Were you disappointed with tonight’s show? Or maybe you were disappointed with the entire season?

Feel free to post a comment here or talk to me on Facebook or Twitter…

Photo Credit: Ray Mickshaw/FOX