X Factor
X Factor

Episode Report Card
M. Giant: B | 473 USERS: B-
YOU GRADE IT
Newark and Everywhere Else

Paige Elizabeth Ogle is 18, and wants to take out Justin Bieber to make her place in the music industry. Hell, I'd do it for free. I don't know the song she sings [Note: "You and I" by Lady Gaga -- RS.], but she sings it well, and Simon says it's the easiest yes so far. And it's only one of four. Next is a young guy named Leroy Bell who turns out to be, no shit, 59. He sings "Lean on Me" a capella, really well and with a strong, soulful voice. Four yeses for him, too. The Brewer Boys, a shaggy-haired pair of 13- and 17-year-old brothers, croon a jazzy duet version of "Rhythm of Love," visibly surprising Simon and earning four yeses of their own. Nick Dean, 14, is a blond boy-band type whose "first single" is called "Walk Away" and is surprisingly rocking. He goes four-for-four as well.

Then it's time for Devon Talley, a faux-hawked 21-year-old store clerk who murders "Seasons of Love" from Rent Seriously, the cast of The Office sang it better. He keeps going even after Simon raises his hand, allowing the editors to have a little fun with the lyric "525,600 minutes" by playing it over and over. When he finally stops, he offers to sing another song, but when Simon, taking the piss, asks him to clarify the time period stated in the lyrics, Devon starts over again, blowing past their protests. Finally they all get to say no, with Nicole diplomatically saying, "I love how you brought us all together." Yes, against a common enemy .Paula says he's not quite there yet. "I don't know when you'll be there." Four nos for Devon, who tells Steve backstage that he won't stop. Yes, we've noticed that about him.

The trucks are back on the road, but we've got one more auditioner before we put this thing to bed. Jazzlyn Little is 16 years old and nervous as hell, freaking the fuck out backstage and in the cattle pens. Steve tells her to find her center before sending her up onstage, and out she goes. Simon asks her how she is, and when she says she's nervous because everyone's looking at her, he says, "That's why it's called a stage." Yes, but most people grow out of the stage you're still in, Simon. He asks her if she's on YouTube, and is unimpressed that she only got 500 hits, which she says is probably because people don't like her. "You're not selling yourself well here, Jazlynn," Simon obviouses. After the longest of long pauses, she finally gets to start singing "I'm Going Down" by Mary J, Blige. And if she's still nervous, you sure can't hear it any more. She's completely won over the judges and the audience by the chorus, and L.A. asks over the noise, "Wow, what happened?" She gets all the way to the end of her track and earns a huge standing ovation from the audience and three of the judges, although Simon does happily clap his hands over his head. When things calm down a bit, LA. says she has a superstar name to go with her superstar voice. Nicole says she was moved to tears, Paula calls her a star and a gem, and Simon says, "I'd love to see what you're like when you've got confidence." He says they made the show for people like her, who take music seriously and are willing to work, because he believes she could be a "world star." Four yeses, and as Nicole says, she'll have a lot more than 500 hits on YouTube after this. She's still blown away when she comes back and hugs her parents. "Simon clapped for me!" she marvels. "This just means more work, though." From the White Box, she vows that she'll make the judges proud.

X Factor

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