‘The X Factor’: Demi Butts Heads with Simon While the Top 6 Get Unplugged

by | December 6, 2012 at 8:28 AM | RealityTV, Recap, The X-Factor

"The X Factor": Carly Rose Sonenclar performs live. (Ray Mickshaw/FOX)

On the Top 6 episode of “The X Factor,” everything that you thought would happened did. Carly Rose Sonenclar blew everyone else out of the water; Demi Lovato interrupted Simon Cowell; CeCe Frey lost more of her dignity; Emblem3 rode skateboards.

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As if the show wasn’t already predictable enough, knowing who comes in the top 1 and 2 place every week basically renders the weeks in between the first and last live shows moot. We know who will make it to the finale in two weeks: Carly Rose and Tate Stevens. So why are we still watching Fifth Harmony stand side by side and take turns displaying how very diverse they are? Why is Diamond White singing “Diamonds” from the inside of a diamond? Why is the sky blue? What else is even on on Wednesdays at 8?

Everyone got two songs Wednesday night: the first was an “unplugged” version of a pop song, the second was chosen by Internet voters. Unplugged is unforgiving to certain singers, namely the ones who can’t actually sing, namely CeCe. So that was rough, her version of “Edge of Glory.” Also rough: Emblem3 doing “Just the Way You Are” and “Forever Young” in their surfer-yell voices while having no emotional connection to the songs whatsoever.

Actually, let’s back up here for a minute. Emblem3 was having a rough time with all of Demi’s criticism last week, so to unwind, they went to a skate shop. Last week they went to the mall. Then Fifth Harmony went and got their nails done. Last week they went shopping. So why are Simon’s groups going on so many field trips? The other folks deserve a little pampering and time off, too. Carly Rose could really use an eyebrow waxing.

Having two songs gave some contestants a chance to improve, like Tate Stevens, whose acoustic number, “Living on a Prayer” got much criticism. But he came back with Garth Brooks’s super-country “If Tomorrow Never Comes” and he was really very good. Fifth Harmony, too, had a second chance, after failing to win anyone over with “Set Fire to the Rain.” (LA Reid is incensed that a group called Fifth Harmony hasn’t been doing harmony… can’t argue with him there.) But they actually harmonized quite a bit in Demi’s own “Give Your Heart a Break,” which Demi said was better than the original. Aw, how sweet.

For some, though, two songs mean an extra chance to fail. Diamond White started strong on “It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World,” but was straining pretty hard on “Diamonds” in the second act. CeCe was just bad on both of her performances, though Simon, already writing her off, said he will miss her when she goes.

Of course, Carly Rose Sonenclar is the best. She unplugged Justin Bieber’s “As Long As You Love Me” and it was dark and interesting. And then she did “If I Were a Boy” that was sweet and great. We found our winner, let’s just wrap this show up, folks.

Who should go home Thursday: Fifth Harmony and CeCe Frey. And everyone else, pretty much.