The X Factor Finale: Love Conquers All!

After many months of competition, several questionable elimination episodes, numerous occasions where subtitles would have come in handy, and one final performance night, we have a winner...well, winners in this scenario. The boyfriend/girlfriend duo Alex & Sierra are this year's victors on The X Factor and I could not be happier. Here are the highlights from the lengthy finale:

 

• Mary J. Blige treated us to her jazzy, awesome rendition of "Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer." Her performance immediately followed Carlito's attempt at a holiday performance with some mostly naked elves...which was really the only redeeming portion of his version of  "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)."
• Jeff Gutt gave a gritty performance of "Oh Holy Night" which I would have enjoyed more without the return of the leather, fingerless gloves...but it was "snowing" on stage so maybe he really needed them.
• Alex & Sierra chose "All I Want For Christmas is You" as their holiday song, stripping it down and making it their own. I'm never going to love a version of this song more than Mariah Carey's. It just won't happen. They did a good job just the same...but we were not even an hour into the show at this point...and boredom was already on the horizon.
• Many silly spoofs of the judges were done throughout the evening, but none quite so ridiculous and classless as the one featuring Demi's "green annoying juice." The kid has been completely open with her bouts in rehab, and The X Factor didn't see an issue with showing many, many clips of her drinking this beverage as if she were drinking something else? At one point you could see Demi in the bottom of the screen mouthing "That's %^&*ed up." Agreed.
• Lea Michelle diverted the show from a becoming a haphazard Christmas comedy special by performing her new single "Cannonball." I had never heard this tune before, but I liked it - I think a lot of Glee fans don't realized that Lea Michelle is actually incredibly versatile. She's so much more than just her character, Rachel. It was good to see her tonight.
• Pitbull showed up to sing a song that plays many times a day on my iPod. For real - tell me you can resist shaking a tail feather to "Timber." I dare you.
• One Direction performed yet again. I feel like The X Factor has them on contract to take the stage every 3 weeks....

 

When the final results come through, Carlito finished third with Jeff Gutt as the runner up.  The lovebirds cry and close the show with a very emotional "Say Something." I'm thrilled for Alex & Sierra and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that something great is going to happen for them. Sure, they are tearing up the charts on iTunes, but can Sony take Alex & Sierra to their full potential? Time will tell.

 

I'm not sure if there has been a definitive answer regarding a Season 4 of this show. If The X Factor is renewed though, Demi has already stated that she will not be able to participate. She's touring in 2014 and wants to focus on her music. Could this have anything to do with the tasteless montage of green drinks rather than an actual send off? Are The X Factor show runners that clueless? I guess we'll know for sure if Paulina gets a contract renewal.

 

 

Thanks for sticking with this show for another season. In a very short time we will see the return of American Idol and The Voice and blogging will definitely resume then. Happy 2014!