"The X Factor" 2011 - Top 9: Did America and the Judges get it right?

• Almost, but not quite! (43%, 6 Votes)
• Not even close! (29%, 4 Votes)
• Yes, absolutely! (14%, 2 Votes)
• Who cares? Bring on the turkey already! (14%, 2 Votes)

Total Voters: 14

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Nine turns into seven tonight as two acts take a Thanksgiving flight home, one way. The act with the lowest number of votes from last night will automatically go home, while the next two lowest vote-getters will fight to stay. The Idol Radio Show Personalities have made their picks. Click here to see them.

And both Kelly Clarkson and Bruno Mars will be singing tonight.

Join me after the jump as I live blog The X Factor Top 9 Results. And chat with other X Factor fans during the show in our Shoutbox.

“Welcome to The X Factor, the results,” says Steve Jones, right before he reminds us that two acts will go home tonight. And then we are immediately whisked to the stage where Kelly Clarkson awaits us to sing the lead single off her new album, Stronger. Kelly both looks and sounds great, reminding us why she won the initial season of American Idol. That said, I don’t quite understand why sales of her latest album have been lagging somewhat. I know the industry is in a downturn, but still.

Howie Mandel is in the audience tonight. No surprise since a new Mobbed will air after the show tonight. I’m sure there will be some interaction before the show is over.

Time for the 15-minute video recap of last night’s show. I think this is the most boring part of the night. Wish The X Factor producers would wise up.

Wow. Maybe they are learning. That only took 5 minutes this time. Yea!

Time for the Pepsi Choice Performance, aka this week’s Top 9 ensemble song. Supposedly viewers had all the say in how this week’s song sounds and looks. Which means for once we can blame someone other than the Top 9 for sounding the way they do. Emily, one of our regulars in the Shoutbox, just posted this: “Funny, I was just comparing this show to a circus yesterday. This group number is very appropriate.” Couldn’t have said it any better myself.

Steve asks for the following acts to come and join him: Lakoda Rayne and Drew. One of the acts is going straight through to next week’s show while the other act is going straight home. Lakoda Rayne was my pick for the straight home act. Am I right?

The act going home right now is Lakoda Rayne. Yes! Unfortunately, it means that Paula Abdul is now out of the competition as well.

And there you go. The obligatory interaction with Howie Mandel. Steve was amazed at how well Howie did at plugging his show. Not his first time.

Now it’s time for Bruno Mars to take the stage. There is a lot of lights flickering on and off on stage all around him. Sort of nauseating. But Bruno sounds great as always. Hopefully some of the contestants are taking notes. Bruno says “thank you” at the end of his performance, to which Steve retorts, “no, thank you” while throwing his left hand in the general direction of Bruno. Such a nice little school girl move.

Steve brings all the acts back out on the stage, saying it is time for more results. Poor Paula is sitting all by herself at the judges’ table.

Drew is already safe, so the second safe act tonight is Chris Rene. The third act safe this week is Rachel Crow. Crap. There goes one of my two Bottom 2 picks. The fourth act safe is Josh Krajcik. Four more acts are left waiting as Steve goes to a commercial.

Brian, LeRoy, Melanie, and Marcus are all still waiting to hear. I predicted that Brian would escape being in danger this week after last night’s pandering to his fans performance, but could I be wrong? Or will both Angie and Slim be right that Marcus and LeRoy will be in danger tonight?

The fifth act safe is Melanie Amaro. And the sixth and final act guaranteed to sing next week is Brian Bradley.

That means Marcus Canty and LeRoy Bell are in the Bottom 2.

Unless LeRoy really blows his survival song, I just don’t see him going home. I really think the judges will keep him.

First to sing tonight is Marcus Canty. Marcus starts his song off-key, which is never a good thing. Plus his voice is being overpowered by the soft instruments playing behind him. Not good at all. Marcus does get his voice back on key as the song goes on. It’s a soft, tender song…. just the thing many of the judges have been railing against for weeks now.

LeRoy Bell takes the stage next to sing for his life. It’s also a slow song from LeRoy, just the thing many of the judges have been railing against for weeks now. But unlike Marcus, LeRoy starts off on-key and can be heard above the music. Nicole and Paula are both clapping to the beat at the judges table, which might be good news for LeRoy as it might mean Paula is going to vote for him. LeRoy’s voice sounds really, really good tonight, much better than he has sounded the last couple of weeks. No missed notes at all. He’s singing “Don’t Let Me Down.” So, judges, don’t let him, and us, down.

Time for the judges to consider who they are going to vote to send home.

L.A. Reid votes to send home: LeRoy Bell
Nicole Scherzinger votes to send home: Marcus Canty
Paula Abdul votes to send home: Marcus Canty
Simon Cowell votes to send home: LeRoy Bell

DEADLOCK!

The act going home tonight based on last night’s votes is….. LeRoy Bell.

So what did you think of tonight’s show? Did the correct act go home? Vote in our poll at the top of the page and leave your thoughts in the comments below.

And don’t forget to join me for the Idol Radio Show tonight at 11 PM ET / 10 PM CT as I talk about tonight’s X Factor results, American Idol news, and anything else in the entertainment industry that needs to be discussed. Simply click the “Listen Live” banner in the right column when the show starts.