CeCe is back and her 15 minutes are up...

This is my first BIG news of the summer kids.

And yet, I cant say anything about it... yet.

-P

The X Factor Comes To An End For CeCe Frey

I'm a little late at getting to this (by a week), I was on a shoot all weekend working for Lamplight Films on the new music video for Country artist, Beckey Kelly. In the days before, CeCe was back at it battling for her life on the TV show "The X Factor."

Wednesday night saw a pair of performances from the contestants, one stripped down and acoustic, the other - a fan picked song that allowed them all to show off their stellar stage shows one final time. For CeCe, she came out the gate with a piano driven, cabaret version of Lady Gaga's "Edge of Glory."

She then followed that up with a arena sized rendition of Katy Perry's "Part of Me," which you may remember from her cover version earlier this year. The world had the choice between "Part of Me," Ke$ha's "Die Young" and one other one that I can't remember nor find on the internet right now haha. So what seemed like a shoo in for CeCe, turned out to be her final (and this time, I mean FINAL) battle cry against the judges.

While their opinions were mixed between the two performances, L.A. Reid admitted to feeling a bit wishy washy by having a love-hate relationship with CeCe's performances on stage. Simon Cowell unfortunately had the final word, claiming that CeCe was just not "worth a 5 million dollar contract."

Well really... who the hell is anymore?

Like I mentioned in my previous blog (BELOW), the competition was getting fierce, and the top 3 had been pretty much unchanged since the show started its live run back in late October. With the semi-finals looming and only the the top 4 contestants making it out of Thursday's show, it seemed inevitable that it would be CeCe's final night.

So with the lowest number of photos, CeCe was the victim of Thursday night's Sudden Death elimination. But what struck me as odd, was she did not receive the customary send off video and final thoughts from the judges. She was almost unceremoniously ejected from the competition with no explanation. I sent CeCe a personal message that night that stressed how proud I was of her and far she had come. It was truly an honor to work with someone as talented and driven as she is and I have always told her that when I turn that camera on, the magic just seems to happen when she's in front of it.

This week, she was back in L.A. for the "X Factor Pre Show" and rumour has it, she will be on the road with the contestants as a part of The X Factor Live Tour. Which is really exciting! and I guess means I will have to buy a tickets when the tour rolls through.

One Final word on CeCe's time on the X Factor... The Hollywood Reporter, published an online interview with Miss X to the O, where she talks about meeting Ke$ha immediately after her elimination and her thoughts on being pushed out the door by the producers

You can check that article out HERE: 
'X Factor's' CeCe Frey on Being Inspired by Adam Lambert, Getting Advice from Ke$ha: 'I'm Ready To Raise Hell' (Q&A)

Also, to all of her fans who have been tweeting and e-mailing me: As of now I have had no word from CeCe about the fate of her previous videos. Though I would absolutely LOVE for the world to see the art that we created together, I cannot released said footage without her permission and I will make sure to let you guys know as soon I do.

Have fun!

-P

Another week of X Factor... Another Victory for CeCe!

So after narrowly escaping the axe last week on The X Factor, CeCe was facing a tough road ahead as the competition continued to get smaller and the Top 3 contestants continued to remain solidified each week. With what seemingly looked like her final night on the show, Miss X to the O chose to go out with a BANG! Choosing the "Moulin Rouge" rendition of La Belle's "Lady Marmalade" as her Number 1 song choice this week.

With dancers in tow and dressed to the nine's, CeCe stormed the stage with the fierceness and confidence that has been missing for so many weeks since the judges started bringing her down to shape her into something she is not. With one last act of defiance and the blessing of her coach, Demi Lovato, CeCe proved once more why she is a force to be reckoned with.

So like I said, if she was going down, she was going down fighting and when the judges threw their two cents in, it became clear that they were a little swayed by her performance. L.A. Reid and Britney Spears conceded to liking the circus that she put on, but Simon Cowell had the most interesting opinion of them all. the man who has been a see saw of opinion during this entire contest, never seems to be satisfied with the product that CeCe puts out. This time around he said that while she had stepped it up a notch, she had given him too much and that she should "pack her bags."

I sensed a ploy in his voice, as if whatever Simon says steers the audience in another direction, I had seen it in the past on American Idol and I was seeing it once more here. His negative remarks were actually a veiled vote of confidence to help CeCe stick around for another week. So the following night when it was time to learn what the world had decided, it would turn out to be a night full of shocking turns of events. First off the Sudden Death elimination, which has become a staple of the competition each week, claimed Paige Thomas as its victim. After putting up such a strong performance of Rick Astley's viral hit "Never Gonna Give You Up" and proving that she could really shine as a pop superstar, Paige was cut loose, leaving Demi Lovato with only CeCe left in her stable of artists.

Then came the ominous Top 5...

CeCe's hard work and determination paid off once more, when the votes came through and put her once again in 5th Place, saving her for another week. I was glad to see Diamond White at the bottom, In my personal opinion, I think that she should have never been brought back into the competition after being eliminated from the Top 16. I think that in a competition like this, once you are eliminated, that should be it. You failed to prove your worth in a do or die situation and your loss is your fault. CeCe has proven herself time and again in the sing off rounds and every time she has emerged the victor.

Diamond White's face off against Vino Alan found the older singer going home after a last minute song change ultimately cost him the competition.

But, I think that CeCe is honestly living on borrowed time at this point, the competition is getting down to the heavy hitters and seemingly no one will be able to beat Tate Stevens and Carly Rose in the Top 2 spots. The two of them are getting a lot of press and support around the country for obvious reasons and the stronghold that is their fan base might be impossible to break at this point. With Vino shockingly gone now, I think Emblem 3 will claim the third spot, with their boyish (annoying) charms that speak to the loins of every teenage girl, they should safely make a secure stance in the final rounds.

 

If she can outlast Diamond and 5th harmony I will be amazed, but I think that Diamond might have a resurgence next week since she was at the bottom this week and 5th Harmony could easily fall since there really isn't a market for female singing groups right now. So what happens when CeCe has to go head to head with 5 girls at once?... I can't wait to find out.

The more and more I watch the show, I feel like I am watching a real life "Street Fighter," mixed in with a little "Hunger Games" and "Scott Pilgrim vs the World." I am excited to see how this ends with only a few more weeks left to go, but as always I wish CeCe the best of luck in her journey. She has done everything right thus far and I know that she can truly rise out of this TV show as a superstar.

Hopefully, the excitement will continue next week!

Thanks for voting

-P

CeCe Fights her way out of another Elimination!

If you are new to my site and are wondering why I am so obsessed with The X Factor this season, it's because one of my best clients is a current contestant. Miss CeCe Frey, has been kicking ass and taking names for the last few weeks on the show and this week was tasked with having to sing her way out of another elimination round... on Thanksgiving!

The week started Wednesday, when she gave an emotional performance of Bette Midler's "Wind Beneath My Wings" dedicated to her late-sister. 

This was the strong type of performance that the judges have been asking of her each and every week, and it showed when they each went to cast their opinions. Unfortunately, it is usually the opposite of their votes that sits with the general public. And sure enough on the following night, 10 Contestants were whittled down to 8, when first the R&B crooner, Arin Ray was abruptly eliminated in a sudden death round and then CeCe found herself in the bottom two with 13 year old, Beatrice Miller.

Some people can disagree with me all they want, but CeCe is in her PRIME and when faced against a 13 year old opponent, who has yet to develop into her voice, I think the choice was pretty obvious. Sure enough with a 3-1 vote, the judges chose to send Beatrice home and keep CeCe one more week, with a certain air of uncertainty still lingering.

While the competition continues to get stiffer and the Top 3 remains solidified week by week, its almost certain that Miss X to the O's time on the show will be coming to an end shortly. But let's just hope she can hang in there for a lil while longer!

Thanks for voting AMERICA!

-P

CeCe Stuns the World! - Placing 5th This Week!

After coming in the Bottom Two for the last few weeks on The X Factor, it seemed as though CeCe's time on the show was beginning to run out. With voting mostly in the hands of the audience at home, it was up to them to decide where she would rank on this week's show.

The theme was DIVAS this week, and CeCe went with Eric Carmen's "All By Myself" made famous by Celine Dion. 

Taking note from the judges critiques over the last few weeks, she made the safe decision by performing a straight ballad, the same tactic which has gotten out of jams in the past during the competition. Unfortunately, the hypocritical gang of celebs seemed to be thinking the opposite and criticised her song choice and execution. Even Simon Cowell, CeCe's unexpected champion in the past, called her performance "Cabaret." 

The one that got me the most riled up, was Britney Spears' simple response: "Sorry, I just don't get it." I mean, I know I'm not one to talk... but when did Britney Spears become an expert on singing competitions? Obviously her presence is bigger than life and as a former teen star, she can really guide the teen category in the right direction, but we are talking about someone who's live shows consist mostly of lip synced dance escapades. Not to mention, every episode of this season she comes across like a coked out has been with too much make on to cover up her accelerated age from booze and drugs NOTE: Britney Spears is 3 years older than me, but yet looks like she's a decade older.

Sorry, I needed to rant. (I should be careful though, I know WetPaint.com has been keeping an eye on my site, haha).

So when all was looking bleak for the farm girl from Decatur, IL. the votes from America came through!

Jumping 7 spots from last week, CeCe made a stance in the competition and proved that she could hang with the top dogs. So here's to another successful week on The X Factor and with any luck, let's hope it continues for your girl.

Keep watching!

-P