As predicted, the systematic wipe-out of the groups continued on 'The X Factor' tonight, with The Stereo Hogzz and Lakoda Rayne taking the bottom two slots after America's vote. Is this proof that US audiences just aren't ready for groups in vocal competitions?

It's strange, given some of the lackluster solo performances we've seen in recent weeks, that even when the groups perform solidly, they still haven't made enough of a connection with viewers to progress further in the live rounds. I firmly believe that the remaining group will be knocked out next week, and I guess then we'll finally start to see some drama in the Thursday eliminations.

Join us after the jump to find out who was the second act to be eliminated by America (and the judges).



The act eliminated was: The Stereo Hogzz

It was a hard-won victory for Lakoda Rayne -- after L.A. and Nicole voted to save the girls, Paula prevaricated for about three minutes, declaring first that she refused to vote and then finally choosing to save The Stereo Hogzz in the hopes that Simon would go the same way so that the winning group would be determined by America's votes. I say it's all academic, since it seems inevitable that Lakoda Rayne will be eliminated next week anyway.

For their Save Me song, Lakoda Rayne performed a breathless version of 'No Air' that featured some pleasant harmonies but had a decidedly shaky beginning and went off the rails at the end, hitting some sour notes that didn't do them any favors. The Stereo Hogzz hoped to replicate Melanie Amaro's Michael Jackson success by tackling 'You Are Not Alone.' It showcased their voices far better than last night's performance, but it was still a little bland. The lead singer (whose name I'm now not going to bother learning) was strong, if a little shouty, but I was put off by the way the group was gesturing and gurning and practically crawling across the floor in places -- I get that you want to stay, gang, but have some dignity.

Clearly, the groups are a failed 'X Factor' experiment on this side of the pond (although it does make you wonder whether the outcome would've been different if Simon had been mentoring them), and at this point, I wish we could skip ahead two weeks to finally see some real judgment being displayed by the voters, since eliminating the groups is kind of an easy cop out.

It's also fairly laughable that producers manage to stretch things out over the space of an hour, including a forgettable group number and two unnecessary performances from actual recording artists, and yet still end up overrunning their timeslot practically every results show. After a decade doing this, shouldn't Simon Cowell and his crew be better at time management?

'The X Factor' airs Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8PM ET on Fox.

Do you think the right act went home? Is Lakoda Rayne equally doomed?