After weeks spent shaking our heads at the judges' questionable contestant choices, the power is finally in America's hands this week, with the Top 12 'X Factor' finalists competing for your votes to remain in the competition. And, since the show was officially renewed for a second season earlier today, expect to see a whole lot more of those questionable contestant choices to come.

We got a taste of the production value and format last week, but that was just a dry run, and this week, a mediocre performance could score any act a one-way ticket back home.

Which acts brought their A-game and which were content to coast on audience goodwill in the first week of voting? Will Stacy Francis' negative press affect her chances, or are audiences more likely to target Astro for being the only rapper in a singing contest?

Join us after the jump for our verdict.

There were some controversial choices made during the judges' houses round of 'The X Factor,' but our mentors had the chance to right many wrongs with this week's live elimination show, as each category had to narrow their finalists down to three in order to proceed to America's vote next week.

Up until tonight, the groups seemed like the weakest category by a mile, but smart song choices and confident choreography helped Paula up the ante and raise her category to the standard of the soloists -- though I doubt even the smooth moves of the Stereo Hogzz can compete with the likes of Drew, Josh or Stacy.

Join us after the jump to find out who made it into the top 12 to compete for your votes next week.

After a lackluster start that didn't seem to spotlight nearly enough quality singers, 'The X Factor' (Wed., 8PM ET on FOX) came back much stronger in its second week. There were perhaps no stories as compelling as Chris Rene's rehab saga, but it was made up for in sheer talent.

Josh Krajcik proved to be the most unexpected surprise of the night. How many people watching just knew this was going to be a trainwreck as we saw his mother preening over him like he was the greatest singer the world has yet to meet.

Then there was the fact that he looked like she'd dragged him off the couch where he was watching 'Three Stooges' shorts eating Cheese Puffs. But when he opened his mouth and started singing Etta James' 'At Last,' every jaw in that theater dropped.