'X Factor' Recap: Josh Krajcik Is The New Susan Boyle (VIDEO)

Cue the dramatic music and switch on the red lights! Pepsi advertisements and startling cuts to commercial breaks! The "X Factor" returned this week with better-than-average contestants holding down the stage in Chicago and Seattle, and judges Simon Cowell, LA Reid, Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger trying their best not to look bored.

We had again the momentary, unexplained appearance and disappearance of booted judge Cheryl Cole, some try-hard teen heart throbs in Bieber wannabe Drew and son-of-two-dwarves (cringe) Pete, and some staged judge bickering between the boys and girls to give the impossibly cute, impossibly off-key a cappella-loving Tiah Tolliver a chance. "You were dead on arrival," Simon told the 19-year-old deli clerk, who eventually won Paula and Nicole over with a second showing of her vocals and killer gap-toothed smile.

But the real winner of the night was 30-year-old burrito-slinger Josh Krajcik, who rolled up to Chicago after a seven-hour drive from Ohio (thanks, Mom!) and whose disheveled, greasy-haired mop made him look something awful close to a Kevin Smith and Jack Black hybrid. Was this general unpreparedness or actually an ingenious ruse, meant to harden our opinions one way only to be blown away, Susan Boyle-style, when Josh eventually belts out an awesomely soulful rendition of Etta James' "At Last"?

LA Reid thought it the latter, telling the singer, "I get why you're dressed like that. You aren't fooling me for a second. This is your before, because the after's gonna be... You are too good. You are way too good." You be the judge.

WATCH:

Comments

[Taradiddles]

11:28 AM on 10/09/2011

I've seen him play in bars around Wooster since he was a teenager. He has always looked like that.

[Nina Wolfson]

10:27 AM on 10/09/2011

I was a bit skeptical they'd find someone worthy of the 5 million dollar prize, but Josh most definitely is. The rest of the finalists range from decent to excellent, but we've heard them all a thousand times before. He has the potential to be ICONIC.

[justsayno]

11:40 AM on 10/03/2011

LA Reid thought it the latter, telling the singer, "I get why you're dressed like that--- silly LA... looking at his prior videos on utube... what you see is what you get... what a humble and talented man.. not only does he have the X... he IS the X factor.. We are his.......... at last....

[SamKnause]

01:07 PM on 10/01/2011

Outstanding.

[MANOFCOMMONSENSE]

01:00 PM on 10/01/2011

There was a lady on there, Stacy Francis,, Really good,, I say just as good as him,, But i liked them both!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FbsmvXzMJY

[ComicClassroom]

12:22 PM on 10/01/2011

He has the X Factor....!

[thundermummy]

11:05 AM on 10/01/2011

Too Michael Boltonish for my taste but I don't deny he's talented.

[SADWING]

10:33 AM on 10/01/2011

It was fine. Nothing awesome or anything.

[gorgol]

10:52 AM on 10/01/2011

They will give him handlers to train him, and his voice. This may be just the tip of the ice berg.

[gorgol]

10:29 AM on 10/01/2011

Wonderful...thank you Simon for bringing X-Factor to the U.S. First class all the way.

[Blah]

09:56 AM on 10/01/2011

What in the world is a burrito singer?

[lj9283]

12:16 PM on 10/01/2011

"Burrito Slinger", as in a guy who works at Chipotle Grill.

[ComicClassroom]

12:23 PM on 10/01/2011

Slinger -- like slinging hash.

[Cye]

07:43 AM on 10/01/2011

Wow, very soulful! Great stuff.

[HuffGeist]

01:11 AM on 10/01/2011

Yeah, that was pretty fantastic and I don't even watch the show. I guess the old cliche of don't judge a book by it's cover can also be don't judge a burrito by it's tortilla...

Good for him! I hope it changes his life for the better!

[mamacalzac]

12:05 AM on 10/01/2011

Loved him! And his Mom!!

[sheikwil4]

09:53 PM on 09/30/2011

Etta James must be proud that you did such an amazing job with her song.

[Taliese]

09:21 PM on 09/30/2011

Loved him!