Edmonds’ singer LeRoy Bell seemed like he might not last on “The X Factor” earlier this week, after tough comments from judges Simon Cowell, L.A. Reid, Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger, our online partner The Seattle Times reported Friday.

According to the Times, Reid spelled out his problem with Bell at the beginning of the episode — “B-O-R-I-N-G” — and Bell’s almost-motionless version of “We’ve Got Tonight” didn’t disabuse him of that notion. The actual sound of his voice was a cut above the rest of the competition, though, and he took the criticism gracefully — which was ennobling. He survived elimination on Thursday (Brooklyn’s Stacy Francis went home). But it was another dodged bullet, like the week before last.

You can read the complete Times story here.