Crystal Bowersox, left, and Lee DeWyze, center await the announcement of the "American Idol" season nine winner during the "American Idol" finale at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.

From what I can tell, Lee DeWyze is a great person, a wonderful human being and inspiration to all.

But he should not have been named the ninth American Idol. Not in a million years.

Sorry, all of you who are fans of Lee, including blog contributor Lady Godiva, but your boy should have been runner-up.

From start to finish this season, Crystal Bowersox was the premier talent. She capped what should have been a championship run with her dominating performance in the finals Tuesday night.

I’m not about to get on a soap box and demand the vote be taken away from America, because that adds the human element — and in this case the element of error.

I wish Lee the best and hope he has a tremendous career, but in my mind, he will always be No. 2.

And the worst part of all of this? Lee winning ruined my streak of picking six straight winners!

Carrie Underwood

THE END HAS COME

And so it ends …

We bid farewell to another season of Idol, which despite its shortcomings this year, remains the best show going on network television. And as much as I complained as the season progressed, I’m going to miss it and there will be a tremendous void on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

One thing Idol has mastered over the years is always leaving you wanting more, as the past two grand finales have proven. The lineup of stars it assembles for these season-ending shows is borderline incredible. I didn’t want Wednesday night’s show to end — well, in a way I did because I wanted to know who won — because I knew it was not only the end of another Idol season, but the end of the Simon Cowell era.

Idol will never be the same without Simon, even I will admit that. But that doesn’t guarantee it might not even be better. I keep telling myself, “Who was Simon Cowell before Idol?” We had never even heard of the bombastic Brit. Most assuredly, there is another personality out there with the same kind of appeal, right?

Right? Right? Right?

I sure hope so.

RUNDOWN OF GUEST PERFORMANCES

Bret Michaels with Casey James

Here’s some thoughts on Wednesday night’s guests and special features, in chronological order:

Alice Cooper: Time has not been kind to Alice. It was nice to see this relic from the ’70s, but …

Kris Allen: It’s amazing to see Kris one year later. I predicted a year ago at this time he would have a longer and more successful career than Adam Lambert and I’m sticking with that forecast. Kris will eventually morph into Mr. Adult Contemporary.

Tribute to Simon Cowell: Some classic clips from the past. I’m going to miss Simon. A lot.

Bee Gees: They’ve still got it. Their reprisal of “How Deep Is Your Love” was spot on. For those who care, the first album I ever purchased was by the Bee Gees in 1967. I believe the price was $3.33. Yeah, it’s been a long and crazy road.

Michael McDonald: Gave us one of the Doobie Brothers’ all-time great offerings in “Takin’ It To The Streets.” Great memories. Michael Lynche accompanied him and was tremendous. Big Mike should have performed this song during the competition.

Larry Platt

Dane Cook: More jabs at Simon. Not bad, until it broke down in an embarrassing moment when one of the former Idol losers had a meltdown and a cutaway to a commercial was needed. Awkward. Very awkward.

Christina Aguilera: Christina can be mesmerizing, but I always find myself wondering if she is trying to be the new Madonna or the next Gwen Stefani.

Ricky Gervais: Another comedy-laced tribute to Simon. Maybe I’m in the minority, but I just don’t find Ricky that hilarious.

Hall and Oates: I never realized John Oates was that short. He looked like Paul Simon, back when Paul Simon had real hair.

Alanis Morissette: She always intrigues me. I love the sound of her voice and her lyrics are always thought-provoking. (Great boots, too.)

Paula Abdul

Carrie Underwood: Could the 2005 Idol champ have possibly looked any better? Holy cow. (By the way, I have no idea what she sang. I couldn’t get past the outfit.)

Bret Michaels: Geez, it was great to see him perform instead of having to wade through another medical report concerning his condition. The guy’s had a rough year. Think the audience appreciated seeing him, too? Wow.

Chicago: A great medley, featuring Lee DeWyze. I’m not sure, but I think this is about the 14th reincarnation of this classic group. Whatever happened to Peter Cetera?

Larry Platt and William Hung: Pants on the ground, pants on the ground … you had to smile.

Paula Abdul: Her “To Sir, With Love” tribute to Simon was tremendous. She was a goofball, but it was great to see her on Idol again.

The past idols: An epic performance, which showcased the kind of talent this show has produced. I was ecstatic just to see Kimberly Caldwell again.

Simon Cowell: He told us it has been the best 10 years of his life. He told us the show will go forward. “It’s been a blast, thank you,” he told us. Thank you, Simon.

Janet Jackson

Janet Jackson: She still sounds great, but girl, what happened to that beautiful hair?

Joe Cocker: I think they saved the best for last. Joe can still scream, and he can still sing.

FINAL THOUGHT

It’s been another great year for this blog. New friends were made and new Idol-aholics joined the family. Thanks to each and every one of you for reading. We’ll be back next January, and we’ll also be commenting in the offseason when circumstances warrant — such as when Simon’s replacement is named.

See you soon!

Crystal Bowersox

I had been torn all day on which way to go in making my pick for this year’s Idol champion.

Crystal Bowersox had been marvelous for most of the season, although she seemed to flatline a bit in recent weeks. Lee DeWyze had become the flavor of the month with some sensational down-the-stretch selections.

After watching Tuesday’s performance finale there is no question in my mind who should be the ninth American Idol.

This should not even be close.

If Idol voters have a conscience, they had to vote for Crystal after her breathtaking back-to-back-to-back knockout performances. I don’t think Lee even knew what him. This was like LeBron James taking on a sixth-grade gym class in a game of H-O-R-S-E.

If Crystal is not named the new Idol Wednesday night, I will never watch this show again … (OK, until next season). I just can’t see how Crystal does not win this competition in a landslide. Lee’s mom and dad and blog contributor Lady Godiva are allowed to vote for him, but everyone else in America should be required to cast their ballot with honesty.

Here’s a rundown from Crystal vs. Lee:

Round 1 songs

Lee: “The Boxer.”
Comment: This was his best effort of the night by far, a song that has become his signature. He sounded strong and seemed to set the tone for a solid night, although the judges seemed disappointed in him overall.
Simon: “I wanted … more passion. That was like a kiss on the cheek.”

Crystal: “Me and Bobby McGee.”
Comment: Surprisingly, she seemed the more nervous of the two … for about 10 seconds. Then we saw and heard the passion the judges felt was missing from Lee’s performance.
Randy: “It was dope, dude.”

Advantage: Crystal, slightly.

Lee DeWyze

Round 2 songs

Lee: “Everybody Hurts.”
Comment: Lee’s much-publicized pitch problems returned, and he never seemed comfortable.
Simon: “You went a little off melody at points … I think you are nervous tonight.”

Crystal: “Black Velvet.”
Comment: I really hate this song, but Crystal’s amazing vocals over the second half of the performance were simply tremendous.
Advantage: Crystal, by a mile.

Round 3 songs

Lee: “Beautiful Day.”
Comment: I thought all of the strings were great, and the potential was there for a ”moment” type of song — sort of a poor man’s “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay — but Lee never seemed to connect, either with the arrangement or the song itself.
Kara: “I think you got swallowed up a little in that song.”

Crystal: “Up to the Mountain.”
Comment: Incredible. It reminded by Fantasia doing “Summertime” in 2004. Beautiful, beautiful effort.
Ellen: “You are in a league of your own.”

Advantage: Crystal. Game, set, match.

PAST PICKS

Here’s my past predictions:

2008: CORRECT. David Cook over David Archuleta
2007: CORRECT. Jordin Sparks over Blake Lewis.
2006: CORRECT. Taylor Hicks over Kat McPhee.
2005: CORRECT. Carrie Underwood over Bo Bice.
2004: CORRECT. Fantasia over Diana DeGarmo.
2003: WRONG. I picked Clay Aiken over Ruben Studdard.
2002: (I didn’t start watching the show until 2003.)

IDOL THOUGHTS

I still find it difficult to believe Simon will not be sitting in one of those judges’ chairs next season.

Everyone seems set on Simon’s replacement being British, but I don’t think that’s necessarily a must. If the replacement is British, he or she will inevitably have to face comparisons to Simon for as long they might be on the show. How about a pick completely off the wall, say … Bruce Springsteen? He could also perform every so often on the program. I’m serious. (At the very least, what about a Bruce Springsteen theme week next season?)

A suggestion for the Idol powers for 2011 — scrap the cheesy group numbers once we get to the finals. I have yet to talk with anyone who enjoys those things.

The season’s just about a wrap and have you heard anyone say they missed Paula? I didn’t think so. And as bad as Ellen has been, that is really saying something.

Simon told Ellen he thinks Lee will win.

FROM AROUND THE IDOL NATION

From RealityTVWorld.com: Simon Cowell originally thought Crystal Bowersox would be crowned American Idol’s ninth-season winner, but he now feels that Lee DeWyze will take home the title. “If you had asked me five or six weeks ago, 100 percent I would have said Crystal. But now I’ve changed my mind and I think Lee’s going to win,” said Cowell during a Tuesday appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Cowell said there’s just something about DeWyze’s background that makes him feel like the 23-year-old from Mount Prospect, Ill., has what it takes to win. “There’s something about him,” Cowell said. “The fact that he’s worked in a paint shop, he’s talented, he hasn’t had any real breaks in his life. This has given him a shot, so I like that. But the last two years I’ve gotten it completely and utterly wrong. So I don’t think anyone’s listening to me anymore. But it’s just a hunch.”

From the Toledo Blade: Crystal will win American Idol. Her talent is simply too much when she cranks it up.

From the Baltimore Sun: Idol is still a singing competition. Unfortunately, this season’s singing has often been unremarkable. There was too much fat, with contestants in the Top 12 that had no shot of being the next big pop star. (Sorry, Lacey Brown, Paige Miles, Tim Urban, Didi Benami …). Singing wasn’t the only deficiency. Season 9 did not produce an Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta or even a Clay Aiken, the idiosyncratic character to root for. Even Sanjaya Malakar would have livened things up. And that was the problem: The personalities just weren’t there.

From the Los Angeles Times: Picking a replacement for Simon Cowell could give the producers a chance to reinvigorate the show — or hasten its decline. His replacement will have to know the business, be brutally honest and snarky and preferably [have] a British accent, as Americans love snippy British judges.

The Idol finals are set and I think we are in for a dandy championship show. Crystal Bowersox and Lee Dewyze have taken opposite paths to reach the finals, but both are worthy and this is arguably the biggest toss-up since 2003′s legendary Clay Aiken vs. Ruben Studdard showdown.

Casey James was dismissed from the field Wednesday night, and can there be any worse feeling than finishing third on Idol? You are that close to television immortality. Think about it. I think it’s safe to say most Idol watchers can name most — if not all — of the final-round pairings, but how many third-place finishers can you name? (Yep, I thought so. Me, too.)

I’ll offer my pick to win it all before next Tuesday’s show. And remember, I have picked six straight winners. But right now I have no idea who I am picking. A month ago — heck, even a week ago — it was Crystal hands down. But Lee’s mercurial rise the last month or so simply can’t be overlooked. And who will pick up Casey’s votes? That will likely be the difference.

TOP 10 IDOL STORYLINES OF 2010

With the season almost over, here’s how I rank the most intriguing elements of Idol 2010:

1. Simon announces he is leaving the show: His replacement will determine if this program remains an entity above all others, or whether it drifts into the same abyss with all of the other Idol wannabes out there.  Idol will again win the Nielsen ratings as America’s No. 1 show for an unprecedented sixth straight season, but its challengers are snapping at its heels. This will be the most important offseason in the program’s nine-year history.

Ellen needs to go.

2. The addition of Ellen DeGeneres as a judge: Ellen replaced goofball Paul Abdul in what designed to bring a different level of normalcy to the show. Instead, we got a lot of stuttering and boring, hollow comments. One season of Ellen has been enough. Let’s try it again, Idol producers.

3. Crystal Bowersox: Her season-long presence was one of the few breaths of fresh air from an otherwise ho-hum lineup of talent.

4. The late emergence of Lee Dewyze: Who saw this coming? A couple of months ago, Lee was an afterthought. Now he’s a show stopper.

5. Quality mentors: This has truly been a major highlight, and if not for the soap operas at the top of the list this would have been much higher in my rankings. The contributions of guests such as Usher and Harry Connick Jr. were invaluable to watch and helped take our minds off contestants such as Paige Miles and Lacey Brown.

6. A new look to the results shows: For years, fans have been disgruntled with the results shows. They were strung out way too long with far, far too much fluff and padding sandwiched around why we were really watching. Well, the fluff and padding are still there, but it’s in the form of grade-A musical guests from Bon Jovi to Rhianna. The results show now mirrors some sort of variety program. If you have noticed, the results shows have been garnering higher ratings than the performance programs, and that’s a first in Idol history.

7. Ryan Seacrest’s weirdness: From his alleged feud with Simon (which no one ever believed) to his often awkward and even off-color comments, the plastic man has been genuinely … uhh, weird this season. Or, according to some, weirder.

8. Kara’s DioGuardi’s ongoing infatuation with Casey James: That got old real quick, but Idol powers-to-be continued to beat it like a dead horse.

9. The Howard Stern controversy: Remember when the shock jock was the rumored replacement for Simon? Actually, the No. 1 choice all along was Sir Elton John, who turned down a $33 million-a-year offer to take over Simon’s seat. I wonder if Howard’s name will re-emerge?

10. The collapse of Andrew Garcia: Andrew was the man to beat coming out of Hollywood Week and no one — I repeat, no one — saw his complete and utter failure on the horizon. So much was expected of him, but he delivered so little, kind of like LeBron and the Cavaliers against the Celtics. Looking back, the disappointment of Andrew set the tone for what has been a disappointing season overall. (And we won’t even get into the uncalled for elimination of Lilly Scott.)

IDOL THOUGHTS

Seriously, have I been living in that deep of a cave? Please tell me there is someone else out there who had not heard of Justin Bieber six months ago.

Themes I would like to see for 2011: The music of Rod Stewart (of course!), the Grass Roots, Gordon Lightfoot, ABBA, Temptations, Four Tops, Lennon and McCartney (always!), Michael Bolton (think about it!), John Denver, Brooks and Dunn, Alabama, Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson.

One of the highlights of every Idol season are the home town trips of the final three. I was especially interested in Crystal’s journey since she is a fellow Ohioan.

Another great thing about this stage of the competition? No more group numbers on Wednesday nights.

FROM AROUND THE IDOL NATION

From Kriston dos Santos, eonline.com: We know it sounds strange, but American Idol‘s cool and collected Lee Dwyze is finally in it to win it. Not to say he hasn’t wanted to take home the title since day one, but you’ve gotta admit that behind those baby blues has been a serious lack of passion in Lee’s Idol game. Maybe his newfound pal Simon Cowell has upped his street cred just a bit. “Simon is someone that’s seen a lot of things in the music industry, and he noticed that [I'm a good musician] and that’s what I care about,” Lee said backstage after his stellar performance Tuesday night. “It’s really cool to know that he digs me. I got to chill with him for a minute while we picked the songs, and it was really surreal because he’s different than what you see on camera. He’s a really cool dude.”

From People.com: Kara DioGuardi on Crystal Bowersox, “It’s difficult at a young age to have a real sense of yourself. She hasn’t always made the perfect choice, but she’s always had a good reason behind things.”

From MarketWatch.com: Brooke White and Justin Guarini will be hosting programs for TV Guide Channel before the Idol Final performances on Tuesday May 25, and live on the finale red carpet on Wednesday, May 26. On Thursday May 27, Brooke and Justin will interview the winner and runner-up and wrap up the season. For more information go to www.tvguidenetworkpr.com.

From M.J. Santilli, Television.AOL.com: Should we just give Lee DeWyze the crown now and be done with it? Seriously, who would have imagined, at the beginning of the ‘American Idol’ live shows, that Lee would be in a position where he could take it all?

Top three American Idol contestant Lee DeWyze appears at the AT&T store in Skokie, Ill., during his hometown visit.

This was why we watch this crazy show.

What occurred Tuesday night on Idol was the stuff of legends.If there had been a shred of doubt that Crystal Bowersox is deserving of this year’s Idol title, those questions should have been erased on this highly entertaining evening. Sure, she had not delivered a jaw-dropping performance for three straight weeks leading up to the Tuesday’s semifinals, but she reverted back to Super Mamasox on this moment-filled night.

And what can you say about Lee Dewyze? The former paint store salesman might — key word is might — be on the verge of what many would consider a monumental upset if he can win this championship.

Crystal and Lee will allow us to take great memories from an otherwise less-than-spectacular season of our favorite show. If those two are not in next week’s finals, there needs to be a serious revamping of the program. The health care debate aside, if it’s not Crystal vs. Lee, Congress should become involved.

Crystal’s “Come To My Window” and “Maybe I’m Amazed” were both spectacular, but Lee’s “Hallelujah” might have been the highlight of the entire season. For one of the few times this year, I had bona fide goosebumps near the end of “Hallelujah.” I’ve waited four months for a show like Tuesday.

Better late than never, eh?

Crystal is the most deserving of the Idol crown, for her full season of work.  That said, there has not been a contestant improve as much as Lee Dewyze, and it is not out of the question he could pull a Kris Allen and steal next week’s championship. (I’m assuming, of course, Casey James gets ousted Wednesday night.)

Lee is appealing, and there is no question his fan base has grown as the season has progressed. Ellen, in one of her blithering comments Tuesday night, told us how Lee had come in as a lamb or something and was now a gazelle or impala or whatever. She had the right idea, but …

I have not been on the Lee bandwagon like some of my Idol friends, but I admire his development and he is absolutely deserving of a spot opposite of Crystal in the finals.

THE END IS NEAR

Top three American Idol contestant Crystal Bowersox at her parade in downtown Toledo, Ohio

The journey is almost over. We’ve been through some highs and way, way too many lows this season. It seems like forever ago that Andrew Garcia was a favorite and Lilly Scott was an incredible temptress with that crazy hair. It seems like a lifetime since we watched Posh Spice and Kristin Chenoweth fill in as judges during the auditions. The end of May always spells the end of Idol for another year, and as ready as I am in some ways for this season to end, I’m equally excited now to see Crystal vs. Lee  and enjoy next week’s always entertaining grand finale.

QUICK THOUGHT

How weak has this season really been? Without cheating, how many of the last nine cuts can you name? OK, make it last eight. We all remember Big Mike. I’ll be honest, Aaron Kelly, Lacey Brown and Paige Miles were the only ones who immediately came to my mind. And why Lacey and Paige did I have no idea.

Here was the order of this year’s elimination:

No. 12: Lacey Brown
No. 11: Paige Miles
No. 10: Didi Bename
No. 8: Katie Stevens (same night)
No. 8: Andrew Garcia (same night)
No. 7:  Tim Urban
No. 6: Siobhan Magnus
No. 5: Aaron Kelly
No. 4: Michael Lynche

TUESDAY RUNDOWN

Looks like it will be Crystal vs. Lee in the finals.

1. Crystal Bowersox
Song 1: “Come To My Window,” by Melissa Etheridge;
Song 2: “Maybe I’m Amazed,” by Paul McCartney.
Comment: Seriously, what more I say? I liked the second song a little more than the first, but that’s like saying I prefer jamocha almond fudge over pralines and cream. I’ll gladly take either and be content.
Randy: “I loved your vocal, and a good song choice.” … “Great song, great vocals.”
Ellen: “It’s the exact kind of song you (should) sing.” … “I couldn’t have asked for more.”
Kara: “I think you were fighting the arrangement a little, but it was still a good vocal.” … “You did a lot of risky things and I think they paid off.”
Simon: “From the very first day we met you, you have not compromised yourself as an artist.” … “What you just proved is that you have soul, and you worked outside of your comfort zone.”

2. Lee Dewyze
Song 1: “Simple Man,” by Lynyrd Skynrd.
Song 2: “Hallelujah,” by Leonard Cohen.
Comment: “Simple Man” was my favorite Lee effort of the season. He sounded incredible and finally put together an impeccable stage performance. Great, great job. Lady Godiva should love this review …
Randy: “Brilliant song choice, dawg, brilliant.” … “I’ve been waiting to see who will throw down the real gauntlet. This was your biggest moment. That was unbelievable.”
Ellen: “That was … yeah, yeah … ” … “That was stunning.”
Kara: “What you did is what every contestant needs to do — round one goes to Lee.” … “You have owned the entire night.”
Simon: “”That was … absolutely on the money.” … “I am very, very proud of you. You are a fantastic singer and a great person.”

Casey James signs autographs during his hometown visit

3. Casey James
Song 1: “OK, It’s All Right With Me,” by Eric Hutchinson.
Song 2: “Daughter,” by John Mayer.
Comment: The first song seemed a strange choice when trying to make an impact, because Casey made none with this. He’s going to need a major comeback with the second effort … The second song was much, much better, but probably not enough to boost him into the finals. The slow, raspy tones fit him very well.
Randy: “This is down to the wire, you can’t do a safe kind of song like that.” … “This fits you like a glove and I hope you continue that direction.”
Ellen: “I wish you would have brought it, you needed something much bigger than that.” … “I like that a lot.”
Kara: “It’s tough to pick a song many are hearing for the first time on a night like this.” … “This showed more of your artistic side. You did a good job.”
Simon: “If you were having dinner, that would be the salad.” … “The only issue I had is that it was a bit of a lazy arrangement.”

IDOL THOUGHTS

Randy told ABC late-night host Jimmy Fallon earlier this week he thinks Lee might snatch the title from Crystal.

If the report is accurate about Sir Elton John turning down Idol (see below), who is the frontrunner to replace Simon? There are not even any names currently being floated about, because so much attention was paid to Elton in recent weeks.

Did you catch Crystal’s boots during her second number? Awesome.

From a musical standpoint, this might have been the finest overall show of the season, thanks of course to Crystal and Lee.

FROM AROUND THE IDOL NATION

From the New York Daily News: The Idol winner gets $175,000 when he or she starts recording and another $175,000 after producing his or her first album. The price steadily increases with each subsequent album. By their sixth record, the Idol alum could earn up to $1 million.

From TMZ: When can Casey James and Kara DioGuardi hook up? Not until six months after American Idol ends, according to the contract the buff blond Texan signed before going on the show. TMZ obtained the contract that each contestant signed at the beginning of the season, including the 27-year-old who stole Kara’s heart when he took off his shirt during his audition. The incident has remained an ongoing joke throughout the season, despite Kara being married. But even if the duo were to forge something hot and heavy, they are contractually incapable – until the end of the show. “Neither I nor any members of my family or my friends will enter into any personal, social, business, and or financial relationships with any of the judges, host(s), guest stars,” the contract reads. The document lasts six months after Idol concludes on May 26. If the contestant breaks the contract, he or she can be disqualified and must forfeit the prize money.

From Access Hollywood: Idol won’t be replacing Simon Cowell with Sir Elton John. John refused to take the judge’s seat that Cowell is vacating at the end of the current ninth season. Sir Elton would have made $33 million if he had decided to sign on for Season 10 and possibly beyond.

From the London Daily Mirror: Simon Cowell’s close friend Sinitta fears he won’t go through with his wedding. The music mogul’s ex-girlfriend believes Simon, who proposed to make-up artist Mezhgan Hussainy on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, may not end up walking down the aisle. She told the Daily Mirror newspaper, “I really don’t know if he will go through with it. If he is really true to himself he probably won’t.” Simon is said to not be enjoying the attention his engagement has attracted and is growing tired of all the big day rumors.

Will Crystal Bowersox fall victim to the Idol Curse of a season-long frontrunner fading down the stretch? She was so good so early, but for three weeks running has not wowed us with any of her selections.

Crystal Bowersox

It’s now crunch time following Wednesday night’s ouster of Michael Lynche,  Three Idols remain — Crystal, Casey and Lee. A month ago, Crystal was an overwhelming favorite, kind of like LeBron James and the Cavaliers going against the Celtics (and we all know how that series has turned out. Well, if you’re a sports fan, you do.).

It would not be unprecedented for someone of Crystal’s talent and stature to not win. Voting tastes change and voting blocks around the country can obviously sway a result. Plus, someone even the caliber of Crystal can only climb so high. It is impossible to improve every week, and it’s not that she has necessarily regressed, it’s more that she has simply leveled off. She remains great, but has she gotten greater?

Let’s examine how other early Idol favorites have fared through the years:

2009: Danny Gokey, then Adam Lambert seemed to be overwhelming favorites at different points, but it was Kris Allen who won the final ballot.

2008: David Archuleta emerged as the early pick, but then leveled off and was left in David Cook’s dust.

2007: Jordin Sparks downed Blake Lewis in what was considered pretty much a toss-up.

Carrie Underwood

2006: Highly favored Chris Daughtry was eliminated in the round of four after being all but crowned the next American Idol. This was the year of Taylor Hicks, who swooped in amid the collateral damage of Daughtry’s ouster and stole the title.

2005: Carrie Underwood rolled over the competition from start to finish.

2004: Fantasia Barrino crushed a relatively weak field.

2003: Ruben Studdard pulled off what was considered a mild upset in the finals when he topped Clay Aiken and the rest of ClayNation and the Claymates.

2002: This was pretty much Kelly Clarkson’s world, and the rest of the Idol wannabes were simply occupying space, although fourth-place finisher Tamyra Gray still has grounds to consider herself the original Daughtry when it comes to undeserved eliminations.

THE FINAL THREE

1. Crystal Bowersox: The advantage Crystal has over the remaining competition is she is a genuine “artist,” as Simon likes to tell us (every week).

2. Casey James: I still feel the finals most want to see is Crystal vs. Casey.

3. Lee Dewyze: So, who goes next week? Lee or Casey?

IDOL THOUGHTS

Ratings for the show were their lowest last week since the inaugural 2002 season when it was a summer replacement series. If you didn’t think we would be seeing changes in 2011 before, consider it a guarantee Idol will have some sort of facelift before its January return.

FROM AROUND THE IDOL NATION

From Michael Slezak, Entertainment Weekly: It pains me to give any credit to Randy Jackson, especially when we’re talking about his threadbare ”in it to win it” mantra, but the Dawg got it right tonight that Lee didn’t do anything special with his rendition of Seal’s Batman Forever soundtrack cut. What struck me as strange about the performance — aside from the way Lee kept swallowing his words like a child pretending not to have a mouthful of Halloween candy — was the way the season 9 rocker was giving me flashbacks to the listless performance style he favored back in the semifinal rounds.

From Chris Glover, the Seattle Times: The ratings are down, that weird celebrity dancing program is doing better, and the face of the show, Simon Cowell, is about to leave for good.

From Jere Hester, NBCWashington.com : Though the show remains TV’s number one program, the ratings are down, making the judges’ panel a natural target … (but) the season had mainly been hampered by a mediocre contestant lineup.

From the BBC: A replacement for Simon Cowell on the American Idol judging panel will not be announced until after the 26 May season finale.

At this point of the Idol season, I want to be wowed. I want “moments.” I want to be left wanting more. I’m not getting that feeling, folks. Not even close.

It’s to the point now that I almost just want this year to end so we can start all over next January.

It dawned on me Tuesday that the biggest stars of the current Idol season have actually been the mentors, this week’s included. For two years running, Jamie Foxx has performed marvelously well in that role. He’s the latest in a relatively long line of big-name mentors who have … well, had a bigger impact on the show than those they were schooling.

Go down the list: Usher, Shania, Adam Lambert, Harry Connick Jr., Alicia Keys. They have all been memorable. Outside of Crystal, name one Idol who has left an imprint on this season.

Let’s hope the final two weeks of the season can salvage what has been overall a frustrating year of the show we love so much.

TUESDAY’S RUNDOWN

1. Casey James
Song: “Mrs. Robinson.”
Comment: Casey unplugged. Again, he proved this can be an unexpected strength of his. I would have said it was a great performance if he had not lost track of the words — twice. But he covered himself well, and for me it was the most enjoyable outing of the evening. The judges, however, did not agree.
Randy: “It was a cool, laid-back version.”
Ellen: “I liked that you came back and did something different.”
Kara: “This was a good choice.”
Simon: “It didn’t have the … substance required on an important night like this.”

2. Crystal Bowersox
Song: “I’m All Right”
Comment: Geez, Crystal had Siobhan’s boots on. That aside, she didn’t really knock me over with this song, partly I’m sure because I don’t care for the song. But she did bounce back from back-to-back subpar performances, at least on the scale of Crystal.
Randy: “I loved that you tried to switch it up.”
Ellen: “I think you took that song and made it better.”
Kara: “I agree with Ellen.”
Simon: “You are back in the game.”

3. Michael Lynche
Song: “Will You be There.”
Comment: There was no electricity from the Big Man, despite the Gospel vibe from this song. The song fell, well … kind of flat. Just like Lee. Mike had a slight advantage over Lee in that all of the notes seemed in tune.
Randy: “I wish you would have chosen some R&B song.”
Ellen: “I think it was a little bit predictable.”
Kara: “I want goose bumps … and i didn’t feel that.”
Simon: “At least you gave it 100 percent.”

4. Lee Dewyze
Song: “Kiss From A Rose”
Comment: I thought Lee’s voice sounded great — even though there were a couple of sour notes at the onset. My biggest problem with this performance was that he never seemed 100 percent comfortable. So-so night at best.
Randy: “You did nothing with that song. It was pitchy in spots. It didn’t work.”
Ellen: (she made no sense whatsoever)
Kara: “You got lost a little.”
Simon: ” … trying too hard to sound like the original.”

Lee DeWyze and Crystal Bowersox

DUETS

1. Michael/Casey
Song: “Have You Ever Loved A Woman.”
Comment: Michael was much better with this vehicle than his solo choice, excelling with both guitar and voice.  Casey was kind of a non-entity here.
Randy: “Guitar playing was excellent, and you guys sounded great.”
Ellen: “As a matter of fact, I have loved a woman.”
Kara: “The duets tonight were incredible, better than all of the solo performances.”
Simon: “The duets were a million times better than the solo performances.”

2. Crystal/Lee
Song: “Falling Slowly.”
Comment: Crystal was the definite star of this pairing, although Lee performed much better in this setting than he did his solo effort. Judging by Lee’s immediate look after the song, he was still thinking about the biting comments from the judges from his earlier performance. It always comes back to stage presence with him. He has a difficult time masking his emotions.
Randy: “Great song by two great singers.”
Ellen: “You’re like the new Captain and Tennille.”
Kara: “One of my favorite moments of the entire season.”
Simon: “A fantastic song.”

IDOL THOUGHTS

I was a little surprised at the duet pairings. I would have liked to have heard Crystal and Michael or Crystal and Casey.

Remember when the final four would sing two songs each. This duet thing started in 2008.

As you’ll read in “Around the Idol Nation,” it looks like Sir Elton John might be Simon’s replacement next season. I certainly hope not. I’ve always enjoyed Elton’s music, but Idol needs a young(er), relevant face, if for no other reason than to appeal to that all-important 18-49 demographic.

The University of Central Florida athletic site runs regular updates on Big Mike. He’s a former linebacker on the school’s football team.

FROM AROUND THE IDOL NATION

From newkerala.com: American Idol bosses are demanding Sir Elton John to replace Simon Cowell as one of the judges on the show. Sir Elton turned down the proposal from Fox TV when offered the job in January. However, he has met with show officials since then. “Everyone loves Sir Elton. As well as being outspoken, he has an air of gravitas as an icon of the music industry,” said one of the show’s 20 producers. “He’s British, too. Having Sir Elton on board would be a ­guaranteed ratings blockbuster all over the world. Part of the pitch to get Sir Elton on board was that the show can become an even bigger fundraiser for various charities. We’re barely more than a cat’s whisker away from getting ink on paper.”

From TampaBay.com: Despite strong vocal performances, (Lee Dewyze is) still a bit of a cipher as a personality, though Idol seems to like milquetoast himbos.

From hindustantimes.com: American Idol tops the list shows that rake in the maximum mullah. According to a survey of TV’s most popular programms by Kantar Media, it was found that the biggest moneymakers are longstanding hits with broad appeal. The survey printed in Forbes reports that American Idol rakes in $8.1 million per 30-minute block. The top shows:
1. American Idol, $8.1 million per 30-minute block.
2. Two and a Half Men, $3.1 million per half-hour
3. 24, $3 million per 30-minute block.

From EW.com: From Simon’s 12 meanest critiques – ”If you hear a scream from a hotel room in Las Vegas, that’s where Barry Manilow’s watching this show…I’m sort of with Randy [in agreeing the performance was entertaining], but horror films entertain me. You know, it’s a different kind of entertainment.” — to Bobby Bennett, after his Season 5 semifinal cover of ”Copacabana”

Billboard.com has posted its list of the top 24 all-time Idols, based on “how have the contestants stacked up out in the wider waters of the music industry?” The list was formulated by looking at album sales, individual song sales, and radio play counts (according to Nielsen SoundScan and Nielsen BDS, as of April 17).

Here was the list:

1. Kelly Clarkson (2002 champion)
2. Carrie Underwood (2005 champion)
3. Chris Daughtry
4. Jordin Sparks (2007 champion)
5. David Cook (2008 champion)
6. Clay Aiken
7. Kellie Pickler
8. David Archuleta
9. Fantasia (2004 champion)
10. Ruben Studdard (2003 champion)

11. Kris Allen (2009 champion)
12. Adam Lambert
13. Jennifer Hudson
14. Josh Gracin
15. Elliott Yamin
16. Kat McPhee
17. Bo Bice
18. Blake Lewis
19. Taylor Hicks (2006 champion)
20. Kimberley Locke
21. William Hung
22. Danny Gokey
23. Diana DeGarmo
24. Allison Iraheta

The final 4: Casey James, Crystal Bowersox, Lee DeWyze and Michael Lynche

The elimnination of Aaron Kelly on Wednesday night gives us the ninth final four in Idol history. So where does this group of Crystal Bowersox, Casey James, Lee Dewyze and Michael Lynche rank in show annals?

Aaron Kelly sings his farewell performance after he is eliminated

At the start of the round of 24, I felt this year’s contestants were the strongest from top to bottom in Idol history. But like I said a few weeks ago, I was wrong. Some of the talent never emerged (Andrew Garcia) or was eliminated far too early (Lily Scott). Other finalists fell off quickly after fast starts (Didi Bename). All of those factors added together has left us with a rather lackluster final group, at least by my standards. I’m just grateful Crystal is still around or there would be no doubt this year’s final four would be a final bore.

Here’s how I rank the 2010 group with those of years past:

1. 2009: Kris Allen, Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey, Allison Iraheta. (There’s not a weak link among the four.)
2. 2003: Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, Kimberley Locke, Josh Gracin. (This was the year that put Idol over the top and the way to one of the strongest runs in TV history.)
3. 2008: David Cook, David Archuleta, Syesha Mercado, Jason Castro. (Another quality final four.)
4. 2005: Carrie Underwood, Bo Bice, Vonzell Solomon, Anthony Fedorov. (If not for the commanding presence of future superstar Carrie Underwood, this group would have been questionable at best. Vonzell and A-Fed were not good at all.)
5. 2006: Taylor Hicks, Kat McPhee, Elliott Yamin, Chris Daughtry. (Daughtry’s fourth-place finish remains one of the show’s blackest eyes.)
6. 2002: Kelly Clarkson, Justin Guarini, Nikki McKibbin, Tamyra Gray. (Tamyra Gray was another fourth-place finisher who deserved much better.)
7. 2010: Crystal Bowersox, Lee Dewyze, Casey James, Michael Lynche. (This group can still leave a mark, but I don’t see it happening.)
8. 2007: Jordan Sparks, Blake Lewis, Melinda Doolittle, LaKisha Jones. (If not Blake’s theatrics, this would have easily been the worst-ever group of finalists. He was the only one of the four who had a personality.)
9. 2004: Fantasia Barrino, Diana DeGarmo, Jasmine Trias, LaToya London. (Even Fantasia could not save this cast. Jasmine Trias is easily the worst singer ever to reach a final four.)

FINAL FOUR FACTS:

Total number of guys who made Final Four: 19.
Total number of girls who made Final Four: 17.
Total number of Africa-American singers: 10.
Total number of white singers: 26.

THE FINAL FOUR … last week’s rankings in parentheses

1. (1.) Crystal Bowersox: Crystal looked great during the dreaded group numbers, but that aside she needs to bounce back with a strong(er) performance next week after back-to-back, so-so efforts.

2. (4.) Lee Dewyze: Could Lee be this year’s Kris Allen and shock the Idol world?

3. (5.) Michael Lynche: No one who received the “save” has ever gone on to win Idol. Will Big Mike be the first? (Probably not.)

4. (3.) Casey James: He gets a reprieve.

IDOL THOUGHTS

Ryan told us there were 32 million votes this week.

Could someone please explain that Lady Gaga performance to me?

TWO dreaded group numbers in one show? Isn’t there a law or something against that?

Hats off — again — to Harry Connick Jr. for a tremendous job as guest mentor. Combining his two nights’ effort, he might deserve a No. 1 all-time guest mentor ranking for his contributions to the show.

FROM AROUND THE IDOL NATION

From eonline.com: The best is still yet to come. Or we hope so, at least, because Frank Sinatra week sure didn’t bring out the best in the American Idol top five … and time is running out. Despite being schooled by crooner extraordinaire Harry Connick Jr., the standards made famous by Ol’ Blue Eyes, most of the remaining lucky lads and lady couldn’t quite get a grip on what was necessary to make those oldies but goodies relevant in today’s iTunes-driven world.

From Jim Cantiello, MTV “Idol in 60 Seconds” host: Without a guitar to protect him on Sinatra night, Casey James was awkward, uncomfortable and painful to watch and listen to.

From Idol Chatter, USA Today: Who was the big winner when it came to American Idol and album sales last week? That’s easy: Shania Twain, whose Greatest Hits album jumped back onto The Billboard 200 at No. 68, selling 7,000 copies — a 251 percent increase over the previous week.

From Michael Slezak, Entertainment Weekly: Casey James disappeared before our very eyes and channeled a goat being led to slaughter. Aaron Kelly wandered around the stage like a foal separated from its mother. Crystal Bowersox squawked like a mildly peeved goose when the judges didn’t recognize her authoritaaay.

Harry Connick Jr. mentored the final 5 on American Idol.

I love enthusiasm and passion. Harry Connick Jr. has both for what he does, and that was never more evident than in his role as guest mentor on Tuesday night’s Idol performance show. There could not have been a more perfect choice for “Music of Sinatra” Week. With apologies to Shania Twain, Harry could easily claim the title of  Mentor of the Year.

Connick’s impact on all five Idols was evident, and it’s questionable without an influence such as his if the Sinatra concept would have worked. But it did, despite a couple of rough performances. All five — Crystal, Big Mike, The Kid, Lee and Casey — seemed to pour their hearts into this night. Obviously, some were better than others, but on a night such as this it is the theme, and not necessarily the performers, that emerges as the star.

When I first got interested in pop music in the mid- and late 1960s, Sinatra’s appeal to the Billboard charts was waning, so I can’t say I “grew up with the music of ‘The Voice.’ ” However, I can remember his presence throughout the years. In fact, I can recall a late-night conversation at a Denny’s with a fellow writer, sometime in the late 1980s, that helped me understand how popular, important and appealing Sinatra has been through the decades.

My friend, Spence, was telling me over a Grand Slam breakfast how excited he was to get home that night and play some of a new CD collection he had just purchased. When he said it was Sinatra, I kind of made fun of him. He stopped in mid-bite, looked at me and said, “Sinatra’s the best, man. The Voice.”

I’ll always remember that comment.

Simon may have summed up The Voice the best when he said, “I adore Frank. He was the king of cool.”

No doubt, no doubt at all.

TUESDAY’S RUNDOWN

1. Michael Lynche
Song: “The Way You Look Tonight.”
Comment: I realize the Lee Dewyze fans will be upset, but Big Mike was definitely the star of the evening. He had the look and absolutely owned the stage. Mike has that personality intangible that draws so many to him. At times, his weakest link is actually the strength of his voice, but on this night it all clicked, it was all close to perfect. Big Mike stole the night.
Randy: “Big Mike is in it to win it!”
Ellen: “You looked the part and sounded the part. Really good.”
Kara: “You found the drama in the song. You took us on a journey, but you didn’t lose yourself.”
Simon: “You’re back in the game.”

2. Lee Dewyze
Song: “That’s Life.”
Comment: This was the first Sinatra song I remember, back in junior high, so I was probably more interested in this number than any other. Lee did a borderline great  job, but it just didn’t affect me in the way Big Mike’s did. Still, Lee’s performance was head and shoulders above the rest, including Crystal.
Randy: “I loved it.”
Ellen: “If this was the last night of performances, you would have just won this whole thing.”
Kara: “You can win this thing.”
Simon: “Harry brought out your confidence and your personality. It was, by far, the best performance of the night.”

3. Crystal Bowersox
Song: “Summer Wind.”
Comment: Crystal is so confident, and that confidence is now oozing through her performances. This was a song we’ll never hear her sing again, but her look — in an evening gown instead of jeans and a high-society ‘do — gave her an entirely different persona. There were moments in the song I don’t think she was comfortable with, but she made it extremely listenable, partly I think because of the confidence that is now pouring through each week. If nothing else, it made us yearn for the Crystal we’ll probably hear next week — and on the radio in years to come.
Randy: “It was one of your more subdued performances. It was a little sleepy for me.”
Ellen: “I wanted you to loosen up a little more, but you have so many different sides to you.”
Kara: “It was out of your element, but I kind of liked it. I liked your phrasing.”
Simon: “It felt it was a little bit indulgent. The second half was better.”

4. Aaron Kelly
Song: “Fly Me To The Moon.”
Comment: He had some problems with this, some rough areas, and I’m afraid our favorite teenager may be in danger of walking the plank Wednesday night. Simon was the only one of the four judges to agree with me, so I don’t feel so bad about not fawning all over Aaron after what was only a so-so performance of a great song.
Randy: “I was worried about you, because you are so young, but you did a really good job.”
Ellen: “You really pulled that off.”
Kara: “It wasn’t as strong as last week’s (performance).”
Simon: “You do try hard, and I’ll give you that.”

5. Casey James
Song: “Blue Skies.”
Comment: Wince. Wince. Is it over yet? Never ever let Casey on a stage without his guitar on in a suit again. Either Casey or Aaron is heading home this week.
Randy: “For me, it was your worst performance. You were out of your element. It didn’t work, baby.”
Ellen: “That felt very stiff to me … not cool, no swagger.”
Kara: “You sounded a little like a lamb.”
Simon: “I actually thought you came over a bit awkward.”

Shania Twain

IDOL THOUGHTS

Idol is averaging 24.4 million viewers a show, down 7.5 percent from 26.4 million in 2009 and well off 2006′s high of about 30.8 million.

Fox is getting about $1 million for a 30-second ad in this year’s May 26 Idol final, down from $1.3 million in 2007.

It’s a mistake for Idol producers not to announce Simon’s replacement before the end of the season (read more about this below).

I would still like to see Shania Twain replace Ellen as a judge. Another possibility might be either Tim McGraw or Faith Hill, since so many of the Idol contestants have country roots.

FROM AROUND THE IDOL NATION

From Robert Bianco, USA Today: For some of us, just hearing Ryan Seacrest insert that dramatic pause in his introductory “This … is American Idol” is enough to set our teeth on edge. But even those who like him must realize he’s running amok. To the long-running, uncomfortable faux lovers’ quarrels with Simon Cowell and his equally embarrassing interviews with the singers, he has now added an arsenal of odd behaviors, ranging from petulant snits to flighty overexuberance. Watching him is exhausting.

From Reuters: Fox executives told Reuters there will be no announcement on Cowell’s successor when the network presents its 2010-11 programs to advertisers at their annual “upfront” presentation on May 17, nor before the American Idol finale on May 26.

From BuddyTV.com: As soon as I heard this week’s theme was Frank Sinatra, I knew that Casey James could be in trouble. When I heard that the contestants wouldn’t be allowed to use a guitar this week, I wondered if Casey had already started packing.

From mjsbigblog: Lady Gaga (pre-taped), who will NOT be singing Sinatra, will perform on Wednesday’s results show. She’ll be doing some crazy shiz while performing her new single “Alejandro.”