I love that Opie Cunningham tried to get FUNKY!! I am still LOLing.

Okay, before I read the recap, I just gotta say something about the Bartender thing.

It's in reference to an AI Extra thing, where DC told shi really bad joke about Pirates. The punchline was "ARRRRR!" complete with arm swing - so both Ryan and DC were playing off that.

But anyways, more comments from me later, when I actually read it.

The caption that read "Tell Josh Groban he's already had his turn" should actually say "Tell this kid 'High School Musical' tryouts are on another network."

Why didn't the judges point out the Fetus botched his lyrics AGAIN. Any other contestant would have been crucified...but maybe they figure Daddy does enough of that.

Syesha was sabatoged with the producers choice. It was unsingable, forgettable, and very few people know it. And why didn't anyone tell her with the lights behind her, you could see right through the skirt of her first dress? (Or maybe she thought it would get her extra votes.)

Marvelous recap, as always...but NEVER insult Fogelberg. It's not HIS fault he had to pander to the masses.

"Randy holds his nose and shouts 'HONKEY!' "

This made me laugh harder than anything I've read all week. I think I love you, flipit.

"Randy holds his nose and shouts 'HONKEY!' "

This made me laugh harder than anything I've read all week. I think I love you, flipit.

I laughed long and hard throughout this recap. There were so many ridiculous moments last night and Flipit, bless you, caught them all. The funniest to me was Syesha's not getting any love from her hometown. I'm used to seeing a massive crowd and some important politician greeting the Idols and telling them the song. Remember when Taylor Hicks got to meet the governor of Alabama who took him on a tour of the mansion? Now two years later, we get Syesha in the back of a car getting a text message. Although it's more sad than funny, I'm laughing anyway.

I have a DA voodoo doll outside in a bucket right now. My cat has finished ripping at it with bunny-kicks. Please tell me this will work as well as you guys' BW doll.

Only reason I am watching the finale: Praying for a huge full-on gospel backup for "We are Brothers" dude. Seriously. Only reason the TV will be on that channel. They'd better do it.

Rooting for DC. If DA wins I'm done. I want DA to go home tonight. Hoping it won't be him in the final because they picked a youngster last time (does ANYONE still think their votes actually count for anything?).

Oh, Flipit it's not one of the lamest top 3 ever, it is the most lamest, boring, forgettable top 3 ever. This whole season was lame, after the Top 12 Week, it all went down hill from there. I know people say last season was lackluster, but the top 3 from last year, Jordin, Blake, and Melinda would've killed these three.

Anyway, it's inevitable that it's going to be David/David finale, even though nothing would make me happier if David A. gets eliminated, but we know that won't happen.

David C. really isn't doing very much to be considered a legitimate rocker on this show and Syesha, bless her heart, she's trying so hard and is actually more entertaining the David C. but she really is made for Broadway. David A. is just a boring kid and that's all he is.

Flip, brilliant recap. AI always becomes less fun as it gets toward the end, but your recaps get even funnier and more vicious. Bravo!

I was cracking up about the hometown visit footage. Do you think they even bothered sending Syesha home to FL, or did they just take her out in the parking lot behind the studio to get that shot? Geez, they couldn't even draw a crowd for her at her old high school or something?

As far as Syesha's poor hometown reception, I think you really luck out on Idol on that point if you're from a small town or a smallish city (or the midwest)...I live in DC and I can't imagine the lack of enthusiasm if someone from the actual city were on idol. I often wonder what it would be like to have Idol do a "this is your life" homecoming piece about me, and then I realize that it would be really sad...and hilarious. "Why yes, I do visit this CVS often. Note it's proximity to my studio apartment. Also, check out the diner where the manager knows my name because my friends and I drink like fish here and have for 10 years. Don't forget the old-gay-guy karaoke hangout where I got my singing start. That's key to my Idol success." Oy.

That Josh Groban kid was insane - the way he'd cheese at the camera and then whip his head over to Seacrest, over and over again. I was mesmerized more by his utter goofiness than by any performance on the show.

I am from Syesha's hometown and there was a HUGE reception. Why Fox chose not to air any of it is a mystery but there were morning radio/tv interviews, 2 parades in two different towns, a concert at her high school, a concert on the bayfront at the Ringling Museum and the National Anthem at the Rays baseball game. Crowds everywhere were HUGE. Sarasota Florida and all of Tampa Bay made her homecoming spectacular and we're all very proud - especially in light of the obvious bias these judges have in being sure she doesn't get to the top 3! Seriously - David A? You must be kidding!

leona lewis very recently did a cover of "the first time ever i saw your face".. its on her album
she is the winner of UK's version of american idol....

coincidence? or tryin to get the song some more exposure?

syesha fan wrote "the judges obviously don't want her to get into the top 3"

LOL.

then what on earth was she doing there last nite? genius...

beg to differ on lamest top 3 ever (see season 3- jasmine trias, dianna degarmo, fantasia and last season - melinda doolittle, blake lewis, jordan sparks) but there it's definitely lacking.

david cook has got to win some props for this much: i know an idol is pretty decent/good if they make me go download some of their performances. the only ones to do so thus far: kelly clarkson, carrie underwood and chris daughtry. i'll admit i jumped on itunes and snagged 'eleanor rigby' 'hello', 'you'll always be my baby' and 'billie jean.' for that much, i have to give him props.

Thank you sooo much for the speedy recap, Flip!!! Sorry to hear of your Through the Screen Door incident.

Well, it takes a lot to get me all pissy, but AI has finally managed to, it's like being in a relationship and finding out you've been lied to all this time, and you hate yourself for being a delluded fool!!!

I cannot take another second of Randy Jackson, if he mentions one more name drop I will projectile vomit so hard I'm going to rain on this town till he is drowning in my puke!!! He is COMPLETELY USELESS!!!!!!! Utterly pointess!!!! Screamingly inane!!!! A bobble head with 6 cliche's could do a better job!!!! IS IT ME!?????

I don't know why they are rubbing salt in the inevitable wound that is Syesha's fate, can't she just go out without being further crushed by the biased board! I want to string pieces of all of Fetus' songs together and dare anyone to tell the difference, esp if I focus on the parts where he botches the words, again!!! Cook was flat as a pancake on the second song, Flat-flat-flat, not a little pitchy you cardiganed piece of turd!!! thanks Paula for your revelation that Syesha isn't going to make it next week--ya think!?

okay, deep breaths, deep breaths . . .

So, in the end, I can't believe that Sy couldn't bring more emotion to "If I Ain't got You" such a fantastic song to belt out (albiet tres cliche--another diva song, no Randy, is that what you were criticizing her for all season, you picked a song you thought she would like, ahem)

I do think David Cook is one of the most innovative of all, but even his act is getting old, still, he's not boring.

I wish the PTB the best of luck promoting their puppy, maybe a tie in with Alpo . . .

Oil of Olay. That was the commercial. Oil of Frigging Olay. And it took me 20 years of my life to get that commercial out of my head! The first tiiiiiiimmmmme... AAAARRRGH! I can even remember the faces of the 30-year-old women portraying 40-year-old women who look like 30-year-old women. Now I'm going to lie in a corner and suck my thumb, rocking back and forth.

My dislike for David Cook is so entirely visceral, it must be Truth. First time he came on screen, I already started hoping he'd leave. Not so much for his mishapen head, since that's not his fault. But the bad hair, the bad beard, and the horrible arrogance of his expression. And that was before he even started to sing.

As for his singing...pfft. Sorry, he's just nothing special. At all. Nope. It's only because he's up against people even less talented than he is that he appears to be interesting. But he's not. A dime a dozen.

I feel sorry for him though. He desperately wants to be taken seriously--but being on this show has seriously harmed his chances of that happening. If he wins, then he's screwed. He might have a career (though probably not). But no one will ever take him seriously as any kind of artist. And he knows it. So I hope he wins.

I hate the kid too. He sings like a wheezy chimp. He is the epitome of no soul, no feeling. Poor kid--they should have let him wait a few more years. Oh well, he'll do great at Disney. And so will his tongue.

It's obvious that Syesha is trying to get the horny male vote. I think she should just get down and finger herself or deep throat a banana.

I agree: Worst Top 3 Ever.
Conspiracy Theory: I believe that after seasons of abuse like votefortheworst.com and idiots making it through, like Sanjaya, the producers have picked their favorites and have made sure they stay. How else can I explain the mind-boggling ass-kissing to David Archuleta by the judges??? I mean, what's so freaking special about him? No one calls him out on his errors, as if they're being blackmailed or something, and they totally over-exaggerate on how good he is. Even Simon plays along! WTF is going on??? He doesn't sing any better than anyone else at this point and has NO PERSONALITY. Whenever he's asked to speak, he gives lame, empty responses on how he "liked the song" or "enjoyed singing" it. He's like an AI-generated robot who will hopefully short-circuit during the finale and finally make it all worthwhile. In the meantime, I'll have to accept having to watch his dead-eyed, Curious George face and imagine him holding a banana.

I am the one who said "What's with all the Cook hate?"

Because I LOVE that man. Seriously. I don't understand how people keep getting this impression that he's a stuck up, arrogant jerk. I have never interpreted his smiles and movements and whatever as anything but humble - I mean, did you SEE him break down in KC? It was so sweet.

And I am sorry, but I think that Cook is SMOKIN'. I love his hair, love his beard and just. Yum.

I told you I love that man.

And by the way, in my first comment, "shi" is supposed to be "this". No idea how I did that.

Oh, ALSO, Cook's second song wasn't his first choice. He picked one by Collective Soul, but they told him on Sunday night that he couldn't have it - dumb on their part, I must say. I mean, look at the publicity that Cornell has gotten.

ANYHOO, I know his second song wasn't great, but he's got a bit of an excuse, since CS are a bunch of asses.

ALSO - for people who say that Cook isn't original because they're not all his covers: he took the initiative to go out and find a way to work the songs to suit his style. A lot of rockers in the past will completely bite it during country week and then blame it on the fact that they don't sing country. But not Cookie.

And, you have to admit, Cookie plays a MEAN guitar.

Heh heh, georgia, well, they do say that love is blind...nothing about tonedeaf, though. The guy sings as well as my shoe. All his vocal 'riffs' come straight from the 1990s.

His guitar playing is very basic (that's okay, he's a singer)--the good stuff you hear is played by the other guy in the backgound.

But to each his own...the guy is going to need people like you to help pick up the pieces when his career goes nowhere.

I agree, they could have cast Archuleta in the Curious George movie. Or maybe this is the same monkey?

Great recap - I enjoyed it much better than the show this week (and last week...)

Just in case anyone cares, in that picture that showed Justin Guarini, they were actually showing Emily VanCamp who plays Rebecca on Brothers and Sisters. I think he just happened to be a couple rows behind her and saw his opporutnity to eye rape the camera.

In a battle of the two davids, I will pick emo-dave over fetus-dave every time. I had enough of David A.'s souless blank look and emphysemic breathing week one.

This the first episode of AI that I've watched since there were 10 of them.. and I'm so glad I made the choice to just follow the recaps and not get any more involved. This show is getting worse and worse!

Cook is going to win. The producers know that the DA money will dry up pretty fast (girls don't stay 12 forever) and they missed out on the Daughtry money train when they picked lame Katherine McPhee.

Awesome recap, by the way. I was confused by the lack of Syesha love as well, especially since her homecoming was all over the gossip shows. This show is so biased.. LOL!

Or was Chris Daughtry the Jordin Sparks season? They're all running together now.

lickitysplit, actually Chris Daughtry was in the season with Katherine McPhee. However, Chris was third to Katherine McPhee and Taylor Hick(s?). He's like..an eighty year old David Archuleta. :]

I feel absolutely confident that David will win.

I seldom get tingly listening to any of the final three, but I thought Syesha was much easier to look at. (Maybe it's a dirty old man thing.)

It sucks that the judges and producers can do so much to influence the voters (and that even assumes that the votes are honestly tallied).

I can't say that I'm exciting (at all) about the finale. I may even skip it and just enjoy the recap.

georgiababe, how cute that you gots the hots!!! Itchy, it's all a matter of taste, I'm all for letting the peeps who like the Cook supporting him all the way, same for Archie. I appreciate his creativity, and he rocked the guitar on Daytripper, whether it was mirrored by the other guy or not. Best thing this year has been the band, eh!?

Looks like they're going to revamp the show, anyone care to weigh in on changes--I don't think they can fire anyone, but as stated, my position on that is clear, but I would like to see more behind the scenes footage, like on axe night, instead of group numbers and other lameosities--could be more telling about who's working and who's slumming--they could make the voting more exciting too, maybe tally during the show and reveal the stakes going into post show voting. How bout letting us pick the 24 too--no more cannon fodder, lets give em all a fighting chance!

ACTUALLY, you're all wrong.

Chris Daughtry was fourth, Elliot Yamin was third, Katherine McPhee came second and then Taylor Hicks won it all.

And none of them have done anything except Daughtry.

Syesha's dress in the first number made her boobs look like they were on her stomach. horrible look, unless you are someone's mom singing on the top of a pool table at a christmas party. lol. i'm not voting for mom either.

I see were waiting for our new recap!

georgiababe, your order is right, but Elliot released an indie record that had a top 10 hit, and sold well, considering, Hicks and McPhee's records were released but not promoted and did as you 'd expect with no push.

I think Elliot is still my fave of all time on the show, and he's working on a new record, I hear, hopefully a bit more done than his first, which was just aiight (oh God, was that a randyism! ugh!)

Simon is saying he wants14 year olds to improve the show . . . is he soft or what!? How lame would a top 10 of children be . . . why not just do Disney's next top star . . .

14 year olds? Are you KIDDING? Ugh. That would be TERRIBLE.

Personally, I think they should RAISE the age, like frmo 20-30.