To quote Lee Dewyze, a backing gospel choir, Tim Urban, Maddie Curtis, Jason Castro, Jeff Buckley and Leonard Cohen: "Hallelujah!"
Other questions buzzing through our minds on this finale's eve: Will Randy Jackson's cardigan collection continue to rival Mr. Rogers'? Will Simon Cowell just say to hell with it all and decide tonight is his Senior Skip Day? And will this season's
Idol coronation song yet again have the opposite effect on me, and inspire murderous rage at ham-handed lyrics rather than a warm, fuzzy feeling?
No more "No Boundaries," Kara!
Of course, there's only one way to find out ... watch along with me live tonight as the final two perform
one three last times.
Alright, it's
Idol (almost) finale time and the Nokia Theater looks like the Thunderdome and makes Ryan Seacrest seem even more like tiny little man. For the big event, Randy has ditched the cardigans and Simon has classed it up with a sport coat instead of a dangerously low v-neck shirt. That's how we're supposed to know tonight's important ... that and the blinding lights that may induce seizures.
With 7,000 screaming fans and just three performances standing between Lee, Crystal and the crown, passion and nerves are clearly running high. For their introduction, Crystal and Lee walk through the sea of screaming fans. Well, Lee walks. Crystal stumbles. She drops her microphone and misses her mark. Meanwhile, Lee who was hobbled by nerves early in the season looks cool and confident. He's smiling like he's already won the Lotto, because frankly, he already has. As has Crystal.
The performance order tonight will be: contestants' choice, producers' choice, and
Idol coronation song. Crystal won the
Idol coin toss last week, which means she gets the ultimate pimp spot: the final performance of the entire competition.