Well, tonight’s the night we find out who battles is out for the title of Season 9 American Idol. I stick to my March prediction that it’ll be a Lee/Crystal finale, with Lee squeaking out a win.If you missed last night’s performances, you can check them out in this video (each should automatically play one after the other):Find out tonight, with live performance by Justin Beiber and Travis Garland.Ryan starts off the night talking with Casey, Crystal and Lee about how their perspectives have changed, and how much work goes into the show, and what they’ve learned this season about music and themselves. Casey admits that he never thought he’d get this far, and says it’s all so much more than he expected.Crystal says she’s cool with whatever happens but she wants to win. Lee says winning seemed so far as they went through each week, and right now he wants to win more than ever.Ryan asks them about the balance of the competition and real life. Lee says he’d love no thing more than to just hang out with people but he can’t, and he says it’s hard not to hurt people’s feelings and he doesn’t like that. Casey gets at least 150 text messages a day and he tries to respond to as many as possible, Crystal says she’s tugged in a million different directions; her son comes first, her diabetes comes next, and she says she wouldn’t have the care she’s getting without the show.Randy says the final three have all blossomed and kind of “found themselves”. The contestants tell the judges that their advice has been helpful; although Casey says, with all due respect, not every comment was helpful. Big laughs.Cue Ford commercial. One more week of these! Yay!The first hometown visit is to Texas to visit with Casey James’ fans and family. He seems happy to be on Texas soil, and is surprised they’re stopping traffic for him. Just in case you ladies are interested: Casey does not have a girlfriend. We see Casey signing autographs, including one lady’s puppy. Yes, a live puppy. He’s clearly overwhelmed by the attention. Casey goes back to visit the hospital where six years ago he was cared for after an accident. That was a very teary reunion. The think about Casey that’s so great is that he really is so humble and just a good old boy from Texas. Casey is choked up watching the video.Listen, I’ve been predicting a Crystal/Lee finale – but seeing the hometown support Casey has nothing would surprise me at this point.Up next, Travis Garland. Tell me, who is Travis Garland, and why should we care? Oh brother. He was discovered online by Perez Hilton? It’s just more processed pop crap. Earth to Idol: this is why your viewership is down. You’ve got a show where you’re trying to get contestants to be unique, stretch their talents, and stand out. And then week after week you parade guests across the stage who wouldn’t even make it through Hollywood week because they 1) suck, 2) suck and 3) suck. Our next hometown visit is to Toledo, OH with Crystal Bowersox. They declared Crystal Bowersox Day. She signs one guys chest, and says, “You better bathe,” to which he replies, “Oh this is geting a tattoo.” Lots of folks out to see her, but it seems like less frenzy than Casey. She gets a huge crowd for her performance, and then it’s off to her dad’s house for a barbeque with her son and family. Then she does another performance called Bowerstock where she sings one of her original songs, a huge parade, she throws out the opening pitch at a ball game. Big doin’s in Ohio for Mamasox. As she sits with Ryan, she’s laughing and crying; she’s very emotional about her hometown and how much she wants to do for them through the show.Next visit? Lee Dewyze in Chicago, IL. The city streets are packed for him, lots of kids and twitterpated ladies. He throws out the opening pitch at a Cubs game, and visits an elementary school where the kids are about to bust out of their skin with excxitement. And an intro from his first grade teacher. He goes to visit the paint store where he used to work, and he chokes up and starts crying. Then it’s home to see his parents, a parade and more screaming girls, and then a stadium filled concert; he performs “The Boxer” and chokes up. Sitting with Ryan, Lee is crying again. I’m sorry, I just love this guy. Ryan asks about making his father proud; Lee says it’s all insane, crazy and awesome and the support of his parents is so important. I’m starting to wonder if Casey might actually make it to the finale. Those hometown visits say a lot about fans; and let’s not discount the power of tween girls in puppy love. We’ll find out in a few minutes though. First we have to watch another guest performance, this time from Justin Beiber.OK, I can’t believe I’m about to say this: but this kid is adorable. Reminds me of when I fell in puppy love with Donny Osmond a million years ago. Little mini drum solo, and the crowd goes wild. I can see the attraction this time. Still tweeny bopper pop, but way cleaner than some of the other stuff we’ve seen. It’s Jonas-esque.And now it’s time to find out which two are in the finale. Ryan gives each contestant a recap of last night’s performances. And the first person in the finale is Lee Dewyze. And with his is Crystal Bowersox, which means Casey is going home. I don’t think any of that is a surprise. He sings his goodbye song – “Daughters” – sans guitar. He walks around, gives a girl in the audience a hug, touches hands with adoring fans, pickes up a little girl in the audience and carries her to the judges riser, where he sits with the girl – I think that’s a niece?Hugs to the judges, a video recap of Casey’s journey- from the shirt off in his audition to Crystal admitting she has a little crush on Casey. I’ve grown to like him a lot the last few weeks, even though I didn’t think he would make the finale. I hope he goes on to make some great music that fits his style; this competition seemed to get more and more out of his comfort zone. We’ll see more of him, I’m sure.So there you go. No surprise, it’s a Crystal/Lee finale. Wow, I can’t believe that back in March when I was on the radio with Bob Crittenden I predicted that finale. Who knew?See you next week for what promises to be one big finale extravaganza!
Find out tonight, with live performance by Justin Beiber and Travis Garland.Ryan starts off the night talking with Casey, Crystal and Lee about how their perspectives have changed, and how much work goes into the show, and what they’ve learned this season about music and themselves. Casey admits that he never thought he’d get this far, and says it’s all so much more than he expected.Crystal says she’s cool with whatever happens but she wants to win. Lee says winning seemed so far as they went through each week, and right now he wants to win more than ever.Ryan asks them about the balance of the competition and real life. Lee says he’d love no thing more than to just hang out with people but he can’t, and he says it’s hard not to hurt people’s feelings and he doesn’t like that. Casey gets at least 150 text messages a day and he tries to respond to as many as possible, Crystal says she’s tugged in a million different directions; her son comes first, her diabetes comes next, and she says she wouldn’t have the care she’s getting without the show.Randy says the final three have all blossomed and kind of “found themselves”. The contestants tell the judges that their advice has been helpful; although Casey says, with all due respect, not every comment was helpful. Big laughs.Cue Ford commercial. One more week of these! Yay!The first hometown visit is to Texas to visit with Casey James’ fans and family. He seems happy to be on Texas soil, and is surprised they’re stopping traffic for him. Just in case you ladies are interested: Casey does not have a girlfriend. We see Casey signing autographs, including one lady’s puppy. Yes, a live puppy. He’s clearly overwhelmed by the attention. Casey goes back to visit the hospital where six years ago he was cared for after an accident. That was a very teary reunion. The think about Casey that’s so great is that he really is so humble and just a good old boy from Texas. Casey is choked up watching the video.Listen, I’ve been predicting a Crystal/Lee finale – but seeing the hometown support Casey has nothing would surprise me at this point.Up next, Travis Garland. Tell me, who is Travis Garland, and why should we care? Oh brother. He was discovered online by Perez Hilton? It’s just more processed pop crap. Earth to Idol: this is why your viewership is down. You’ve got a show where you’re trying to get contestants to be unique, stretch their talents, and stand out. And then week after week you parade guests across the stage who wouldn’t even make it through Hollywood week because they 1) suck, 2) suck and 3) suck. Our next hometown visit is to Toledo, OH with Crystal Bowersox. They declared Crystal Bowersox Day. She signs one guys chest, and says, “You better bathe,” to which he replies, “Oh this is geting a tattoo.” Lots of folks out to see her, but it seems like less frenzy than Casey. She gets a huge crowd for her performance, and then it’s off to her dad’s house for a barbeque with her son and family. Then she does another performance called Bowerstock where she sings one of her original songs, a huge parade, she throws out the opening pitch at a ball game. Big doin’s in Ohio for Mamasox. As she sits with Ryan, she’s laughing and crying; she’s very emotional about her hometown and how much she wants to do for them through the show.Next visit? Lee Dewyze in Chicago, IL. The city streets are packed for him, lots of kids and twitterpated ladies. He throws out the opening pitch at a Cubs game, and visits an elementary school where the kids are about to bust out of their skin with excxitement. And an intro from his first grade teacher. He goes to visit the paint store where he used to work, and he chokes up and starts crying. Then it’s home to see his parents, a parade and more screaming girls, and then a stadium filled concert; he performs “The Boxer” and chokes up. Sitting with Ryan, Lee is crying again. I’m sorry, I just love this guy. Ryan asks about making his father proud; Lee says it’s all insane, crazy and awesome and the support of his parents is so important. I’m starting to wonder if Casey might actually make it to the finale. Those hometown visits say a lot about fans; and let’s not discount the power of tween girls in puppy love. We’ll find out in a few minutes though. First we have to watch another guest performance, this time from Justin Beiber.OK, I can’t believe I’m about to say this: but this kid is adorable. Reminds me of when I fell in puppy love with Donny Osmond a million years ago. Little mini drum solo, and the crowd goes wild. I can see the attraction this time. Still tweeny bopper pop, but way cleaner than some of the other stuff we’ve seen. It’s Jonas-esque.And now it’s time to find out which two are in the finale. Ryan gives each contestant a recap of last night’s performances. And the first person in the finale is Lee Dewyze. And with his is Crystal Bowersox, which means Casey is going home. I don’t think any of that is a surprise. He sings his goodbye song – “Daughters” – sans guitar. He walks around, gives a girl in the audience a hug, touches hands with adoring fans, pickes up a little girl in the audience and carries her to the judges riser, where he sits with the girl – I think that’s a niece?Hugs to the judges, a video recap of Casey’s journey- from the shirt off in his audition to Crystal admitting she has a little crush on Casey. I’ve grown to like him a lot the last few weeks, even though I didn’t think he would make the finale. I hope he goes on to make some great music that fits his style; this competition seemed to get more and more out of his comfort zone. We’ll see more of him, I’m sure.So there you go. No surprise, it’s a Crystal/Lee finale. Wow, I can’t believe that back in March when I was on the radio with Bob Crittenden I predicted that finale. Who knew?See you next week for what promises to be one big finale extravaganza!
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