This… is the last week I watch American Idol with any consistency! Disclaimer: I will watch if Harry Connick Jr. or David Foster replaces Simon and they keep Ellen. Ditching Kara wouldn’t hurt, either.

Boooo. Simon’s last week on the show. But yay, more free time. Except maybe not, because I’ll watch X-Factor.

Crystal and Lee run down the aisle onto the stage at the Nokia Theater. I’m so glad it’s these two, they actually deserve to be in the finale. I can’t remember the last time the two best were in the finale. Season 4 with Carrie and Bo? Probably. Anyway, Crystal’s been my favorite all season, but Lee’s been my second favorite for most of it, and I don’t know who I want to win. I’ll be happy either way. Love them both. NO THANKS TO THE JUDGES’ SAVE, WHICH TRIED TO KEEP IN A CONTESTANT THAT WE OBVIOUSLY DIDN’T WANT, OR HE’D BE HERE TONIGHT.

Yeah, not a fan of the judges’ save.

Anyway, Crystal won the coin toss and gets to go second. After the break and all.

So there are three rounds. First, each sings his/her favorite song from the season. Second, they sing a song chosen by Simon Fuller, so he can sabotage whichever one he thinks will make him less money. Third, they sing the song they’ll release if they win. I hope it’s about hurricanes and rainbows. It’s what we all want to hear in preparation for our yearly Idol-finale-related purge.

LEE is singing “The Boxer”. I’m underwhelmed–sounds like the first time he did it, so I’ve already heard it, ya know? Randy thinks it wasn’t the best he’s been. Ellen loved it. Kahra liked it. Simon is DASHING tonight. Simon would like a lot more passion tonight so he’s disappointed. He says it’s like wanting a kiss on the lips and getting a kiss on the cheek.

Adorable pics of Crystal as a teenager. She’s singing “Me and Bobby McGee”. And this is the kind of performance they need to bring tonight. Yeah, same as before, but so full of energy, especially the 2nd half. RANDY: It was dope. ELLEN: I’ve said it before, but I’ve said pass the salt many times, and I don’t care. You fill up the room. Stunning. KAHRA: I loved it when you first did it, and I loved it tonight. You have fire in your belly. SIMON: This brought me back to the time when we first fell in love with you. We’ve got a competition tonight.

Round one to Crystal.

Simon Fuller has chosen “Everybody Hurts” for LEE. Ok, uhm, let’s all say it together: SABOTAGE. I mean, tell me, people. What can he do with that song? It’s great for hangin’ out in the rumpus room playing Scrabble and listening to tunes, but what a CRAP song choice for Idol. If Lee had chosen this song, the judges would have been all over him about song choice. He sings it fine, sounds great, but it’s boring for Idol. At least now I know who the producers have picked to win this season. Sorry, Lee. Maybe if you’d smiled more, they wouldn’t have tried to kill you off in the last episode. That said, once he found out he was singing this song, he should have changed his pick for the first round to something more exciting, and he didn’t. RANDY: That was definitely better, because I could feel your passion in it. Started out pitchy. ELLEN: I felt like you went off a couple of times, but I don’t really care about that, because it’s about the performance. You got exciting a couple of times but then pulled back. Don’t pull back. KAHRA: Not a perfect vocal, but I love that about you. Blah blah blah. SIMON: Brilliant choice of song for me. You went a little off melody at times, but what I’m feeling from you tonight is that you’re nervous. And you’ve got another song to come. I think you’ve really got to grasp what this night can do to change your life. When you come out for your last song, I want to see a 10 out of 10.

Yeeeeaaaah. Told you it was sabotage. Crystal gets “Black Velvet”. Can do so much more with this song than with Lee’s song. And she takes it above and beyond what even I was expecting from her. Outstanding. RANDY: Mamasox is in it to win it! ELLEN: The wardrobe changes, it’s like a Cher concert in here! That was fantastic! KAHRA: Tonight is the night to give it your all, to kill yourself on that stage. You want it, you can tell. SIMON: I had a little bit of a problem, because I’m almost allergic to that song because people have murdered it in auditions. But you took that song, and you absolutely nailed it. I’m very impressed.

Yeah. Round 2 also goes to Crystal. She’s gonna win the heck out of this thing.

Last chance for Lee. If he wins, he will release “Beautiful Day”. The U2 song! So no hurricanes and rainbows! I guess my yearly purge will have to wait for tomorrow night’s group sing. I’m pretty disappointed. He didn’t do all he could have with it, and I would have expected more from the big last chance to sing for his supper. Oh well. I’ll still buy his 2nd place album. Love the guy. RANDY: Once again, it started off a little interesting, you walking around. By the middle of the song, hitting the high notes, you started getting your groove, and that’s the Lee I love. ELLEN: Watching you grow to where you are right now, watching you taking in every bit of these people’s energy, I’m so proud of you. You did a great job. KAHRA: You got a bit swallowed up in that song, it had good moments and bad. SIMON: You made the most of it. This is my last time judging on this show, and I want to say you’re what this show is about. Regular guy who needs a break. You deserve to be here, I’m glad you’re here, you’re nice, etc.

Crystal’s single if she wins will be “Up to the Mountain”. I don’t know this song. I’m loving it, though. The girl is wonderful. Clear winner tonight and all season long. She got all emotional and teared up at the end. I almost did too, but I’m pregnant, so a freaking ladybug makes me cry. RANDY: This is what this show is about. An amazing song by an amazing singer. This is one of the greatest performances and one of your best moments on this show, at the perfect time. That was incredible. ELLEN: You’re always looking for someone unique, someone we don’t already have out there right now. I can’t compare you to anyone out there right now. If you’re making an album, I’m buying it. If you’re going on tour, I’m going on tour and watching. If you’re making a salad, I’m eating it. KAHRA: Lots of words about walls and entrails and stuff. She loved it. CRYSTAL says good luck on your endeavors, etc, to SIMON and thanks him for all of his criticism and help this season. SIMON: Thank you. Crystal, since it’s becoming a bit of a love fest tonight, I thought that was by far the best performance and the song of the night. And since this is gonna be the final critique I’m ever gonna give, I would like to say that was outstanding. FRANK: I wanted him to say, “Since this is the final critique I’m ever gonna give, I still have to add that it was horrible.

RYAN says we’ll all miss Simon.

Yes, I’m crying over the last critique Simon gave. Because I love him and all that. Boo hoo.

Will Young, the guy who sings this year’s going home song, “Leave Right Now”, is singing it onstage now while they play a tribute to the season. He’s a Pop Idol winner or something. Love his voice.

So. Finale tomorrow night, and there will be livebloggage. I mean, as soon as I get home. So DVR-delayed livebloggage.