After 47 million votes this week, American Idol's Season 9 showdown is set: It's down to the final two singers. First, we got to see all the contestants have their days of being a hometown hero, each returning to their native cities to perform, greet fans and visit with family. But who is headed home to stay?
To call this episode a results show is almost laughable, as there was barely any mention of the results until the show's last seven minutes. However, it was a highlight as usual to see the singers in their respective hometowns. (And yes, I prematurely griped at the show last night, forgetting that they show most of the trips during results night. Apologies.) Some thoughts on the packages:
Casey James
Casey's trip showcased his performance less than the other two, but he did get the usual parade and visit to the local news station. Of particular note was Casey's visit to the hospital where he recovered from his near-death accident. As expected, that visit brought a few tears.
Crystal seemed to have the most fun during her visit. From getting the key to Toledo, Ohio, to having the day named in her honor to playing peek-a-boo with the large crowd from the top of her limo, Crystal soaked it all in. Her package was notably devoid of many tears, but they came in the studio, where she revealed the song she played was an original tune written about her hometown.
Lee DeWyze
Lee's highlights were a nice mix of the previous two. Lee was very emotional when visiting the paint store where he used to work and when performing before a huge crowd, but he also got to have fun (like throwing out the first pitch at Wrigley Field). Also, did you see all those screaming girls when Lee returned to his school? They just might make the difference in who wins this season.
Before we got results, we were forced to watch a couple of musical performances.
Travis Garland, "Believe"
This kid is a YouTube sensation who apparently owes his fame to Perez Hilton. That should have been the first sign of trouble. The song was poppy enough in a generic way, but Hilton's suggestion that he is better than Justin Timberlake is absurd.
Justin Bieber, "You Smile" and "Baby"
I am not one of the millions who suffers from Bieber Fever, but following Garland, he looked like a musical genius. My complaint about his music is that it sounds so young. Yes, I know he's a teen, but "You Smile" sounds better suited for Barney & Friends than the Billboard charts. Still, the girls in the audience swooned.
Results
Since the show opened with a seemingly endless roundtable discussion with contestants about winning, Ryan Seacrest wasted little time when it came to giving the actual results. I will be equally efficient, mostly because it was inevitable: Casey James was sent home.
Casey was often among my favorites, but it was clear he was never going to win. We'll be hearing about Casey in the future. But it seems nothing could come in the way of a DeWyze-Bowersox finale.
So, did the right person go home? Who do you think will win it all? Vote below in our poll.
