Yes, the producers speak. They wanted a balance of guys and gals. Who do you think would be the biggest commercial draw...think $$$$ for the Idol producers. Country has had the biggest commercial success, followed by balladeer (Clarkson, Underwood, McCreery, Archaletta, Clay Aiken). Pop-rockers not so good or the soul crooner (Chris Allen (who?), David Cook, the Soul Patrol guy, Lee Dweedle Zee, Reuben, Fantasia). On that premise......another commercial dud in the making. Maybe the quirky Alex could find a commercial niche.

Anyone see where Scottie McCreary's apartment was the site of a home invasion yesterday AM. No one was hurt, but the three thugs got away. He was living by NC State College

OK, one thug in custody at present. Assume he'll squeal on his buddies

I hate these shows because whenever I think the person is going to win. They get sent home.

I watch the voice UK and the USA. The voice Uk i was sure an older women Sally Barker was a going to win. That lady can sing she lost.

Then the voice US I was positive Sisuandra Lewis was going to win. She has a kick arse voice gone. Some Cowboy was picked before her by the fans.

Reporting from Flu-rida, last week:

Top 4 - Love



CALEB sang understated, for him. K: Killah; J: Ready for prime time

JESS sounded raw, Joan-Jetty. J: Got attitude, but not your style; H: Show us how you feel

ALEX is perhaps the best singer left. H: Built tune up in own style every week; K: Take more command; J: No 'moments'

JENA was okay. K: Too forced; J: Controlled; H: Disconnect



CALEB didn't do too much, great vox. J: Tough to beat

JESS was better. H: Song choice again; K: Agreed; J: Not right for you

JENA, wasn't sure about this one. K: Really good; H: Nice job

ALEX was great, of course, but yeah, no 'moments'. J: Stayed linear, surprise us; H: Break it down and reinvent it



CALEB was awesome. H: Phenomenal; K: Killah; J: Your best performance

JESS was okay, nothing special. K: Perfect song for you; H: Came out swinging, killed it

JENA is always great with piano ballads. J: [Walked on stage to hug/kiss her]; H: Incredible; K: Musical platypus

ALEX was pleasant as usual. H: You needed that, great performance; K: Poetic vulnerability; J: Integral to this competition

----

My overall rankings this week: Caleb, Alex, Jena, Jess


Results

Ford: "What I Miss"

Harry imitates Scarface ("Say 'ello to my li'l friend") with Beignet sugar on his nose.

First one safe is..... Jena

"Picnic in the Park"

Next safe is..... Caleb

Last one safe is...... Alex (whew!)

Jess sings, something, finally out!

Top 3 - AI's 500th Episode



CALEB is sick, so wasn't his most powerful, understood. J: You on your worst night are better than people on their best

ALEX wasn't at his best either, but he makes a good frontman. J: Elevated Alex; H: Saw wheels turning, more rehearsal would've helped; R: Dope

JENA was okay, didn't blow me away. H: High risk, high reward; K: Mixed in fun; J: Shaky, stiff; R: Started slow



CALEB had to hold back, unfortunately. J: Makes you rely on other things, sang emotion

ALEX made it his, as usual. J: Beautiful, all yours, goosies; H: Really strong; K: owned that song

JENA's low parts I couldn't even hear. H: Wanna hear 100% all the time; J: Very lose, controlled



CALEB did this in Top 9 and got the season's only solid-A. B+ under the weather, and for killing the mic stand! K: Moment of miraculous healing; J: True Idol moment; H: Took full advantage

ALEX was my #1 in Top 10 week with this (B+), less magical tonight. J: So hard [to pick]; H: Very strong; K: Hard to follow "Stay"

JENA did this for Top 7, and I hated it (C-, #7) though the judges loved it then. Better this time. H: Even better than last time, don't envy voters; K: You so "belong here"

----

Interestingly, I picked each contestant winning a round and losing a round, so everything all even in that regard. I have to give the edge to Alex (B+/B/B) then Caleb (B+/B/B). Jena started out very annoying to me, and it took awhile to get used to that voice. She had her moments, and she'll probably be in the finale, but I'd rather see Alex and Caleb. I'd like to see Alex win, for being the most original and talented overall.

wow, YOU GUYS TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY. WHILE I'M AN OLD MAN WHO REALLY ISN'T CRAZY OVER HEAVY METAL OR HARD ROCK, I CAN'T SEE HOW ANY OF THEM BEAT CALEB. EVEN WHILE SICK, HE HAD THE AUDIENCE AND JUDGES IN PANDEMONIUM. DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THAT WEASEL FROM NH IS STILL IN THERE. JENA IS ALSO GREAT

I am with you, Geoff. I would love to see an Alex/Caleb finale as well. Caleb is very talented, but I'm afraid he's a one-trick pony. The judges have been pushing Jena, though, so who knows??

THAT 'WEASEL' HAPPENS TO BE THE MOST TALENTED, OVERALL, IMHO.



Now we know....

Results

We meet Ryan's new puppy, Georgia (looks like a chocolate Lab)

Weekly Dinner Recap

#FordIdolJourney reveals each contestant's debut singles, should they win: Alex, "I Love This Feeling"; Jena, "We Are One"; Caleb, "As Long As You Love Me"

Jena Goes Home (Farmington Hills, MI); finds out she'll perform with Paramore on the finale

Catching up with Danny Gokey (S8, Top 3) & Elliott Yamin (S5, Top 3)

S10 winner, Scotty McCreery, performs "Feelin' It"

Alex Goes Home (Mont Vernon, NH); will perform with Jason Mraz on finale

Caleb Goes Home (Asheville, NC); will perform with KISS!!!!!!

Results........

First going to finale is.... Jena
Next is.... Caleb

Aww, poor Alex, but I think he'll do just fine.

Tue/Wed finale next week.

A little off the topic, but I can't stand it that while one of the singers is singing, the damn cameras have to keep focusing on J. Lopez. Annoying- at least to me. My family has me outnumbered and they say Jena will win.

Top 2 - Finale, Part 1

This is it, Caleb "The Rock & Roll Viking" vs Jena "The Sleeper"....



JENA was okay, a bit meh. K: Breath control, own stage; J: Good start; H: Great job

Caleb hit the note! J: That what you gotta do! H: Phenomenal, but keep power throughout; K: Disagree, arc was exceptional.



Both from Top 4 week, I give them a tie here. Neither were as special/magical as the first time we heard them. First time, Jena was #1 (A-) and Caleb #2 (B+).

JENA H: Unique and special; K: Leader, trailblazer; J: Soul comes through, goosies

CALEB K: Don't lose feeling; J: More heart, less power; H takes a vote who won the first two rounds [K: Tie, J: Jena, H: Jena]



JENA did okay with a crappy song, good performer. J: Really good; H: Nice work; H: Perfect for you

CALEB's song sounded retro-corny, great vox of course, felt long. H: You're gonna sleep tonight, Ali vs Frazier; K: Congrats to both; J: Good luck, America!

I pretty much have these two tied at this point. JENA will likely win, but I voted for CALEB -- whom I've loved all season.

Top 12 Idols sing "Break Away"

I am not going to watch these talent shows anymore. Everytime I think I know the most talented contestant they never win.

I stopped watching this show when some guy named Chris daughtry lost.

Not watching the voice uk after Sally Barker lost.

Not watching the voice USA after Sisuandra Lewis lost.

The Season Spectacle Finale

Caleb & Jena do a medley of "We Will Rock You" (Caleb) / "Just A Girl" (Jena) / "It's Only Love" (both)

Sam Woolf does "Home", then with Phillip Phillips, "Raging Free"

Jennifer Nettles does "That Girl", then with Jess, "Wrecking Ball"

J-Lo (in a skimpy outfit) performs "First Love"

Caleb and KISS perform "Love Gun / Shout It Out Loud"

"AI: A Bad Lip Reading" [tho I can't find it at badlipreading.com)

Aloe Blacc w/ the AI Boys do "The Man"

#FordIdolJourney - celebrity riders (for their dressing rooms) + presentation of 2015 Ford Mustangs for each finalist

Finalist mentors, Jena: Choir Director Sherry & Caleb's guitar player, Josh, are each presented with a trip to the final, plus, Ford Fusions

Demi Lovato performs "Don't Really Care", and then "Neon Lights" with the AI Girls

Jena sings "Decode", then "Ain't it Fun" with Paramore

John Legend sings "You And I", then with Malaya, "All of Me"

Season Recap video

Alex w/ Jason Mraz perform "Love Someone"

Randy presents Ryan's family, Ryan "sings" "Right Here Waiting For You", then Richard Marx helps save the day

Highlights: The Judges

Darius Rucker (Hootie) sings "True Believer", then "Alright" with Dex and CJ

Lady Antebellum performs "Bartender"

A Chat w/ Caleb and Jena's families

The 3 Judges + Randy perform "True Colors / Go Your Own Way"

Judges' Final Thoughts: K: Both Killed It; J: Agreed; H: So proud of you two

Then to each other, the finalists say, "You da bomb!"

The winner is.............

CALEB!

Wow, kinda shocked -- the hard rocker usually doesn't win.

Minutes after being given the mic, and after a group hug, Caleb finally sings parts of his single, "As Long As You Love Me" -- his album drops August 12th.

Told ya !!

Would you pay $50 - $60 to see the winner in concert? Of all of the winners I might buy a ticket to see Carrie Underwood or possibly Chris Daughtry. That being said, I am not really the target audience since my concert going is limited to Billy Joel (this summer in Philly), Jimmy Buffett, and the Herman's Hermits!

I wouldn't pay $50.00 to see any of them. I did pay $60-70 to see Carrie Underwood.