On the scene: 'Idol' final three performance night

Ah, to breathe the air of the Idol studio again. It's been too long, my friends, and I've traveled far ' all the way to England and back! So first, a big thanks to my colleagues Ari Karpel, Adam Vary and Aunt Whittlz for subbing in. They all do the recap proud, don't they? That's why they get paid the big bucks, people. As for me, even though I was an ocean away, American Idol is pretty much inescapable no matter where you are in the world, and certainly in the UK where I watched Brooke go down in a blaze of runny mascara (yes, Pop Idol may be dead, but the American version thrives on London cable). By the following week, when I made my way to New York City, I was sure Syesha would be next to go, but ' surprise! ' she's still here. How did this happen?

I'm with the Castro conspiracy contingent who believes he purposely threw the race. Folded. Cashed in his chips. Unceremoniously waved buh-bye (and probably good riddance) to the competition. How else can you explain choosing "I Shot The Sheriff" instead of Bob Marley's "Redemption Song," which would've, could've, should've been the perfect fit?! Still, I do miss his cute dread-y face. Thank goodness, David Cook's still around.

With that in mind, let's move on to the final three. In the last few days, much of the media focus has been on David Archuleta and his dad's banishment from Idol rehearsals. So not surprisingly, when Jeff Archuleta walked into the studio, all eyes were fixated on him and that bouncy plaid cap. It seems Father's Day came early for this audience, since Papa Archie arrived a good 30 minutes before show-time, dutifully taking his seat behind the judges' table. He didn't sit still for long, though. It seems the Idol floor is also a networking opportunity for Mr. A, who chit-chatted with friends and nearby B-listers like Marilu Henner. Though...

Read the full post at Entertainment Weekly POPWATCH

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