A List Of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago

IN A HUFF: Words cannot express -- okay, these perhaps are close enough -- how disappointed I was tonight on Idol that they didn't use the final five as an opportunity to let Crystal Bowersox play the role of George Huff -- the until-now standard "two guys over here, two over there -- Crystal go stand with the group with whom you belong," which would have worked especially well given that she hasn't seen the previous seasons. Instead they did it in reverse, naming the safe person (Lee) first, then dividing the remaining pairs, with Seacrest half-heartedly offering an invitation for him to pick two to join which he promptly declined. Odd.

Tonight's result was inevitable; this wasn't someone who was going to make the list of top 24-selling Idol artists of all time, though nor quite frankly might any of these five but-for a perfunctory winner's bump. Next week: songs of the cinema, with Jamie Foxx returning to guest mentor the same theme again, though he was thoroughly unmemorable (at best) last time. (Also of note: last year's final four was the one solo/one duet format; will we see something similar this time?)

Added: Hey, let's take a look at my original tier analysis below the fold. It's mostly holding up, and where it's wrong we know why it was wrong. I do want to note Girard31's comment back then: "Siobhan can't win. The little girls and grammas will vote her off. They'll make Casey go a long way, and Crystal reminds them of the cool mom/daughter on the block, so she could last as well. Big Mike could go the distance if he doesn't appear threatening in any way. It's the tweens and the grammas who vote, always remember that."

Doesn't Belong Here, And Will Not Be Around By The End of Passover: Tim, Aaron, Paige

Could Linger For A While, But Each Seems Too Limited To Win: Didi, Lacey, Andrew

Will Go Even Longer Than Them, And We All Like Him, But He Ain't Winning Either: Big Mike

The Wild Cards With Serious Potential To Fulfill My Theory #2, and Believe Me Alex Lambert Would Have Been Listed Here With A Bullet: Lee, Katie

My Presumptive Final Three: Siobhan, Crystal, The Outlaw Casey James -- with Siobhan winning.