SkimIt
At a "SPECIAL!" night, a day earlier than usual, the final showdown this season commences, between Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips. And you (and by you, I mean millions of 16 year old girls who each vote a thousand times each), will get to decide tonight which one of them is victorious.
Last Chance
You may not know this, but Jessica Sanchez very nearly won by default. Phillip has been in poor health for the entire season, a kidney issue that has worsened over the past few weeks. The poor kid has delayed surgeon-suggested surgery so he can finish out the show. He has only medication and a temporary splint to hold him through. Now that's perseverance.
So your assumption that Phillip was being a gentleman for escorting Jessica down the stairs is backwards.
But he made it, and so the 21-year-old east coast guy will be taking on the 16-year-old west coast girl.
Phillip won the coin toss, and he took the wise choice of the power position of last.
Fuller's Choice
The first round is comprised of choices by the show's creator, Simon Fuller.
He chooses Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing" for Jessica, marking the fiftieth Houston song she has sung this season. It was a fairly obvious choice to go with a powerhouse diva song for the powerhouse kid, but it's obvious for a reason, as her voice is tailor made for such material.
Fuller picks the classic, timeless "Stand By Me" for Phillip Phillips. The song I can't help but think of Wesley Crusher, a fat Jerry O'Connell, the more talented of the Coreys, and the tragic Phoenix running away from a speeding train. But the memories are tied to the superior composition of the original. Not the watered down acoustic mess that Phillip delivered. There are many times this season where his fiddling worked. Unfortunately, here at the finale, it most decidedly does not.
Since Ryan is asking, I'll make my own calls for each round for who "won," and Randy is entirely correct.
Round Winner: Jessica Sanchez
Defeated
Apparently America was helping some over-hyped pop singer write a barely listenable song all season.
