Can Syesha stop David vs. David?

They're playing games with the time, as Idol starts at an odd 8:30 p.m. EST. Ryan says it's the closest race this show has ever seen... ok. There are no facts on this show anymore, only hype.

All are in various aspects of black; one of my favorite shows, actually, where the judges pick, the producers, and the contestants. Syesh's in glittery gold, really stands out among all the black. "Good luck to you guys, and girl" says Ryan.

David Archuleta's mayor in Utah, with a crazy mustache; Billy Joel's So It Goes, chosen by Paula. She wants him to showcase his vocals, and his high level of difficulty. I'm not sure about this, it's kind of a tricky song to appreciate. Wow, soars at the start, a capella; hmmm, maybe Paula was right. Audience is quiet; I'm thinking Fields of Gold would've worked even better; but this is a pretty good choice. No shrieking from the fans until the end, and its extreme close-up; then they go nuts, at least in the front row--a tough song to get into. Randy says Paula chose a dope song, you're in the zone; Paula calls it pure and stunning, says he was a storyteller; Simon says no surprises, very good but not outstanding.

Back, Randy/Simon mess with Ryan, mocking his pitchman role along with Paula; Syesha's in Tampa, Randy picks Alicia Keyes' If I Ain't Got You, who she loves. He says she could make a great record like this. I think it's okay; the song isn't great, start is hard to get into. Picks up in the chorus a bit, and she sings it well, I'm just not that into the song. Not a great pick; Randy says she did an amazing job, happy that you're peaking at the right time; Paula says hard to do a song so tied to an artist, you look stunning; Simon says you sang it well, wish Randy had picked something not so tied to someone but not bad. She tells Ryan she's finally over her nerves and comfortable, does this weird "be my self, you know" line.

David Cook in Kansas City on the local FOX affiliate, Simon picks First Time Ever I Saw Your Face--wow, now that's an interesting pick, the anchors are surprised by a Roberta Flack song. He says it's one of the great songs of all time, wanted him to do something original off it, tough song but you can do it. Wow, Ryan banters with the judges right next to David until a second before he sings; he takes command right away, it's his own version, plain and unspooling. Man, I really wish he had more of a cushion, but this is pretty mesmerizing. It's the closest anyone's come this round to a Somewhere Over the Rainbow moment, a great pick. Again, it could've been even better if Ryan hadn't been talking right until it started, as it is the audience loves it. Randy wanted something less predictable, more rocking, but liked it; Paula says great job; Simon says one of your best performances to date, round one goes to Cook and Cowell. Everyone's in a great mood tonight, maybe because all three are legitimately up there.

Archuleta's second song is his pick, not sure why this song isn't last. With You, by Chris Brown, hasn't done it for a while and worth a shot, says it was hard to learn. Ryan says get ready to sing, confuses David a bit, waits until he's in position, then Ryan kicks it to him. I guess they learned from the Cook debacle. It's a fun song, definitely contemporary song; lots of screaming. Not my thing, but it seems to go well for him. He seems to be swallowing his words, good passion but I don't know, just doesn't do anything for me; then again, teen hearthrobs aren't aiming for me. Randy says something new and young, but not the right song; Paula says actually perfect for you, another part of you, just don't extend the phrases; Simon says nice shot, but song's too big for you, not really you, awkward with the dancing and all.

Syesha up, doing Peggy Lee's Fever. Hmmm... she likes the vibe, wants to use the chair, work it a little bit. Her personality is really starting to come out, she's definitely not normal. Vamps it up, playacting definitely is her thing; the lighting is horrible on her face, she's in shadows. Another case where the song isn't great; I think Syesha's happy to be where she is, this wasn't a go for it song, it was a celebratory choice, nothing memorable. Randy says interesting song choice, sung well; Paula surprised by the choice, not sure it shows who you are as an artist; Simon says you'll regret this choice tomorrow, you had a choice to show your contemporary side, instead it was a lame cabaret performance.

David Cook's choice, I'm expecting something good. Doing Switchfoot's Dare You to Move, which I've never even heard of, says the lyrics wrap up his experience. Oh oh, those things are never any good, nobody's listening hard for the message! Ryan gives him time to walk across stage, does a quick promo as David sprints, then he's off. Oh god, it's his usual emo indulgent choice, spools it out slow at the start; he's like half cool, half dork; kicks it up in the second half, when it becomes pretty enjoyable. He's like a step behind Blake Lewis and Chris Daughtry, doesn't always quite connect. Randy says not your best, a little pitchy baby; Paula says hard to chop a song down, ran out of time; Simon says it was fine, not the best melodic song, all three of you guys were okay.

Archuleta's producers choice, which they get right to after Cook, is Longer, it's ridiculous--totally syrupy and karaoke and just so irrelevant to today's audience. It's like they were kicking around ideas, wouldn't it be cute if he sang this.... The lyrics are just silly, I am in love with you; ugh. Randy says another interesting song choice, Paula says lovely, Simon says bad choice by the producers, absolutely horrible, so gooey, like something you'd chose for a 90-year-old; but I think you'll be in the finals. I have no idea why anybody would choose that song for Archuleta, it's like they're trying to sabotage him.

Syesha's last chance says Ryan, doing Hit Me Up with a lot of attitude, fun, runs; hmm, this is actually a decent choice, she's showing off her range, gets the crowd into it. Dances well too; she looks like a star, like a low-level version of Beyonce. Randy says not bad, just okay; Paula goes off on some tangent, did the song well, not your type of song, maybe not good enough to get into the finals; Simon says better than the second song, your best moment was last week, nothing has topped it and no big moment.

David Cook closes it out, still waiting for something great tonight. Ryan's in a crowd of plastic people, really, where do they find these audience members. I Don't Want to Miss a Thing; eh, it's okay; he milks it for everything it's worth, the song just isn't very good, takes forever to build to his screaming moments. The crowd loves it, for some reason; Randy says loved the song, performance just okay, very predictable; Paula loves it, songwriter's in the audience, Paula says see ya in the finals, that's what I predict; Simon says you win the night.

Really, it's sad this is the final three; Cook's first song was the best of the night by a long shot, and even that wasn't amazing. Oh well; maybe something crazy will happen next week.

David Cook, First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
David Archuleta, So It Goes
Syesha Mercado, Hit Me Up
David Cook, Dare You to Move
David Cook, Don't Want to Miss a Thing
David Archuleta, With You
Syesha Mercado, Fever
Syesha Mercado, If I Ain't Got You