"American Idol": Lee Greenwood vs. Jewel

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"American Idol", the TV show that has come to influence music as much as the iPod this past decade, is about to crown the next person who could successfully interpret songs made famous by somebody else.

While "Idol" remains a cash cow for Fox, the show is in a transition period.  Paula Abdul has been replaced as a judge by Ellen DeGeneres, the talk show host who has no connection to the music business other than dancing to the beat.  Simon Cowell, the persnickety judge who helped make the show what it is today, is leaving to help launch another talent show for Fox called "The X Factor", which won't debut until the fall of 2011.  (Abdul is reportedly considering joining Cowell on "X".)  And the show's ratings, though remaining high, have been slipping in the face of competition from "Dancing With The Stars" on ABC.

One of the reasons for the ratings drop is that, according to people who pay attention to the show more than we do, is that the level of talent this year isn't the greatest.  Which is how we ended up with Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze in the finals that were held Tuesday night at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles.

Both Bowersox and DeWyze had three rounds to prove themselves to the judges, and to the millions of viewers with cell phones at the ready (preferably AT&T) to cast their votes.  Here's our score card.

• In Round One, DeWyze went first with the Simon and Garfunkel classic "The Boxer".  He had a generic male singing voice booming out the lyrics, making him sound like Lee Greenwood.  Bowersox performed "Me and Bobby McGee", made famous by Janis Joplin.  Jewel, not Joplin, came to mind.
• Round Two:  DeWyze did a boisterous, upbeat version of "Everybody Hurts", a downbeat R.E.M. tune.  Bowersox' take on Alannah Myles' "Black Velvet" was OK, not great.
• Round Three:  DeWyze's version of U2's "Beautiful Day", complete with a chior, shouldn't give Bono much to worry about.  Bowersox did "Up To The Mountain" for her finale.  It's not a great song, but she knocked it out of the park.

We're not saying Lee DeWyze is a bad singer.  We just think that he could do much better with original material.  And with that voice, he could be a welcome addition to singing the National Anthem at baseball games and Republican fundraisers.  Just like Lee Greenwood.

Crystal Bowersox, by default really, is our choice as the next American Idol.  However, her style is more suited for coffeehouses and radio stations like Cities 97, which makes her chances of a successful career iffy at best.  Maybe Sarah McLaughlin can find a place for her on the upcoming Lilith tour.

The winner will be announced at the end of tomorrow night's bloated two-hour finale.  If history is any guide, the fickle fingers of  "American Idol"'s mostly female audience will make Lee DeWyze the winner instead, leading him to a career path matched only by Taylor Hicks and Kris Allen.  And Simon Cowell's decision to leave the show will prove to be sound.