When Crystal Bowersox and Lee Dewyze take the “American Idol” stage on Wednesday, they’re not just going up against each other, they’re also going up against the legend of Simon Cowell, whose reign over “Idol” ends the same night.
The season finale is expected to be very “Cowell-centric,” according to one person with knowledge of the plans. But is it possible to give him a proper send-off without overshadowing two fairly unmemorable finalists?
“ ‘American Idol’ is in a tricky spot,” said Craig Berman, who covers “Idol” for TODAYshow.com. “It has to acknowledge that Simon is leaving — he's been the face of the show, the one person everyone can't wait to hear from and the biggest factor that has made ‘Idol’ stand out from its imitators. But it also has to convey that ‘Idol’ is more than Simon, and that his departure won't cause the show to go to pieces.”
Cowell aside, Berman does suggest that perhaps Bowersox and Dewyze deserve a little more credit than they've been given.
“I'd actually say that these aren't the weakest finalists ever,” he said. “Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis were worse, as were Fantasia and Diana DeGarmo. I'm not sure (Bowersox and Dewyze) are particularly memorable, but I didn't think Kris Allen was memorable a year ago and he's doing well for himself.”
Conversely, Richard Rushfield, a four-year veteran of the “Idol” beat and author of “Don’t Follow Me, I’m Lost,” wondered if Dewyze and Bowersox even have it in them to make an impression after the show is over.
“Is there really any hope of theatrics that could make the duo memorable?” Rushfield wondered during a phone conversation hours before the performances.
“This finale show is definitely a huge turning point (in ‘Idol’), or it better be,” said Rushfield. “It’s the end of the Cowell era and he’s been the star of the show for all these years. I don’t believe that ‘Idol’ needs to have Simon Cowell at the front, but it needs to have a compelling panel of judges.”
Rushfield points to the judging panel as one of the reasons ‘Idol’ has had an off year. “This has been a kind of interim year,” he said. “The panel is in flux, you have one new judge (Ellen DeGeneres) that is either getting her legs or not, and the other two. I don’t think you can just replace Simon.”
Whether or not that’s true, one thing is certain: Cowell is missed before he’s even gone. Bowersox and Dewyze, best of luck. You both need it.
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