After a season spent talking about Haley Scarnato!'s shoes, Sanjaya's hair and Melinda's Sally Field routine, "Idol" is down to ... Jordin and Blake. Who'll win the recording contract? TV columnist Lisa de Moraes was online Wednesday, May 23 at 1 p.m. ET to break down the tangibles and intangibles in this head-to-head matchup.

Read the latest TV column: 'Idol' Voters Have Spoken: No Mandate for Melinda (Post, May 17)

More TV Columns | de Moraes on TV blog | On TV Live Online transcripts.

De Moraes has written "The TV Column" for The Post since 1998. She served as the TV editor for the entertainment industry trade publication the "Hollywood Reporter" for almost a decade.

The transcript follows.

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Springfield, Va.: Thoughts on the winning song performances: Blake looked like he had taken a called third strike with two out in the ninth and the bases loaded and wanted to magically disappear back into the dugout. From Jordin's first note, she knew she was going to nail the song. Unanswered questions: Will the preteen girls push Blake over the top? Where can I get some of Paula's meds?

Lisa de Moraes: Hi. Golly I wish I understood this baseball metaphor ... I also wish I knew where Paula got her meds -- why not try tripping over a purse dog and see if you have as much luck. ... When we saw Blake visit his home last week and all those pre-teen girls were screaming at him and weeping like he was a Beatle and it was the '60s or something, I got this terrible sinking feeling. But it appears Melinda fans now are throwing themselves into the Jordin camp and most are guessing today that Jordin will win..

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Waldorf, Md.: I think Blake should win. I'm a little upset that all news is saying Jordin definitely is going to win. Blake is hands-down better!

Lisa de Moraes: You and I part company on the "Blake is better" bit. Dialidol.com is saying Blake will be out and Jordin will win. Of course, last week Dialidol also said last week that Melinda got more votes than Jordin or Blake. Dialidol has been consistently inaccurate this year -- or, more often, hides behind "too close to call."

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Okay ... was it my imagination Pookie...: or did Chris Daughtry have some serious eye makeup on? Even his eyebrows were done. Not becoming a rocker!

Lisa de Moraes: Looked like he was sporting eyeliner, mascara and brows tweezed to perfection. But isn't heavy eye makeup a time-honored rocker tradition, for guys and chicks? "Music" is not my forte, so I'm not in-the-know about the current uniform so vital to the "rebel" look...

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Manassas, Va.: It seems that Jordin was given a softball pitch with the last song of the night, and Blake was not given the same opportunity to do as well with the same tune. I am not saying this was premeditated or fixed by Fox or the "Idol" producers (because the winner's song selection was a contest run over a period of time) but Blake was definitely at a disadvantage because of the winner's song. What are your thoughts?

Lisa de Moraes: The "American Idol" Coronation Tune is always of the glutinous variety, so it's not like they did anything different this year in the interest of favoring Jordin over Blake. It takes someone with a gorgeous voice to pull off that kind of dreck -- listeners tend to focus on the voice and not on actual song. Blake relies on his bag of beatbox bells and whistles to amuse us, but those don't work well with treacle-tunes. So yes, Jordin had the advantage because she has a lovely, strong voice. Which is a really long-winded way of saying I do not think the song choice was premeditated, or fixed. Just the usual horrid-ness.

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Washington: Oh, Pookessa, I'm so disappointed you stopped calling it the "American Idol" treacle song! We were laughing so hard at the words -- a stringing together of every trite cliche ever put to music. And so obviously designed for a Jordin/Melinda finals. Melinda might have been able to make something out of that mess, you think?

Lisa de Moraes: Sorry to disappoint. I promise to refer to it as the "American Idol" Treacle Tune tonight. And yes, Melinda's "I'm a Little Teapot" routine would have been just the thing for this year's treacle tune "This is My Now." She would have hit it out of the park. It makes me very sad that this was not to be.

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Bethesda, Md.: They had to have a song writing contest to come up with that song? It was so cheesy -- better that last year, but that's not saying much.

Lisa de Moraes: Funny, I thought it was worse than last year. Worst ever, in fact...

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Oxford, Miss.: I wonder how many 5-year-old girls had to ask mommy what the word "bitch" meant last night after Ryan's little ha-ha.

Lisa de Moraes: "It means female dog," Mommy said if she was smart ... and yes, I know you are trying to make a very serious point about the millions of toddlers who went out into the street and began robbing convenience stores and beating old people after Seacrest exercised poor judgment and used the word in a lame stab at humor on a show watched by a large swathe of the population, including 5-year-olds. But -- and I'm not offering this as an excuse and I hope the FCC comes down from its mountaintop and smites him -- I'm guessing most 5-year-olds already have been exposed the word elsewhere ... like maybe the Westminster Dog Show, where it's "bitch" this and "bitch" that...

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Bethesda, Md.: Hi Lisa. My favorite part of the "American Idol" finales is looking through the audience and spotting the celebrities and seeing where they are seated in relation to each other. My favorite last night was seeing Melinda react to Jordin at the end of the show. Girl looked entranced.

Lisa de Moraes: My fave was seeing Charlie Sheen's ex at the top of the show...

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Detroit: This may have been the dullest "Idol" season. How many more seasons do you figure the show will run?

Lisa de Moraes: Lots more if they acknowledge they blew it this season and fix the problems. I don't think viewers have given up on the franchise, though they're not so wild about this season ... they need to do a much better job picking the pool of singers from which viewers get to pick. ... And they need to let viewers get to know them, like they used to, until this season for reasons I cannot explain ... except that they were too busy jamming Ford Music Videos and "Idol" Trivia Bowl questions into the program for there to be much time to get to know the Idolettes...

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Washington: I think Randy declared last night that this was one of the best finals in a long time, or maybe he said ever. In any case, what is wrong with him? Jordin and Blake, bless their hearts, are two of the most mediocre and unstarlike contestants that Idol has ever had. Neither of them had one good performance last night. Sigh.

Lisa de Moraes: Maybe Randy had dipped into Paula's pillbox?

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Washington: Where were the gospel singers last night? I don't really think the moment could really be described as their "Nows" without gospel singers. My "Now" certainly includes gospel singers, doesn't yours? What were the producers thinking?

Lisa de Moraes: Don't they usually save the gospel singers for tonight's finale?

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Youngstown, Ohio: Why not make the "Idol" contestants actually write a song of their own? At least once during the competition it'd be illuminating to see if they have an ounce of talent in that area, because most recording artists -- at some point in their careers -- eventually try to pass themselves off as "artists" with something to say.

Lisa de Moraes: What a horrifying thought...

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Washington: Pookie, so glad you are doing this chat today. This is your Now.

Lisa de Moraes: Thank you ... and for the occasion, I even wrote my own Coronation Song. Hope you saw it on today's blog...

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Flagstaff, Ariz.: I thought it really strange that Randy was dressed as a Confederate soldier last night. Glad I watched "Idol" before my TiVoed "Veronica Mars." How many possibilities for the future did that finale leave open? Alas, we'll never know...

Lisa de Moraes: I thought he looked more Sgt. Pepper, but now that you mention it, I can see what you mean. Anyway, someone really should have told him it was not a costume party...

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Weatherboard: Jordin is not getting any votes form voters, so unfortunately I think Blake will win, but who really has the best chance to win?

Lisa de Moraes: I'm not understanding the question. Jordin certainly is getting votes from voters, otherwise she would not have made it into the final week of competition. This year it's really hard to know who's going to win because viewers never were allowed to connect with the contestants...

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Raleigh, N.C.: Is it just me, or does anyone else feel that if Jordin and Blake had been contestants in another season, they both would have already been eliminated? Yawn. My least favorite season of the six so far...

Lisa de Moraes: Blake probably. Jordin has an infectious personality and a much stronger singing voice -- I think she'd be a Top 10-er for sure. And let's put this season in some perspective -- remember, Justin Guarini was the runner up the first season, speaking of really thin competition ... but I'm with you on this being the least fave season so far. As Fox reality-guru Mike Darnell told me the other day, the problem with this season is that it followed last season, which had possibly the best group of contestants yet in the show. This group pales in comparison....

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Baltimore: All year long, we hear from the judges that song selection and making the chosen song interesting and "your own" is the key to success in "American Idol." Then we get to the last competitive night ... and both contestants have no choice or editing ability with the song they are given. This year the song was setup perfectly for Jordin, but the arrangement and vocal requirements made Blake appear okay, but mortal when compared side-by-side. Being original has gotten Blake all the way through the season to this week ... so it seems unfair that he couldn't be the artist that he is on the final act.

Lisa de Moraes: I never heard he couldn't beatbox the heck out of the "American Idol" Treacle Tune had he wanted to ... do you have insider information?

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Centreville, Va.: Do you know who the idols will be singing with tonight? That was my favorite part from last year. "This is My Now" was one of the worst songs I've every heard -- no discernible melody, and sappy, sappy lyrics. What are they thinking when they pick a song like that?

Lisa de Moraes: They have no taste when it comes to song selection -- the ultimate irony, yes? And it's reported Brit Brit is the big "get" this year, which would be sooo disappointing after last year's Prince surprise...

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Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington: I awoke this morning to hear that polling shows that either Jordin or Blake could defeat me if I ran for a third term. Who are these candidates? Where did they come from?

Lisa de Moraes: More to the point, who couldn't beat you? These two happen to come from a far, far away land they call Seattle.

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Green Springs, Ohio: What is one change you'd make to "Idol" for next season, if you were asked by the producers to help pull it out of its creative tailspin?

Lisa de Moraes: Less emphasis on product placement and on guest mentors who have no interest in the Idolettes and only want to plug something. More time on contestants and interaction with judges, which is what viewers want to see and what made this show a hit. Not Gwen "Who are These People Anyway?" Stefani. Not Cingular's Idiot "Idol" Trivia Question. Not the Ford Music Video. Not Brad Garrett, whose sitcom just happens to follow "Idol" and who just happened to be in the audience and would love to come on stage to mug with the Idolettes. Lose it all...

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Jordin and "Idol": Did you know that Jordin is only 17? Really, they barely ever mention it on the show end sarcasm. Oh, and is it just me, or were they rather rude about the coronation song? They all pretty much said it sucked, but somebody on staff picked that drivel. I could just imagine the poor guys who wrote it shrinking in their seats as the judges subtly trashed their work.

Lisa de Moraes: I didn't hear them say it sucked, only that it wasn't a song Blake would have chosen for himself. Boo-hoo...

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Green Bay, Wis.: I understand the American Dairy Association has a new theme song: "This is My Cow."

Lisa de Moraes: LOL...

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Crofton, Md.: Let's hope next year they cut down the results show. It's way too aggravating to have to endure all that fluff and stuff.

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, and like I said, the Idolettes get about five minutes per results show for large chunks of the season. Big mistake.

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Washington: With "Idol" ending tonight, I normally look forward to CBS's "Rock Star" for the summer for my music show fix. Haven't heard anything about it this year ... must I settle for the "Idol" band show?

Lisa de Moraes: Why is that settling? We haven't seen it yet. Maybe it's even good ... or maybe it's like "American Junior," the other show from the "Idol" folk that was going to give us our "Idol" fix during the show's down time...

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Silver Spring, Md.: Intrade -- a prediction market that allows people to buy and sell stakes in "Idol" contestants that only pay off if they win -- has Jordin trading at a 93 percent chance of winning.

Lisa de Moraes: Hooray...

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Britney: No, Britney Spears will not be on the show. Last night on "ET" (or was it "Access Hollywood"?) Nigel Lythgoe said that they would love to help her emerge from the troubles she's having, but they've never had a performer lip-synch on the show.

Lisa de Moraes: That doesn't mean she won't be on, only means she wouldn't be allowed to lip synch. Hey, nobody hopes you are right more than me. She makes me tired...

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Washington: Was I the only one who was disappointed that the show ended with Chris Daughtry rather than Paul Anka?

Lisa de Moraes: I love Paul Anka! (I wrote that because when I last wrote about him he telephoned to discuss my writeup ... I'm hoping he calls again)...

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Bethesda, Md.: Lisa, Sanjaya could have sang that dopey sing better. Do you think he will perform tonight?

Lisa de Moraes: Traditionally the Top-10ers all perform on finale night...

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Sexism?!: What are your thoughts on whether the competition is geared to favor female singers over male singers? Seems to be a theory that's been around for a few seasons that can get some steam after last night's performances.

Lisa de Moraes: You mean that because Jordin is by far the better singer the show is sexist? No, she's just the better singer. What is sexist is insisting there be six guys in the final 12 when the judges kept saying during auditions they saw so very many better women singers this year than men...

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Lip-synching: I could have sworn that someone lip-synched last year. Shakira, maybe? I don't remember, but I totally would have laid money on it if someone had asked me. I think good ol' uncle Nigel is full of it.

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, Nigel does have a bit of the blarney in him ... I can't help you re: Shakira...

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Sorry Pookie: ...but the choir is always around for the sing-off. There is always that moment were you realize that the choir isn't all that special when they come out of the wings twice in a ten-minute span.

Lisa de Moraes: I stand corrected...

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Inquiring Minds Want to Know...: Do you think we'll get lucky tonight and the Hoff will be teary-eyed in the audience again this year?

Lisa de Moraes: Simon says they are pals, but I'm not sure we will see the Hoff on camera if he's there, given that he's now a judge on a reality show that airs on a competing network...

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Washington: Welcome back, doped-up Paula, how we've missed you so this season. ... Really, tripped over my Chihuahua, Tulip? That's just icing, really.

Lisa de Moraes: Okay, you are now chatting with a woman who narrowly missed tripping over her Yorkie when he was a Chihuahua-sized puppy. And, honest, I was sober...

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Washington: Lisa, loved your comments on Randy's outfit. I looked at their clothes last night and said: Idi Amin, Little Miss Muffet and Jeeves Does Coke.

Lisa de Moraes: Yikes...

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Reston, Va.: Why do they insist on having the week's loser sing after they've been eliminated? Isn't that like saying "remind us again of why you're going home this week"?

Lisa de Moraes: Or, if you're a glass half-full kinda gal, you think "how nice they give the booted Idolette one more chance to perform in front of 30 million people, some of whom are probably record industry suits, filmmakers, Broadway producers, etc."...

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Re: Last year was better: Not just in terms of contestants, but they had Prince for their finale. Prince! I really think the only way ol' Nigel can top that one is by having Paula perform the "Cold Hearted Snake" routine.

Lisa de Moraes: Her best number ever. ... But let's face it. There is no topping Prince. It can't be done...

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The Hoff: Isn't Simon Cowell the producer of the Hoff's show? I just love typing "the Hoff," it sounds like some sort of demented super hero that should wear a cape or a beret.

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, that's how The Hoff -- love it too -- got the gig. ... For those of you who have no idea what we're talking about: David Hasselhoff, NBC, "America's Got Talent."

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No Ford Music Video?: Pookie, don't you think that's a little drastic? The trivia questions are moronic, but the Ford Music Video is the best part of Wednesday night. Who doesn't like seeing wannabe-hipsters like Blake run around and act like a tool?

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, the is the high irony quotient ... I'll give you that. Okay, they can keep the Ford Music Video, but how about losing the second pop performer, you know, the one who didn't even guest-mentor the Idolettes and is only there to sell his new CD or upcoming tour? And the Idiot Trivia Question and the introduction of Last Week's Idiot Trivia Question winner -- gotta go.

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Troy, N.Y.: Do you think this year's winner will sell the most albums? Or will it be like last year, with Taylor not even coming close to some of the other Idolettes?

Lisa de Moraes: Well, it depends entirely on which one wins...

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DVR land: I would have stopped watching "Idol" in the first few weeks this year but for my DVR -- did you know you can watch an entire hour in less than 12 minutes, stopping only to listen to all/part of a performance and Simon's comments? Next year? I don't know. Not sure if I want to wear out fast-forward.

Lisa de Moraes: Oh yes, I know exactly how fast one can plow through an episode of "Idol" on a DVR. It's kept me sane this season...

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Washington: Hey, I hear that the Pig Farmers of America have a new theme song called "This is My Sow." I'm just sayin'.

Lisa de Moraes: Uh huh...

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The big "get": One of the radio stations here this morning reported that the big "get" was Green Day. They were citing some rag-ish newspaper that of course I can't remember the name of now (way to go me). Green Day and American "Idol" ... does not compute. Then again, neither did Prince and "Idol," but that went okay.

Lisa de Moraes: Still, they're no Prince...

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Rockville, Md.: "Idol's" failure is the result of an evil plot by Brian Dunkleman to crush Seacrest. What ever happened to that guy?

Lisa de Moraes: He said he decided to leave "Idol" to pursue his career as a serious thespian. I'm assuming he's off thespian-ing somewhere....

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Walla Walla, Wash.: Last week, do you think the judges and producers purposely gave Melinda an impossible song that no one ever will sound as good as the original on (that Whitney song) and some old-timey song to capitalize on her "I am 29 going on 59" weakness (some Ike and Tina Turner number)? I don't think votes are tampered with, but I thought that was awful tricky of them.

Lisa de Moraes: I thought she did a great job with the Whitney Houston song, as did the judges, as I recall, not that anyone is listening to them any more. And I think she'd been given or picked ancient tunes in the past, which did not keep her from going through to the next round. No, can't buy your theory...

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Bethesda, Md. : Bring back Stephanie Edwards!

Lisa de Moraes: Wasn't she in the audience last night, or did I just dream that?

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Anonymous: The format for the final two on "Idol" has changed every year that I have seen it. With Carrie and Bo, they had two winner's songs and each had to sing both tunes. Last year, with Kat and Taylor, they sang different "Idol" songs, but only one each. And of course this year ... the two had to sing the same pre-determined song. I can't remember the first three years' formats, but I've felt that "Idol" never has gotten the final performances right on the basis of fairness or interest. Why do the switch it around so much? This year really shows that someone can be left out in the cold when their abilities and styles are so night-and-day. What do you think?

Lisa de Moraes: I think you are a very very serious student of "American Idol." By the final performance show, don't you think viewers who actually vote are not doing so based on that week's performance, but who they have decided is their fave?

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Washington: They could top Prince if they got him doing a duet with someone else. Like Prince and Melissa Etheridge. Or Prince and Springsteen (Okay, that would never happen, not after Simon took a jab at the record company's big advance, but you get the point.)

Lisa de Moraes: Prince and Dead Elvis!

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Boston: Did Paula say "friggin'" last night?

Lisa de Moraes: I think she's said it several times this season...

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St. Petersburg, Fla.: What was that "From Justin to Kelly" movie about? And don't say "marketing synergy" because I know that. I mean, what was the plot?

Lisa de Moraes: Golly, weren't they like crazy in love? And a beach came into play somehow. Honestly, that's all I can remember. I think I've blocked it out...

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Washington: Pookie, when our soldiers in Iraq open their MREs, they are singing "This Is My Chow"!

Lisa de Moraes: Where were you guys last night when I was struggling to write lyrics to my Better American Idol Coronation Tune?

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Washington: Did anyone notice that towards the end of Jordin's final song her mouth was closed and yet we were hearing words? Was she lipsynching? It looked like she knew she made a mistake and that the judges noticed it also.

Lisa de Moraes: I think she was crying ... not lip synching...

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Alexandria, Va.: Pookie, I know your beat is TV, but this week you wrote "...while the career of that edition's winner, Fantasia Barrino, has sputtered." Um, I don't think playing the lead role in the Broadway musical "The Color Purple" is sputtering, particularly when even the New York Times said she was "so terrific" that the show was better now with her than when it first opened, and when its star won the Tony award for Best Actress.

Lisa de Moraes: Yes, she does seem to have gotten back on a track of some sort, but she tanked early on after winning Idol...

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Bethesda, Md.: Can't they find "coaches" who are still musically relevant? Barry Gibb, Barry Manilow, Kenny Rogers, Lulu, Tony Bennett ... sheesh.

Lisa de Moraes: Actually, the has-beens usually make better coaches because they are genuinely enthusiastic about being there and they understand the show is doing them the favor. Gwen, meanwhile, didn't seem to want to even be in the same room as the Idolettes and acted like she was the one doing the show a favor...

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Topping Prince, Wyo.: A chrome dome duet by Sinead O'Connor and Britney Spears would rawwwwwwk!

Lisa de Moraes: Not really -- once you got over the sight gag...

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Washington: Finale special guest speculation: Bono. Think about it -- it would fit in nicely with the whole "Idol Gives Back" bit, and he might be the one singer who could top Prince.

Lisa de Moraes: Sorry, he doesn't top Prince. Not in my world...

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Springfield, Mass.: Here's an idea -- how about having Sanjaya replace Randy as a judge next year!

Lisa de Moraes: What a frightening thought...

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Arlington, Va.: Am I the only one gets irritated with Jordin for crying at the end of the third song? I used to like Jordin, but she is getting on my nerves.

Lisa de Moraes: She was moved by the lyrics ... this is her now...

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Boston: For just what purpose were the judges there last night? There wasn't a single comment containing any substance whatsoever. Oh, and this is a "singing competition"? Then why did they select Antonella Barba to be a finalist?

Lisa de Moraes: ... and,much as I loved writing about him, Sanjaya too, for that matter...

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Washington: Okay, so who do you think will sell the most albums out of the top ten this year?

Lisa de Moraes: Jordin or Melinda? Melinda will kill in Branson...

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Daughtry: Do you think Daughtry was really playing that guitar last night? Looked to me like guitar-syncing, but I'm no expert.

Lisa de Moraes: I have no idea -- but I love the theory...

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Boston: "Purple Rain" is a 23-year-old album. Just because Prince once was cool doesn't mean he is anymore. I think a Super Bowl halftime appearance voids your cool card, no?

Lisa de Moraes: I'm trying not to think about that. And Prince's coolness transcends age ... some people are just like that -- not many, but some ... I'm out of time. Bye.

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