fun facts & fotos...

We're on our third day of rain with no end in sight, so what else does a junkie do on a rainy weekend before final three night when she's not scouring the internet looking for any sort of song verification, than go back through the archives to past seasons to gather interesting and totally-useless tidbits to pass along to unsuspecting passers-by.

I tell ya. What else is there to do?

Elliott and Taylor's judges choice song selections have been verified, and both, at least for me, are terrific choices. It's about time somebody put an end to Randy's string of choosing for the girls, because he really has done a crappy job at it in the past, and while some are shaking their heads at the Cocker choice, I am applauding, because I love that song, and coming out of Taylor, it has the potential to bring me to my knees. And when I was going through the list of 1978 songs for Elliott on birthyear week, the Caldwell recording was at the top of my list.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow as Katharine's pick from Simon makes a lot of sense, as this was the winning performance on Simon's show The X-Factor. The dilemma is that it's been done by so many artists in so many arrangements, that, if this is indeed his choice, we'll just have to wait until Tuesday to find out which arrangement she's going to select.

Cause it's all about the trends...

And speaking of judges selections, and since if you've been reading, you know I'm all about cycles and history and trends and such, I thought it would be interesting to break down how successful each judge is at choosing.

[Season one is not applicable in this as each of the three was simply given a "general" judges pick.]

Simon has the best track record, having chosen songs for winners Ruben Studdard (Smile) and Fantasia Barrino (Fool in Love). Paula has the worst, having never chosen for a winner in three attempts. Randy's only kid to win was Carrie Underwood last year, even though her song choice (Man...I Feel Like a Woman) left a lot to be desired. Two of Paula's three have gone on to the finale, however, in Clay Aiken (Mack the Knife) and Bo Bice (Satisfaction). Randy had one selection advance but fall short with Diana DeGarmo, to whom he handed another of his crappy girl song picks, Because You Loved Me.

And each of them has seen their Idol only come back for the Brady Bunch number on the big finish show. Randy saddled Kim Locke with Anyone Who Had a Heart; Paula was devilish with her coffin slamming selection of Mr. Melody for Jasmine Trias, and Simon gave Vonzell Solomon her best final three performance selection with On the Radio.

Advantage seems to tilt toward Katharine, who's this year's beneficiary of a Simon selection.

We've all been caught up in performance order this season. When people start using the term "pimp spot" and "deadman's spot" as part of their everyday vocabulary, you know things are just getting plain weird. But we can at least spot other Idol fans, whose eyes light up at the mention of the pimp spot, we silently nod in understood agreement while those around us just wonder what we've been drinking.

Naturally, we won't know the order of performance until Tuesday, but by all rights it should go Katharine/Taylor/Elliott. Kat was last on Elvis night, which normally means she starts the next time. Taylor was last the week before, so it stands to reason that it's Elliott's turn to finish the show.

So let's see who's at the advantage.

The lineup for season one on final three night was Nikki McKibbin/Justin Guarini/Kelly Clarkson. In season two it was Kim Locke/Ruben Studdard/Clay Aiken. Season three's kids lined up with Jasmine Trias/Fantasia Barrino/Diana DeGarmo, and last year it was Vonzell Solomon/Bo Bice/Carrie Underwood

Soooo, no one has ever advanced into the finale from the first slot on three night. Bad spot, first. Bad. Bad Spot! Whereas, two Idols have emerged from the middle slot and two have won from the last spot.

Advantage: whoever goes second and third.

Want another? I can't take credit for this, because one of you groovy guys who leaves comments brought it up. And I thank you.

Much has been made of the gender of this year's group. Taking a glance at the last four finales, and remembering that there are cycles like that every odd-numbered season there's a shocker fourth, a pattern emerges:

Season One: Male/Female
Season Two: Male/Male
Season Three: Female/Female
Season Four: Male/Female

Guess which combination is next...

Advantage: Elliott and Taylor.

And one last reminder: Every single third-place finisher in this show has been a woman.

Disadvantage: Katharine.

Please do not call me stupid. I believe in cycles. I believe in history. I believe in trends.

I believe in not taking this show too dang seriously.

Is it Tuesday yet?