it's the clive davis show, not starring clive...

The long and winding road is winding down, but before we get to Oz, we gotta drive the last mile and throw somebody outta the car.

Unless somebody hurls him or herself out first.

Because THIS is American Idol.

And it's the Clive Show, the final three episode where the kids sing three songs, one of their own choosing, one handed to them from one of the judges, and one decreed from above, from the great one himself, Clive Davis.

Two will go the Kodak next week. One gets to take a long nap and boogie in the Brady Bunch tune instead.

And what a bummer - Clive the star isn't even gonna judge tonight. Eh, that's okay, he normally just says the same thing every time. Paula was his mentor.

And these are my early impressions, subject to rewind, revision and reorder, and as always, from worst to first.

Katharine McPhee (I Believe I Can Fly/Clive Davis selection). Clive says this song is a classic. (Probably in the same sense that Open Arms is a rock song.) Randy says she looks amazing. (And she does!!) Paula says her dress is a beautiful color. Never good. Simon says the others are wrong, that she didn't oversing (yes she did) and that aside from the crap notes at the end she "created a moment."

Elliott Yamin (Open Arms/Clive Davis selection). Clive says he wants Elliott to sing a rock song. Okaaay. Elliott sounds a bit nervous, and I think he transposed a couple of lines. He gets mediocre reviews from Randy (who reminds us, yet again, that he was with Journey) and Paula, and Simon admonishes him to start believing in himself. It was a shaky start, certainly not ranking among his best, but certainly no disaster.

Katharine McPhee (Ain't Got Nothing But the Blues/Personal Choice). Kat decides to channel Ella and the other great females, but hasn't learned yet that she's just not yet. Randy says blah. Paula says meh. Simon repeats after the first two.

Taylor Hicks (Dancing in the Dark/Clive Davis selection). Taylor says thanks to Clive for begging the Boss to let him sing the song. Taylor does all these cute little gun movements and pulls Paula up on the catwalk like Courteney Cox in the video. Oooo. Nice touch Taylor. But the song, as well presented as it was, lacked the Taylorisms I've come to hope for. Simon says meh and Paula wishes for double-stick tape.

Elliott Yamin (What You Won't Do For Love/Judges Pick). The confident Elliott is back on his second number, and he puts an original spin on the Bobby Caldwell song. Randy says he's sharp throughout, Paula mumbles incoherently, but Simon gives him a thumbs up. I say there were a few missteps, but overall, for me, preferable to the original, and even moreso if he were given longer than a 90 second arrangement.

Elliott Yamin (I Believe to my Soul/Personal Choice). Now that's Elliott, with a Donny Hathaway cover of a Ray Charles tune. Randy praises his singing, but not the song. Paula echoes Randy, as usual. Simon tells him he's a great guy but that he's history, single-handedly lighting a fire under every Elliott voter determined to prove Simon wrong.

Taylor Hicks (Try a Little Tenderness/Personal Choice). The Taylor we know lets loose. Randy gives him a new name with funky somewhere in there. Paula says she's waited all season for him to perform the song. (Ahem.) Simon says he'll see him next week.

Katharine McPhee (Somewhere Over the Rainbow/Judges Pick) Simon says he expects a moment from Kat, and she's sitting on the floor again, singing the opening that most people don't know a cappella, before launching into the lyrics we all recognize. She really restrains the vocals in a lovely and poignant performance. Randy says personal best. Paula gives a standing ovation and tells her what we've been screaming for weeks. Simon tells her it was the best performance of the season. I wouldn't go that far, but it was her best.

Taylor Hicks (You Are So Beautiful/Judges Pick). Taylor channels Joe Cocker with a simple, understated performance of a beautiful, understated song. Randy says yay! Paula says yay! Simon says another best ever.

With a few great ones, and a few less-than-great ones, it's all but over.

Taylor is certain, and I am going to hope that the Elliott fans vote harder than ever. Simon's declarations can work wonders. I still say Kat leaves. A season's worth of great work should not be reduced to one rainbow.

So, what's your verdict?