High notes and low notes on 'Idol'

Jeff Alexander watches "American Idol" so you don't have to. When he's not writing proposals for a Twin Cities health-care company, he provides snarky analysis of the show at the website Television Without Pity. As finalists Jessica Sanchez and Phillip Phillips vie for the top spot Tuesday and Wednesday, Alexander talked to TV critic Neal Justin about what stood out this year.

WHO GOT ROBBED

"Probably Elise Testone. She had a really good voice, but seemed to have trouble finding a fan base. She picked a couple songs that matched her voice well, like Led Zeppelin's 'Whole Lotta Love,' but other times she missed the boat. She was the oldest of the contestants, and that can make it tricky. I think she would have done better in another kind of competition."

MOST EMBARRASSING JUDGE

"They're all embarrassing in their way. Randy [Jackson] keeps repeating himself. Jennifer [Lopez] just babbles on. But Steven Tyler is the real wild card. He says things like, 'If you're facing the sun, the shadows are behind you.' Last week, he told Phillip Phillips that he should get used to fame, because you never will.' Huh?"

MOST OVERRATED FINALIST

"Probably Phil [Phillips]. I know he's popular, but the shtick he does is very narrow. I like him fine, but I don't know if he's a top-three singer."

BEST SINGLE PERFORMANCE

"Phil's performance of Damien Rice's 'Volcano' was really good. It was just very raw and stripped down, just him, one other musician and a backup singer. Not all Dave Matthews-y, like he can be."

WHOM HE'S ROOTING FOR IN THE FINAL

"Jessica [Sanchez] is the most technically accomplished singer, so I guess it would be her. Quite frankly, I'm not all that invested in the competition. After all these months of performing, you kind of get tired of all of them."