Only the lovely Syesha Mercado remained as an alternative to a Battle of the Davids (TM) finale...

...would the all-time American Idol record-holder for appearing in the Bottom 3 (or 2, or whatever it is that week) pull off the upset and knock off a David?

No. Syesha Mercado has been eliminated from the competition. She was tenacious, sticking around far longer than many fans predicted...but, her luck ran out last night. She went out graciously and with a smile.

Awww.

Now, isn't that how you'd rather remember her - as opposed to "That Chick Who Lost to David Archuleta in the Finale?" Sure it is!

So, there you have it! The finale some considered inevitable turned out to be just that. It's David "talk to the hand" Cook against David "breathe into the paper bag" Archuleta in the final showdown for ultimate musical supremacy.

FOX43 Idol Expert Artie didn't mess around, this week. He called Syesha to leave, and leave she did. What do you have to say going into the final week of Season 7, Mr. Funk?

Funk: Doyyy...dogg. I can see the light -- and it's not just the light glaring off of David Cook's forehead! OHHHHHHHHH!!! It's almost over! I guess I'm kinda' interested to see what they do for the finale. The regalia and all. So, you know, I'll be there, along with millions of other Americans for the finale. Let's get this done!

Though FOX43 Idol Expert Julie Heart thought David Archuleta had the worst night...she called Syesha to pack her bags and leave. And, again...leave she did. Julie?

Heart: So this whole show was a big build up to a predictable end. First we had a group song that didn’t work as per usual, then a past Idol sang. I think the look on Simon’s face during Fantasia’s performance spoke for everyone… “Duuuhuuh?” What the heck was that? I forgot how weird she was. Then each of the contestants had their home trip. If I didn’t hate Archie before, seeing him break down in tears when he saw all the girls going crazy for him…put me over the top. Gosh! It was cute that David Cook honored his elementary school music teacher-that was sweet of him. When they played his story it was fitting that it was to a Daughtry song. Syesha’s home trip was cool, you could tell her family and town loves her. We saw a bit more of her dad who looks like he’s still on the straight and narrow with drugs. I’m sure the producers loved her tearing up so much as well, but her crying didn’t make me want to smack her like Archie’s does. In the end it was no surprise that Syesha left us. The Battle of the Davids (TM) has been predictable since Brooke left, she was the only one that I think could have challenged either of their spots in the finale-but alas her mistakes did her in too soon. I’m calling Cook to win and I don’t care who knows it.

FOX43 Idol Expert Clyde Collins made his official call of "Archuleta wins this season" weeks ago. He also knew Syesha would go home last night. Care to brag a bit, Clyde?

Collins: Battle of the Davids? Might as well call it Attack of the Clones, because there's nothing unique or interesting about either of them. Even Julie said it was "fitting" Daughtry was played under Cook's "let's pretend he's going home" video segement...in Clyde-speak, that translates to "David Cook actually IS Chris Daughtry, and he's going to take off his mask and cackle wildly at the world next Tuesday night after his final performance." I'd also like to point out that David Cook cried like a little girl in his video, as well. So, they're all guilty of being blubbering messes, and that'd be okay if this was the FIRST AND ONLY TIME IT HAD HAPPENED. What a bunch of crybabies we've had on this season. Of the Final 3, Syesha's the most-likeable. The judges made a habit of pointing out how she's not an original, and that she doesn't stack up well against established beasts like Mariah Carey or Alicia Keys...but the two guys get away with being same-y and repetitive every week. The finale is going to be completely the same as we've ever seen from them - neither Cook nor Archuleta has the ability to surprise us. Neither is particularly spectacular. Archie's got a good voice for an awkward dorky kid, and Cook could front a pretty kick-ass local cover band...but, hey. That's your Final 2, humans. I didn't get you into this mess - you did it yourself. I'll be there, watching, and I'll be thrilled to claim dominance in the field of Idolomics when David Archuleta is crowned your new American Idol. Great seeing Fantasia again, by the way. She's definitely unique and interesting...not a shock Julie and the rest of those mainstream, David-voting Americans don't get her at all. Last time she was on the show, she advised the contestants to not be afraid to be UGLY. That means stop worrying about hitting every note and plastering down ever remaining comb-forward hair. That means focus on connecting, singing with all the emotion you can muster...and THEN some. Fantasia is NOT the greatest singer ever to win this show, but she can out-emote all the other winners combined and multiplied by 50. David Archuleta and David Cook will NEVER be able to do that. Archie showed a bit of youth, a bit of humor this week, when he sang that Chris Brown "boo" song. Cook...didn't veer in any way from what he always does - three rapid-fire rock ballads, sung shakily and patched together with his always-the-same-pitch-and-length "rock scream." Let's not kid ourselves...the rocker can't win Idol. It won't happen this year, and Archu-D2 is your new, robotic, lab-created Moustketeer overlord. Bow down...and hope Season 8 is better than this predictable, uninspired mess.

***** DISCLAIMER *****
The opinions expressed by the three "FOX43 Idol Experts" do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FOX43, Tribune Broadcasting or FOX.
***************************