American Idol : Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta in the Finals?

Oddsmakers, wagerers and soothsayers all seem to be throwing their lot and their money behind the Adam Lambert - Danny Gokey Card. Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta are being treated as also rans. However after watching the Rocket's handle the Lakers in Staples Center one understands that longshots pull it off occasionally.

The universal favorite Adam Lambert found his way to the bottom three last week. While I feel that was more publicity stunt than the fact that he was ever in trouble; it certainly got the bloggers blogging and the diehard fans to mount a grassroots voting effort that rivaled Barack Obama's.

However Kris Allen and Allsion Iraheta have more than proven they have staying power. At the beginning of the competition neither of these two looked to have the moxie to make it to the end but as the competition has progressed, they have surmounted every challenge and risen to the occasion.

While Danny Gokey is heavily favored, he has been one of the most inconsistent performers of the season. However, he has faced a number of issues. Gokey lost his wife shortly before he auditioned for Idol. Her passing was not expected. During taping of the show his grandfather passed away. That is a lot to deal with so some of his performance problems are to be expected but not all. Some of Danny Gokey's problems seem to start if he is less than comfortable with the song. He also seems resistant to some advice that he's been given by this season's mentors. For some performers this resistance might be seen as arrogance but with Danny Gokey's likability factor he never comes across that way.

Danny Gokey's strength is that when he is on, he is phenomenal. For every down performance he's had, he's come back and blown the doors off.

However, Kris and Allison have consistently delivered performances that show progression. In my mind American Idol is about shaping a good singer into a great performer and artist.

While it can be argued that Adam Lambert is a consummate performer, He was a great performer before he came to Idol. It's harder to see his actual progression. It's more like watching the Adam Lambert show every week. Lambert was bound to be a star. American Idol is one vehicle but he would have gotten there, regardless.

There is a feeling about Kris Allen, Allison Iraheta and Danny Gokey that they were actually plucked from obscurity. Adam Lambert does not even seem to have a passing acquaintance with obscurity. It is my belief that it was just a matter of time before fame and fortune found Adam.

It's not hyperbole when one says that Adam Lambert is in a class by himself. He's miles ahead of the other performers. His stage presence and performance cred is massive. But does that make him an American Idol?

Part of me thinks it'd be great if Kris Allen and Allison Iraheta could effect an upset of epic proportions, but at the same time I know that Adam is by far the best performer of the season and for that alone he deserves the crown.

Much has been made about his proclivities, but the fact is that the only measurement there should be is his commitment to his craft.

As for Allison Iraheta and Kris Allen, even if they don't cause and upset that would be a ratings bonanza for American Idol and make Fox the envy of all its competitors, they are going to be fine. Finishing in the Top 10 is a gold mine of sorts. They are all sure to have record companies looking to have them sign on the dotted line and Chris Daughtry continues to prove that he that finishes forth finishes best.