Idol Chatter & Voice Views

What’s in store for the final three on American Idol next week?

Idol is sticking to tradition in this case, with each contestant getting to perform three times in an hour-and-a-half show on Wednesday.

One song will be selected by the judges. I’ve already read some conjecture that Idol will try to drum up the drama by having Haley Reinhart’s song selected by her frequent critic, Randy Jackson.

One song will be selected by the Idol’s mentor, Jimmy Iovine, who seems far more clued in on what these Idols need to work on and what they’re capable of than the judges.

And one song will be selected by the contestant. No word on whether that needs to be a song they’ve previously performed on the show.

Our final three also includes Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery, of course, now that James Durbin has been bumped from the competition.

Thursday’s one-hour results show, for some reason, apparently won’t feature a former Idol standout.

Instead, we’ll hear from the Italian trio Il Volo performing “O Sole Mio,” as well as Nicole Scherzinger and 50 Cent performing “Right There.”

If you’re planning ahead, the final two will square off in a one-hour show on Tuesday, May 24. Yes, the schedule shifts up by one day.

The season 10 grand finale of Idol is set for 8 to 10:07 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25.