Jordin Sparks, winner of the sixth season of "American Idol,” has achieved only modest success, and in terms of star wattage, this was the talent show's dimmest round to date. "American Idol: Season 6 Finale Performance Show — The Top 2” is the last performance round without the endless commercials but all the full-flavored cheesiness.
The most unintentionally hilarious element of this DVD release is this onscreen message that shows up during host Ryan Seacrest's segments: "Please do not call or text these numbers.” Yes, the "American Idol” producers are afraid viewers will forget they are watching a DVD and will start madly texting in support of Sparks or her runner-up, Blake Lewis. This might be something worth careful study by educators.
Viewing the performances in retrospect, it's clear Sparks deserved the win. While Lewis' beat-boxing was often criticized as too idiosyncratic for "Idol” at the time, in retrospect, his hip-hoppery feels more like a gimmick than an admirable quirk. Sparks' performance on the final grandstanding ballad "This Is My Now” made her sound like the real thing, while Lewis' rendition was thin and shrill. As for extras on this package, there's a blooper reel full of knee-slappers and an auditioning guide — for qualified applicants only, we hope.
— George Lang
