If the judges have their way, Casey James is going home this week. By Gil Kaufman Crystal Bowersox on “American Idol” Tuesday Photo: FOX They’ve said it before, but this time our “American Idol” experts really mean it: This is the week Casey James is riding off into the sunset, paving the way for the long-expected showdown in next week’s “Idol” finale between Crystal Bowersox and Lee DeWyze. “Simon Cowell and company have been pushing for a Lee/Crystal finale since week one, and it looks as though they’ll be getting that come results-show time,” MTV News’ resident “Idol” expert Jim Cantiello predicted. “Casey did nothing to convince America that he deserved to break up the MamaSox and DeWyze showdown. Rewind to a year ago, where Kris Allen was expected to sing his swan song but instead showed up armed with brilliance.” Cantiello said Casey squandered his chance to gain ground after landing the opening slot on Tuesday night’s show by picking a song from obscure singer Eric Hutchinson, “OK, It’s Alright With Me.” He was then saddled with a lackluster judges’ pick in John Mayer’s “Daughters.” “Crystal’s got the fanbase; Lee’s got the momentum,” Cantiello said. “Casey’s got … the opportunity to pack his bags. Mr. James, you are no match for the judges’ pimping. Sorry. It’s been fun.” Our other expert, MJ Santilli of MJsBigBlog.com , couldn’t agree more, though she added that it might just be time to crown DeWyze the champ right now after his bravura performance of the oft-sung “Idol” chestnut “Hallelujah,” by Leonard Cohen. “Wow. Simon Cowell manufactured quite the moment for Lee, with the choir, and the horns and strings,” she said of the dramatic show-closing performance by DeWyze, the former paint-store clerk and high school rabble-rouser . “He also made sure the song had the proper ‘climax’ as he called it,” Santilli said.
