Elliott Yamin is the third place finisher of this season?s ?American Idol.?

In an hour-long results show where viewers were kept on the edge of their seats for what seemed like forever, host Ryan Seacrest actually showed the voting numbers. Grey-haired fan favourite Taylor Hicks was in first place, but only by less than a per cent from the other two contestants.

Katherine McPhee, who most people think should have gotten the boot last week instead of rocker Chris Daughtry, was in second place.

The numbers were so close together — not even a percentage point between them — that many fans in online forums wondered if they really were the true numbers.

If they are, and if they remain that close between Hicks and McPhee in the finale next week, it will be the closest contest since season two when Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken went head to head in the second season.

The finale airs next week on Fox.






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