Well that’s it, I’m officially done with “Canadian Idol.”

I surprised even myself that I got so hooked on the Canadian reality show, this being the first year I have actually raced home on Monday and Tuesday nights. And it’s nothing against Idol, but I can take or leave its American counterpart too. If there aren’t interesting contestants, then why bother getting invested in it?

But this year, from audition one, I was hooked.

Maybe it was because I wanted to audition this year. Maybe it’s living in Toronto this time, I feel closer to the action.

But it doesn’t matter now that my two favourites are gone, I really could care less who wins now.

Steffi D., who surprised me with her spirit, enthusiasm and talent, was voted off last night. Rob James went home two weeks ago. I guess that’s the end for me.

Now before you get all hyped on me about the Rob James thing, just so you know, I didn’t like him from the start. I agreed with the posters on the Idol message boards who cried foul when James got into the top 22.

After all, he had a record deal (albeit one with a group). He had his chance to make it professionally. And I agreed with the posters that said if he really wanted a solo career, I’m sure he could have gotten one through his record company.

But all that turned around for me when it came down to the public voting. Poor Rob was in the bottom three for the first three weeks. Her performed great as far as my untrained ear could tell, but the judges kept telling him he was nervous.

Nervous? A man who’s done the concert thing is nervous to be on stage and sing? But then I realized, of course he is. He realizes that he is not auditioning for Zack, Jake, Farley and Sass, he’s auditioning for Canada. And he knows that Canada probably already feels he had his chance to make it.

That’s about when my opinion changed on Rob. He was genuinely trying to win this thing. And let’s face it, he was the dark horse because of his professional past. It would have been interesting had he gone all of the way. Not only that, but you have to give the guy props for taking the hard route to getting a record deal as opposed to going to his old record label and saying “Guys, I want to make a CD.”

And then there’s Steffi D. Where does one start for Steffi. She was more than just a cute kid, she was passionate about her singing, her stage presence, everything.

Yes, at first her performances were a little too musical theatre for Idol tastes, but she took the advice of the judges each week, until she had her performances perfected. And no one got into the theme weeks quite like Steffi. Who can forget her performance of “It’s My Life” on the ’80s night, her cute/hopeful rendition of “Love Fool.” And this week, I’m sorry, but Steffi was the only performer, who fully got into her song.

She never was down about being in the bottom two or three, and even after elimination, there were no tears in her eyes, just hope. Steffi’s got something special, and she would have made a wicked Idol.

So we’re down to four – Craig, Eva, Tyler and Chad. Who will be crowned Idol this year? I’m going to have to keep my pick to myself, I wouldn’t want to jinx another performer quite yet.






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