Finally, the real players are emerging on this season's "American Idol" -- and cutesy teen fave David Archuleta should be worried. Very worried.

David Cook nailed a brilliant finale. Syesha Mercado, at last, brought her "A" game. Even mediocre Kristy Lee Cook used some good, old-fashioned smarts to stay alive in this elimination series. Now if only the other Top 10ers would elevate their stuff.

That includes Archuleta and Carly Smithson. Both are blessed with rich, full voices ... but they're psyching themselves out. Some players, like Cook, are in a zone: They appear comfortable and confident. But Archuleta and Smithson are looking strained and overly earnest. They are overthinking this competition.

Choking? I hate to use that term ... but there it is.

Donald Munro and I rip through Tuesday's show. Tell us what you think.

Overall impressions?

Donald says: I was starting to get worried, Felicia. This “American Idol” seemed yet one more yawning march toward mediocrity – complete with the judges fawning over performances that I thought were just so-so – until final contestant David Cook took the stage. I thought his rendition of “Billie Jean” was terrific. He made the song his own: impassioned, growly, even woeful. Up till then, however, I wasn’t too impressed. You know you’re in trouble when host Ryan Seacrest is reduced to dumping a plastic Coke cup upside down and watching the last dregs of Simon Cowell’s backwash dribble into his hand on nationwide TV. Granted, the show overall was better overall than last week’s bottom-of-the-barrel Beatles reprise, but for the most part I was pretty bored.

Felicia says: This season's problems started with AI's handlers.They kept telling this bunch they're the best group of contestants EVER. Most obviously bought the spin because they always look stunned when the judges react with lukewarm-to-poor reviews. But some -- such as David Cook and Syesha (pictured here) -- have risen to the challenge. Even Kristy Lee, the most criticized and luckiest to still be in it, this week figured out a patriotic, crowd-pleaser like "God Bless the USA" would be a savvy move. (This week's theme was sing a song from the year that you were born). So it's disheartening when a real talent such as Carly is pressing so hard ... and folding in the process to this point. I wasn't surprised she recently landed in the Bottom 3. Something's off with her. Maybe it's the pressure of living up to front-runner status? I always feel she's showing off her voice, rather than connecting with the songs. Her performances feel forced and lack a joy of discovery.

Strongest performers?

Donald says: Cook’s fantastic “Billie Jean,” by far, made me sit up on the couch and pay attention. I was much more impressed with him than Michael Johns, whose Queen medley I think was pumped much more by the blinding lighting design and staging than his vocals. The rest of the gang was weaker by far, including the much-fawned over David Archuleta, who sounded like the warm-up act to a “buy a house with no money down!” inspirational speaker.

Felicia says: Hands down, it's David Cook. It's the first time this season I got a "wow" moment -- a brilliant rock-edged version of the Michael Jackson pop-dance classic. Cook started it as a ballad and then revved it into a gut-busting cry of defiance. And he had the big, arena-rock vocals to deliver it. Bravo! I know you disagree, Donald, but I'm also giving a shoutout to Syesha for "If I Were Your Woman." She finally struck an emotional chord and had strong command of her voice. To me, she had been fading from this contest ... well, she's got my attention now.

Weakest performers?

Donald says: Lots of competition here. It was not, as much as I’m shocked to admit, Kristy Lee, whose “God Bless the U.S.A.” was so craftily selected and delivered that not even Dick Cheney could question her credentials. Ramiele Malubay was really out of tune (which is not a good thing for a singer), Carly seemed almost stupefied on stage, Brooke White was predictably boring and Chikezie forgettable. Even Syesha Mercado, upon whom Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul slathered effusive praise, was just so-so. There’s no way she can compare to last year’s contingent of big-voiced, belt-it-out singers such as Melinda Doolittle, Jordin Sparks and LaKisha Jones. But nothing can compare to the flagrantly laidback Jason Castro, whose mumbling performance suggested someone who had taken a momentary break from getting high to stumble out on national TV and embarrass himself. Perhaps the producers sedated him at the commercial break?

Felicia says: OK, look, I like Jason because he's got an endearing personality and has no professional background. But he's turned into a one-dimensional player -- same style every week. He did Sting no favors with that flat rendition of the beautiful song "Fragile." But he's not the only weak link. I'll list Archuleta for a song that most people don't know (John Farnham's "You're the Voice"), wasn't that good and resulted in a lackluster performance. Simon wondered if someone else had a hand in picking it. Was that a shot at Archuleta's dad, who's reportedly a demanding stage father? I also didn't care for Brooke's boring version of The Police's "Every Breath You Take" (It's not a love song, Brooke! It's a dark song about obsession.) And I'll cut Ramiele some slack because she was sick.

So who goes home?

Donald says: Last week I guessed Ramiele, and she’s still around. I still think she might go. But I’m thinking that unless the stoner crowd was able to stumble to their phones last night, it’ll be bye-bye to Jason.

Felicia says: I'll pick Chikezie. He wants to be a soulful balladeer, like Luther Vandross. But he doesn't have the persona or textured, velvety voice. And he's coming across as old. He's only 22?