Taylor Hicks Vs. Katharine McPhee

Season 5, Episode 40, Aired

Episode Summary

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On tonight's exciting performance show, the last of the season, Taylor Hicks & Katharine McPhee will battle it out live at the famed Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. One will be the next American Idol and one will go home.

This Week's Theme is: Songs from previous episodes & Kat & Taylor's debut singles.

Performing Tonight is: Taylor Hicks Katharine McPheemoreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (14)

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  • Taylor vs. Katharine

    3.5
    "Bad"
    By attilasd, Feb 03, 2011
    Okay, this episode was completely pointless. Katharine sang TWO songs she's already done in past weeks, and Taylor sang one song that he's done already. I practically fast-forwarded through the whole show, because we've already seen these performances!

    Then, the producers gave them two horrible songs to sing as their third song. But the thing is, it wouldn't have mattered if they had gotten the same song. They should have done what they did during the first season, when Justin and Kelly each had to sing the same song (or was it songs?). It was completely unfair that Taylor's song was 'less bad' than Katharine's.
    moreless

  • Taylor rocked...and then some!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By staridol822, Nov 14, 2006
    Being Canadian, I wasn't able to vote (but I would have loved to have done so). And I know it's been about 6 months now, but this was my take on the Taylor-Katharine showdown...

    Round 1: It was all Taylor, he literally brought the house down with his number and wiped Kat off the floor. Watching Paris grooving, Elliott having a good time and Taylor doing his thing - wow! To paraphrase Australian Idol...Taylor scored a touchdown on that one!

    Round 2: It was pretty close, both finalists delivered. Yet I gave a slight edge to Kat even though I'm not a fan of her. Very slight, mind you

    Round 3: I knew it would all come down to this - the first single. This is where I thought Kat blew her chance at the title, her song "My Destiny" was too low for her voice, she was pitchy in places, and I think she had trouble with holding the notes because of her tight dress (even she admitted she couldn't breathe in it).
    So in steps Taylor, who needed to deliver big time on his single "Do I Make You Proud". And boy, did he ever! He stayed on key, he even overpowered the gospel choir backing him up. And when he hit that glory note on the key change, that's when I knew he had hit it out of the park. America (and the world) got its first look at its new American Idol at that very moment, and even now I look back on that night knowing Taylor was indeed the onemoreless

  • Holly Molly!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By mindy_alvy, Jun 07, 2006
    First off McPhever should have died a few cuts back but I guess there is nothing to do about that. But seriously Kat did not impress me at all. Taylor, SOUL PATROL, rocked the show. But what is with Elliot being totally upstaged by that biotch! Its him supposed to be singing not here, guess she thinks she needs more help with her career than he does. Overall a great show. I was disappointed that not everyone got to sing a short solo. And Kat pissed me off with her thinking she was the only one allowed to sing between all the girls. I loved hearing Taylor on that harmonica, that was awesome.moreless

  • Who didn\'t see that one?

    7.3
    "Good"
    By adamactr, May 26, 2006
    If Taylor didn\'t win then what is the point of ever watching the show again? I actually had the pleasure to attend the final show, and it was fairly entertaining. My only beef with the show, and no it was not Meetloaf, but it was with Prince. Who does he think he is? Besides being 5ft tall in heels, I don\'t know why he thinks that he can just snub the audience and Ryan and just walk off stage. Well, all in all the show was fun and I am happy America picked Soul over beauty. Great job Taylor. Should be fun to see what happens next season.moreless

  • Taylor's won it all.

    9.4
    "Superb"
    By kurby123, May 25, 2006
    Taylor Hicks has just won American Idol. His song renditions were excellent to listen to. After four seasons, you'd think that American Idol would be slacking with viewers, but the amount of viewers has only gotten higher with each passing season. Good luck to both of them in the future, and I hope Taylor's record makes it big. I mean really big. Multi-platinum big.
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • TRIVIA (4)

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    • Daniel Powter performed "Bad Day", which was the elimination song, after the recap, as a slideshow from the season played. He is the first non-Idol celebrity to play an original song during this time. Season 1 had Pop Idol winner Guy Sebatian, Seasons 2 and 3 had Paul Anka covering/rearranging "My Way" by Frank Sinatra and Season 4 did not have a live performance.

    • Actors Ben Stiller, Taye Diggs, and Christine Applegate, singer Mandy Moore, Olympian Sasha Cohen and season 4 contestant Constantine Marulios were in the audience.

    • There were no video clips before any of the performances but before after the commercial breaks before each one sang their final song, there was a video of the contestants parents.

    • For the first time ever there are two separate original Winner's Songs, depending on who wins. Usually both perform the same song and whoever wins releases it. The only other time that there were two different Winner's Songs was in Season 2, but only Clay had an original, as Ruben did a Westlife cover.

  • QUOTES (3)

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  • NOTES (4)

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    • Simon came along way this season. At first he didn't think Taylor should had even been put through to Hollywood, and this night declared him the winner.

    • As with the previous two seasons the voting was extended to 4 hours.

    • Songs Sung:
      Katharine McPhee: "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" by KT Tunstall (also sung Top 5-Billboard), "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland (also sang Top 3-judges choice), "My Destiny" (Original)
      Taylor Hicks: "Living For the City" by Stevie Wonder (also sang Top 12-Stevie Wonder), "Leavon" by Elton John (also sang Top 24), "Do I Make You Proud?" (Original)

    • Katharine's first single: My Destiny/Somewhere Over the Rainbow will be released June 27,2006. Taylor's first single: Do I Make You Proud?/Takin' it to the Streets will be released June 13, 2006

  • ALLUSIONS (1)

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    • Katharine's first two songs, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "Black Horse and Cherry Tree" and Taylor's second song, "Levon" were all sung in previous rounds.

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