Fan Fare

With Allison Iraheta getting the boot on Wednesday night, three white men will duke it out for the “American Idol” crown for the first time in the show’s history.

Iraheta’s offing couldn’t have come as a huge surprise to the show’s viewers, who saw her land among the show’s lowest vote-getters three previous times this season. In that sense, she was no Chris Daughtry, whose shocking fourth place finish three years ago was replayed on Wednesday night’s show before his band performed its new single, the appropriately titled “No Surprise.” 

The 17 year-old Iraheta’s distinctive rock voice has been compared to that of “Idol” winner and pop superstar Kelly Clarkson, which is saying a lot because Clarkson has been on a tear ever since she graduated from the show in 2002, and in March she netted her second No. 1 album.

“Allison Iraheta, who has so much to be proud of, who is a role model to a lot of girls out there,” host Ryan Seacrest said immediately following the Los Angeles-born singer’s final performance.

Yet, if Iraheta was an inspiration to the young girls who make up such a large portion of “Idol” viewers, why didn’t she have the staying power of say, Clarkson, or other female “Idol” winners Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks and Fantasia Barrino?

And, what is it about this season’s final three contestants — Adam Lambert, Danny Gokey and Kris Allen, that led to the formation of the first ever “Idol” boys’ club?