End is a beginning for 'Idol' finalists; Archuleta is the one to beat

Jason Castro left "American Idol" this week and is no doubt already on his way to New York to do follow-up interviews. So what is a finalist's life like after being voted off "American Idol"?

Some might assume that life would get a little less crazy — that things would maybe slow down a bit. Actually, the opposite is true.

Immediately after the results show concludes, the judges come backstage to shake our hands and give us some final advice. I remember Paula Abdul taking me by the shoulders after I was voted off and saying, "Carmen, the magic is just beginning." I had no idea how much my life would change after the show.

After a goodbye dinner with the remaining contestants and crew, I went back to the mansion to pack up my stuff. I flew to L.A. with five outfits — I left with three jumbo suitcases and boxes and boxes of memorabilia.

The contestants aren't given much — or rather any — downtime after being voted off the show. At 6 a.m. Thursday morning there's a limo waiting outside to take the booted contestant to the airport.

The contestants are given a grueling schedule week to week on "American Idol." Most of them are running on adrenaline — and it's the same for follow-up interviews. That first day in New York City, I did a grand total of 13. While I had a ball appearing on shows such as MTV's "TRL," "Entertainment Tonight" and "Today," my favorite was reading the Top Ten Reasons Why You Won't Win "American Idol" on the "Late Show with David Letterman." To this day, that is one of my favorite memories of being kicked off the show. (Plus, I got to meet Ellen DeGeneres in the elevator on the way down!)

Now there's even more demand for "American Idol" contestants. With all the interviews I did so soon after leaving the show, the reality of it all didn't really hit me until several weeks later. So doing interviews about what it was like to be a contestant on the No. 1 show was almost like talking about a crazy dream.

Making the top four on "American Idol" means that Jason Castro will get his pick of entertainment opportunities. Besides gearing up for the finale and American Idols Live! tour this summer, Castro will be super busy answering fan mail and screening requests for record deals. The show has blown up to a point where the top four — top 10, even — are basically guaranteed a career in the entertainment business if they choose to pursue it. The trick is to know when to bite.

Now we're down to the final three: David Archuleta, David Cook and Syesha Mercado. Each have individual strengths and weakness. So who will win?

Here's my take:

Mercado is the underdog. Out of the remaining three, I believe she's the contestant that has grown the most during the show.

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