BLAKE LEWIS

STRATEGIC INITIATIVE Blake's brisk beatboxing, undeniable on-stage charisma, and ability to convincingly cover everything from Keane to Jamiroquai to 311 have made him a front-runner, but will those nagging pitch problems be his Achilles' heel?

FROCK U Loved the beige sweater-vest, loved the giant skull T-shirt... but the hideous gray cap that covered his spiky 'do in week 2 of the semifinals? Not so much.

REQUEST LIST Macy Gray's ''Do Something,'' Hall & Oates' ''I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)''