If SN has already decided who wins and have told the editors, you can't really say that it is fixed but rather that it has become a prolonged publicity stunt for SN and Burnett Inc. Afterall, SN has had much more time to analyze these singers than a band usually takes to audition a new singer. Publicity stunts can really be insufferable.

Can I ask how Lukas came out glowingly in this webisode? I saw him having Survivor-style confessionals in which he denigrated Dilana, heard him saying he hates the song and heard the whole house band saying he isn't doing a good job on the song. I feel it is the opposite of a winner's edit. Even the praises given by the band have been down-sized. It would need a big redemption episode, the kind we are being prepared to be served for Dilana. The editing has been centered on her for a long time now. Only Ryan's ascending story as the dark horse could be in position to topple the one that appears to be Burnett's favorite. Does he know?