What is running through the respective minds of Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis, as American Idol's big finale looms? Might Blake pull an upset and win this thing? And how does this Idol showdown compare to years past? We asked Rosanna Tavarez, who with Kimberly Caldwell cohosts TV Guide Channel's Idol Chat, Idol Tonight and Reality Chat, for her take on these topics and more.

TVGuide.com: What's going through the finalists' heads right now?Rosanna Tavarez: "I hope I win, I hope I win.... " [Laughs] "I hope I don't forget words during the finals."

TVGuide.com: Is it likely that at some point they'll freak out?Rosanna: Of course they're going to. They're going to go to the Kodak Theatre and it's down to the two of them, so for sure they're nervous.

TVGuide.com: Our TVGuide.com poll had 68 percent of people "very shocked" to see Melinda go, and 16 percent "somewhat shocked." In which camp did you fall?Rosanna: Somewhat shocked. I know that Blake's got a lot of the chick vote, the girls who think he's cute and is "the next Justin Timberlake." Jordin also has a lot of the young crowd. Melinda's appeal is definite, but I'm not sure if she appeals to a lot of younger people in the audience.

TVGuide.com: Yeah, she told me that his fan base skewed older, and those aren't the people likely to text-vote and burn up the phone lines for two hours straight.Rosanna: Exactly.

TVGuide.com: Have you heard anything about the original song that will be part of each finalist's set this week?Rosanna: The one from the songwriting challenge? It's supposed to be very inspiring — like every year.

TVGuide.com: Will it have some title like, "If Dreams Were Made of Candy-colored Wings"?Rosanna: If it were called that, I would have to.... [Laughs]

TVGuide.com: Do you think Blake has any chance to pull an upset and win this thing?Rosanna: Oh, he definitely has a chance. This is the second season where I feel I have no clue who's going to win.

TVGuide.com: I was looking at the past five finals. We had Kelly and Justin of course, then Ruben versus Clay, Fantasia versus Diana, Carrie against Bo, and then Taylor versus Kat. Of the six seasons to date, which do you think was the hardest to call?Rosanna: I think the hardest was Ruben and Clay, because Clay was insanely popular — and still is. People weren't sure which way that was going to go.

TVGuide.com: Complete this sentence: "If Blake loses, it will be because... "Rosanna: "He beatboxed in every song — even the ballad." [Laughs]

TVGuide.com: And "If Jordin loses, it will be because... "Rosanna: Oh, lord... I don't know. Because Blake beatboxed? [Laughs]

TVGuide.com: Who do you think has the most to gain from winning?Rosanna: Blake. Definitely. I feel like Jordin is already a winner.

TVGuide.com: That her inevitable album is already presold, but Blake's needs that extra shot in the arm?Rosanna: Yeah, it could use a little boost.

TVGuide.com: What sort of coverage does TV Guide Channel have planned for the Idol finals?Rosanna: My goodness, we have a two-hour show [which aired Monday], a two-hour show [on Tuesday], we've got red-carpet coverage for two hours, live, on Wednesday, we've got post-interviews.... We've got it all!

TVGuide.com: What's next for you, personally?Rosanna: I'm going to fall in my bed and sleep for a week.

TVGuide.com: Does the Channel, like, send you and Kimberly to Canyon Ranch for a week?Rosanna: No.... But they send me flowers and a thank-you card!

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Fox's On the Lot, a new reality show from Steven Spielberg and Mark Burnett, searches for Hollywood's next top director. Here are the five things you need to know before the camera starts rolling tonight at 9 pm/ET.

1) On the Lot is like YouTube meets American Idol… at least that's how Mark Burnett thinks of it. YouTube and Idol are the constant reference points for Survivor and Apprentice exec producer Burnett, who brainstormed the idea for On the Lot over a meal with the show's other executive producer, Steven Spielberg. Close to 12,000 aspiring directors submitted films, and the top 50 will compete for a development deal at Spielberg's company, DreamWorks. The deal doesn't guarantee that the winner will see his or her movie in theaters next summer, but it's a lucrative foot in the door. They'll receive $500,000 up front, plus another $500,000 to option scripts and get to work. "In the YouTube universe, we're seeing more and more young filmmakers who have proven to be talented and exciting," Burnett says. "We're going to give one of them an incredible shot."

2) Filmmaking can be complicated… and so can reality shows about filmmaking. On Idol, the contestants sing and you vote. On The Apprentice, they do a task and the Donald fires somebody. But On the Lot, in its early shows, is a little trickier, with a variety of tasks designed to test the skills needed by a director. The top 50 start by pitching a film concept to a panel of judges. The top 36 contestants are divided into 12 groups of three and given 24 hours to shoot a three-page scene. Four of the groups are eliminated, and the remaining 24 each shoot a short using professional actors on one of five sets. After six more eliminations, the top 18 each make a one-minute movie, which will be aired. At that point, the public begins voting for its favorite, and the process becomes simpler. "Every weekend millions of Americans vote with their wallets by choosing what movies to see," Burnett says. "On this show they're voting with the phone."

3) Carrie Fisher is not Simon Cowell… but she kind of likes him. For the initial episodes, the judges consist of actress and writer Carrie Fisher and directors Garry Marshall (Pretty Woman), Brett Ratner (X-Men: The Last Stand) and Jon Avnet (Fried Green Tomatoes). Fisher is around for the duration, but the other judges will change throughout the series. As with Idol, the judges critique but don't make the decisions once viewers begin voting. If there's a designated "Simon" on the panel, it won't be Fisher. "I don't want to be that!" she says. "I've stayed in relationships for years rather than break up with someone, because I'd like to avoid confrontation. Who wants to reject someone? But I think Simon is playing a role. It's very unpleasant for the people he's doing that to, but I hear he's a very nice man. In fact, I met him once and he seemed pleasant enough."

4) They're looking for the next Brett Ratner… not the next Robert Altman. It's all about boffo box office. "The public is choosing," Burnett says. "Let's face it, if the public has chosen this person after 13 weeks of watching their films, then they've reached a big, general audience. Somebody may be an artistic, avant-garde filmmaker, but if nobody pays to see their movies, it's not gonna work. Look at how many TV shows have failed miserably. I mean, look at 30 Rock or Studio 60 — very well made, I enjoy them, but they [didn't do well]."

5) There's no place for backstabbing and conniving in Hollywood… at least that's what Mark Burnett wants to believe. Burnett's other reality shows often showcase lying, double-crossing and other morally dubious behavior that would seem natural among ambitious youngsters looking to land an agent, a Lexus and a house in Malibu. This time, though, he's not predicting any new Omarosas. "I don't think there'll be any of that backstabbing," he insists. "You don't see that on American Idol. Hey, there are always personalities, and you like some people more than others. But in the end, this is about the films."

Tom Selleck still has that compelling Magnum charm, even as the somewhat dissipated Jesse Stone. Tonight in Jesse Stone: Sea Change (9 pm/ET, on CBS), the fourth in a series of TV-movies based on Robert B. Parker's best-sellers, boredom leads small-town police chief Jesse to reopen an unsolved 1992 bank robbery and murder. Selleck spoke to us about the Jesse movies, as well as his past and future projects, including his move to Las Vegas.

TV Guide: Jesse Stone. He drinks too much, he can't let go of his ex, he's overqualified for his job....Tom Selleck: I was very attracted to [Jesse] — he's so flawed, and yet a guy that I rooted for. I love playing him. We're writing the fifth one now. We set about to make our movies look and sound in every way like a feature film that happened to air on TV, and it paid off.

TV Guide: TV-movies have been in decline, but these typically score. Selleck: [CBS] gave me enough control where we made something different. They were real supportive, but they were a little worried because it does not look like your average TV-movie, with an explosion in the first 20 seconds. They're mysteries and we try to surprise the audience. If they go along for the ride, most people seem to have a good time.

TV Guide: Tell us about your negotiations to join NBC's Las Vegas next season. Selleck: What I wanted is kind of unprecedented. To do [Las Vegas, NBC had] to let me do the fifth Jesse Stone. I'd be working for two networks at once, which would be neat for me. I've watched about five episodes of Vegas, and I think I could fit in with the character [the new owner of the Montecito]. He's going to be pretty cool.

TV Guide: With a fourth Indiana Jones now in the works, we wondered if you'd recall for us the real story regarding you and the role? Selleck: I was offered Indiana Jones. I did a screen test; at the time I had already done a pilot for Magnum [P.I.]. Steven Spielberg and George Lucas held out the offer for about a month because they really wanted me, and I was very flattered. And then CBS said, "We won't let him do it," because they had first call on me. It's an old story. The only thing I hate is when people say I turned it down. I'd never be stupid enough to turn that down.

TV Guide: Does the Magnum, P.I. cast still keep in touch? Selleck: We do. On a lot of series, everybody ends up walking on eggshells and there are all these egos going on and nobody talks to each other anymore. I'm proud to say that after eight years of Magnum and 163 episodes, we all still got along and we've tried to stay in touch.

TV Guide: Since Magnum, you've showed off your versatility in roles like the "older man" whom Courteney Cox fell in love with on Friends. Selleck: Yeah, don't you think she really loves Richard even though she married Chandler? Friends was really fun. I was a little scared; I hadn't done a sitcom since before Magnum, on a show called Taxi. And then a bunch of people in the business said, "Oh, you can't do that, that's a bad career move, they'll say you're crawling to television, you can't guest on somebody else's show."

TV Guide: Do you have an all-time favorite role? Selleck: I have different ones for different reasons. I love Magnum — that was a great part. Three Men and a Baby, it's unheard of today, but it was the No. 1 movie at Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. That changed my life, and I got to do a lot of feature films. I'm very partial to Westerns and I'm very proud of a movie called Quigley Down Under, it's kind of a cult classic. I loved the movie I did for A&E, it was a big challenge playing General Eisenhower. But I like all my movies. Every part I've ever done I'd like to do over because you're never happy, but I'm proud of my work.

TV Guide: Whose acting career do you admire? Selleck: The guy who most influenced me was James Garner. I guest-starred on Rockford Files and learned so much from him. Jim's acted all his life and he's still around doing good work. If he's doing something serious, he'll find what's funny in it, and if he's doing a comedy, he'll find what's serious in it, so his work is real three-dimensional. He probably had more acting influence on me than anybody — with the exception of maybe an actor by the name of Ben Johnson, an Academy Award winner who did a lot of Westerns. Those two guys had a lot of influence on me.

TV Guide: Mustache — or no mustache? Selleck: I don't really care. If somebody will hire me and the part's good and they say shave it off, I'll shave it off!

Let our new Online Video Guide play P.I. and uncover some clips of Tom Selleck for you.

Can you say "charmed career"? John Amos has starred in such beloved shows as Good Times, The West Wing and, most recently, the sleeper hit Men in Trees. It is Amos' role as the adult Kunta Kinte in Roots, however, that will go down in history. In 1977, Roots broke viewing records as America tuned in to watch what is still the No. 1 miniseries of all time. Based on Alex Haley's novel about his ancestor, who was taken from his homeland in Africa and forced into slavery in the U.S., Roots opened a dialogue about race in America and sparked a fervent interest in genealogy. TVGuide.com spoke with Amos about the May 22 release of the 30th-anniversary special-edition Roots DVD — and the work he's doing to continue its legacy.

TVGuide.com: You started out as a comedy writer and moved into acting with a recurring role as Gordy the weatherman on Mary Tyler Moore. From there it was James Evans on Good Times, then Kunta Kinte in Roots, and now, 30 years later, you're still on television in Men in Trees. You've had great longevity in this industry.John Amos: I've been blessed, I tell you.

TVGuide.com: What would you consider your favorite role?Amos: For me it falls into two genres, of comedy and drama. From a comedic standpoint, I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed being the dad on Good Times. And in film, of course, I loved the role of McDowell in Coming to America. It allowed me to work with a true comedic acting icon, Eddie Murphy. In terms of drama, more recently of course, it's Admiral Percy Fitzwallace on The West Wing. But it goes without saying that I am very, very proud to have been part of the Roots ensemble. Because of the writing and the passion of Alex Haley, I was able to enjoy something the likes of which I'll probably never get to do again in my career. I had the distinct pleasure of working with Louis Gossett Jr. and so many other incredible actors in that project. This was the kind of project that you would do for free. In fact, you would pay to be involved in it.

TVGuide.com: With the release of Roots' 30th-anniversary DVD, and it being introduced to a whole new generation, what do you think its impact will be this time around?Amos: I'm sure if a concerted effort were made on the part of a network to publicize and promote the fact that it was being reaired again in conjunction with the 30th anniversary, it would generate tremendous numbers. I don't know if the numbers would be comparable to what they were when Roots became the most-watched television show in the history of the medium. It is a different world now and it's a different mindset, and since the material has been covered — not to the depth that it should, but to some degree — I'm not sure that it would attract the same interest or the same numbers.

TVGuide.com: When you were on Good Times, you fought with the producers over the portrayal of the characters on the show. Nowadays, do you see the same commitment from actors to quality programming?Amos: I think so. I would hate to hold my own show up as an example, but I'm grateful to be working with the likes of [Men in Trees creator] Jenny Bicks, along with [executive producer] James Mangold. We're dealing with interracial relationships and multicultural diversity without putting a label on it. On the show, Lauren Tom, a wonderful Chinese actress, plays my wife, Mai. At one point it's made clear to the audience that I have had a relationship that resulted in the birth of Patrick (Derek Richardson), whose own mother describes him as as white as cottage cheese. Nevertheless, he's still my son. I'd like to think we're making an eloquent statement without actually making the statement or beating anybody over the head with a message.

TVGuide.com: You and Derek have great chemistry on the show. Do you enjoy working with him?Amos: Yes. I enjoy working with the entire cast, but I particularly enjoy working with Derek because he's my son on the show and in real life my family is interracial. Both my children, K. C. and Shannon, are multiracial.

TVGuide.com: K. C. was nominated for a Grammy for directing the country-music video "Where'd You Hide the Body?" I understand that you are working on a country-music album of your own?Amos: Yes, I'm working with Gene Cash of the late Johnny Cash's family. I just came back from Nashville where we laid down three tracks. I intend to donate the proceeds from the sale of the album, at least in part, to the Katrina victims, which is what prompted me to want to do a country album. I've always loved country music because it's basically storytelling. As an actor, that's what I've been doing on stage for the last 15 years, particularly with my one-man show Halley's Comet. So to be able to do so with music is very exciting.

TVGuide.com: You are also directing a documentary for Amistad America, which has built a replica of the original slave ship Amistad, upon which would-be slaves revolted against their captors. Will you be aboard when it sails to England to commemorate the act of Parliament that abolished the slave trade in 1807?Amos: Yes, it's going to be very exciting and schoolchildren will be able to take a virtual passage with the Amistad as it makes its way to England and then subsequently to the slave ports along the African coast. It's an incredible educational opportunity for our younger people around the world who need to know the history of slavery. The legacy of Roots, as initiated by Alex Haley's incredible and incomparable novel, was perpetuated to some degree by the miniseries, but that legacy needs to be continued and refortified.

TVGuide.com: Have you always been an activist?Amos: I'd like to think I've been an activist. When I came out of college, I went to work, I guess, in the form of an activist. I took my degree in sociology and my job was to try to acquire pretrial freedom for indigent defendants. It was almost a joke. The judge would be picking out his lunch from the Chinese restaurant menu while he was interviewing defendants. I knew then that the judicial system was a little bit askew. I made up my mind to be involved in projects that could possibly correct the system once I got into the entertainment industry. And when Roots afforded me that chance in the form of the character of Kunta Kinte, it gave me an opportunity to present a side of the story of slavery that this country and the world had never seen before.

TVGuide.com: So it's important to you to infuse a certain level of integrity into your work?Amos: I've tried. With the reality shows, it seems like the public has an insatiable taste for the tasteless, if you follow my drift. I don't know if I'd want to take on the battles that I did when I was first starting my career.

TVGuide.com: You're not a fan of reality television, huh?Amos: I can't say that I am. I understand the economics of it, which dictates that the networks try to satisfy the bottom line for the bean counters. But by the same token, when Paris Hilton is elevated to iconic status and her behavior is being emulated by young people, it's time for somebody to get kicked in the ass!

TVGuide.com: Is there anything that you haven't tackled yet that you'd like to do?Amos: With the chance to direct this upcoming project for Amistad America, I think I'll pretty much have accomplished most of my creative objectives.

TVGuide.com: Between Men in Trees, your one-man show and the Amistad project, you sound extremely busy. When do you get a moment to rest?Amos: Well, I make time to rest. Rest for me is to sit down on a boat in La Paz, Mexico, or to cast off, get out past the breakwater. Then there are no phones, no autographs, no fans — unless they can swim out eight or nine knots! The opportunities to rest don't come that frequently, but I'd much rather be busy. It makes life more interesting.