American Idol Season 11 is only hours away from crowning its next grand winner. Who will it be? The male contender from Leesburg, Georgia, or the homeschooled 16-year-old female from Chula Vista, California?

If this year's finale will be similar to last year's, 'Idol' fans will hear three main songs from each contestant: executive produer Nigel Lythgoe's choice, contestant's favorite song from their previous performances and their respective new original single.

In an interview with Tiffany Wan of Wetpaint, Lythgoe had only good words to say about the two finalists.

"They’re both very quiet. I don't know if it’s age or whatever," he said, quite amused of the two grounded talents.

What will Phillip Phillips and Jessica Sanchez sing at the AI finale?

As for ideas on what kinds of songs he would assign to Sanchez and Phillips, Lythgoe seemed determined to play out the strengths of each contestant.

"Jessica needs a song that’s going to have a magic moment in it, that she hits that note, that she grabs us." Lythgoe said, noting that the young lady's performances last week fell a bit short compared to the standard she has set for herself.

"I think Phil loves those sort of mid-tempo numbers that have got a nice sort of groove to it... but I don’t think that's necessarily right for a competition show. Especially on that Nokia stage, you’ve gotta go out there and you gotta do something that grabs that audience and literally make them stand up, pick up the telephone at home and vote for him.... I think he needs to find a song that people know," Lythgoe added.

EP Lythgoe on the Judges and the Mentor

In the same interview, Lythgoe also shared his views about the judges, and mentor Jimmy Iovine.

"I’m very happy with the judges. I do think that they speak from the heart, they speak with intelligence, they speak obviously with insight. And when they don’t or if they screw up I’ve got Jimmy Iovine on the sidelines ready to castigate them. A lot of people have suggested that Jimmy comes on as a judge. I would hate that. That wouldn’t allow me to ask somebody what they think about the judges."

Finally, Lythgoe faced the possibility of Jennifer Lopez leaving the show.

"It would mean a great deal to the show," he said, adding that Lopez "speaks from the heart" and "nurtures" brilliant young singers on the show.

Find out Phillips Top 5 best performances (before the Final Three performance show) in this story. Sanchez' Top 5 is featured here.

Click 'Start' to see what American Idol fans are posting to Tumblr in support of their favorite finalists.

California American Idol Jennifer Lopez