Watching the "American Idol" finalists perform Wednesday night was like watching a high-school graduation. After all, most of America tuned in this summer to see the fledglings line up, get ripped apart by their "teachers" and wait nervously to find out if they've passed - via audiences' phone-in votes - into the next round. Now that the stress of competition is over, and the aspiring stars can let their hair down and enjoy riding the coattails of their sudden fame.

You have your valedictorian (Kelly Clarkson, the eventual winner of a record contract) and most-likely-to-succeeds (runners-up Justin Guarini and Tamyra Gray, who also locked up record deals). There are your rebels (rockers Nikki McKibbin and Ryan Starr) and your best looking (the frustratingly stunning Christina Christian). And you have that guy who's still searching for his identity (Jim Verraros, who started the show in sweater vests and spectacles and now looks like he's auditioning to be a T-Bird in "Grease"). You even have the cake fight and silly string doused on the contestants at the concert's end. Seriously, all that's missing is a mortarboard toss.

The 10 performed their most successful solo material from the show, many of which also were recorded for last month's compilation CD. Performing generally in the order of their dismissal, the underrated Ejay Day kicked things off with a rousing "Black Cat" by Janet Jackson, though his newly straight, blond streaks made him look as out of place as Verraros sounded singing the Commodores' "Easy."

As finalists finished their numbers, each thanked the crowd and gushingly introduced the next performer, always referring to them as "beautiful," "talented" and "amazing." Only Guarini and Clarkson were allowed extended banter with the crowd, jamming with the band and joking with the back-up singers.

Solo highlights included Christian's cover of "Ain't No Sunshine," Gray's "A House is Not a Home" and Guarini's "Get Here." Without comments of judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul, the finalists showed a marked improvement in confidence, notably the sweet but awkward R.J. Helton.

The red-haired McKibbin, a crowd favorite, showed more spunk than her run on the show, rocking through pyro-enhanced renditions of "Piece of My Heart" and "Rhiannon." Guarini, trying his hardest to shake off his Michael Jackson mimicry, also got to perform multiple numbers, including "Let's Stay Together" and "For Once in My Life."

As for Clarkson, she's amiable, perky and talented to boot - she showed off her pipes during showy renditions of "Natural Woman" and "Respect" - but is also saddled with colorless ballads such as "Before Your Love," which she performed as the solo finale. She also appeared uncomfortable during the all-girl performance of "Free Your Mind."

The group numbers - tributes to Motown and the '70s seen on two large screens on either side of the stage - also amplified the weaknesses of some contestants who plain forgot their dance steps. And a rendition of 'N Sync's "Pop," performed by the male finalists, seemed to confirm that some finalists, such as Helton and Tacoma's own A.J. Gil, fit better as boy-band members.

Seattle was the last stop on a 28-city tour, so the grad night was capped off with more than a few tears by the finalists during their uber-schmaltzy finale, a medley of "That's What Friends Are For" and the Jackson Five's "I'll Be There." One could presume that as they leave the "American Idol" experience and strike out on their own, they'll be wondering if they'll ever perform at this level again.