Viewers will have to sit through a two-hour “American Idol” (7 p.m., Fox) to find out who wins. On the other hand, if you’ve been following this season, you’re pretty used to the vast expanse of idle hours.

I’m hardly the only observer to declare this the worst “Idol” ever. Is the franchise getting tired? Or was this year’s crop simply uninspired?

This season’s top four included Jason Castro, who deserves some kind of nod for audacious indifference. Syesha Mercado is a thoroughly pleasant young woman who projects the soul of a pageant contestant. David Cook presented some interesting arrangements but never amounted to much more than a warmed-over Chris Daughtry. David Archuleta is certainly talented. He seems to be the kind of talent destined to star in “High School Musical” on a Disney cruise trip.

Many have suggested that “Idol” must change to survive. A show reaching 20 million viewers on a “bad” night seems to be surviving just fine.

But here’s my advice for a new-and-improved “Idol” that has nothing to do with firing Simon, Randy, Paula or Ryan. When “Idol” returns, it will be 2009, essentially the 10th year of the century. How about a 21st-century “Idol,” a competition where the talent has to perform only songs written after 2000?

Am I the only one tired of hearing the sounds of the 1960s and 1970s recycled endlessly? And as a geezer old enough to remember those old songs when they were new, I would welcome an introduction or reintroduction to some golden oldies from the summer of 2002.

If “Idol” has a problem, it is the dead weight of nostalgia. We are now 41 years removed from 1967, the Summer of Love, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and Otis Redding. Why expect 19-year-olds to sing songs that old? After all, Aretha, Janis and Jimi did not become stars by performing the hits of 1926. Yes, we are as far removed in time from 1967 as that year was from the Calvin Coolidge era. Perhaps it’s time for “Idol” to say goodbye to yesterday – and to Paul McCartney’s “Yesterday” – and face the music, and the future.

Season finales

¢ A series of random shootings might be linked on “Criminal Minds” (8 p.m., CBS).

¢ Mac enters a very active and dangerous crime scene on “CSI: NY” (9 p.m., CBS).

¢ A jeweler’s last setting on “Law & Order” (9 p.m., NBC).

¢ Denny and Alan clash in court on the season finale of “Boston Legal” (9 p.m., ABC).

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ Jack’s health goes south, and Locke searches for Jacob’s cabin on a two-hour recap of recent events on “Lost” (7 p.m., ABC).

¢ The cute meet the uncoordinated in “Puppy Bowl IV” (7 p.m., Animal Planet).

¢ The espionage drama “MI5” (8 p.m., BBC America) enters its fourth season.

¢ Medical experts discuss new approaches to mental illness on the 90-minute documentary “Depression: Out of the Shadows” (8 p.m., PBS, check local listings), followed by a half-hour panel hosted by Jane Pauley.

¢ Contestants work at a greasy-spoon diner during a breakfast shift on “Top Chef” (9 p.m., Bravo).

Cult choice

Frank Sinatra leads the Rat Pack in the original 1960 heist drama “Ocean’s Eleven” (7 p.m., TCM).