SPOILER ALERT!!! - David Cook wins American Idol

So, if I was a betting woman, I would blind stinking rich right now. David Cook won the top prize last night at the American Idol finale. Cook won the battle after 100 million votes were placed and he beat out David Archuleta by 12 million of them. All the finale needed was some NKOTB and it would have been my wet dream as a little girl. George Michael, Bryan Adams, Donna Summers and the cast from the "Love Guru" and "Tropic Thunder" all came to the AI stage to promote something or the other. Last night's finale was probably my favorite to date. The numbers were a bit weak, but what they were able to do was showcase the weaknesses of those already kicked off. It was almost like a "told you so and good job" on the voters. Carrie Underwood came out and rocked the stage like the diva she is, last year's winner Jordin Sparks also sange her new hit and George Michael sung one of my favorite songs by him, but he sounded and looked bit off. He blamed a cold and I hoping that's all that it was, because now my mom wants to see him perform at MSG.

Throughout the night, the one thing that stood out other than the producers pushing Michael Johns, a contestant who lost out in like seventh round, was that David Cook really owned the stage when he was performing. He seemed calm, cool and like a man who already knew he lost. Archuleta, in my opinion not only lacked spunk, but lacked harmonies with his fellow singers. But nothing was worse than watching Brooke White dance. She could be the most textbook example of why white people are requested not to dance anywhere other than a wedding. Before they announced which David won, Simon Cowell apologized for ripping into Cook the other night and said that for the first time in American Idol history, either final contestant winning would be great. Anyways, I am very glad the best man won and I think this is just the beginning of what could be a great career. The expression on his mother's and brother's faces was priceless and it was wonderful to watch everyone celebrate his win.

Here is the video of the announcement and his final performance.

American Idol - Who will come out on top?

Ok so for any of you who have watched this season of American Idol, I am sure you know what I am thinking. That little creepy Archuleta kid is gonna steal the crown from David Cook tonight, ain’t he? Yeah so Arch did really well last night and sung his heart out through his ballads and I heard even creepier little girls oohing and declaring love for him, but seriously, you think this kid is a pop star? He creeps me out soooo much! I don’t know if it’s the fact that he looks like a ventriloquist dummy or one of those hairy toys from the 80’s. The main reason why this kid should not win is he has ZERO personality. In fact, I would dare anyone out there to find a kid more deprived of any soul or personality. Yech! David Cook, while not my cup of tea, breathes fresh air into this stale pop star show American Idol. His rock, yet way too radio friendly, sound is refreshing on this show, which usually churns out karaoke performer after karaoke performer. After watching last night’s performances, I was a bit mad the judges didn’t take any time to discuss the competition and performances as a whole. IT’s one thing to have a great night, anyone can, but to be consistently good and keep bringing you’re A game is a very tough thing to do and I think the only person throughout this whole thing who has done this is David Cook. Simon last night acknowledged that Cook didn’t play the better game last night and by that he meant pander to the public. Archuleta did that and very well I might add. The show was configured around some hooky “boxing” angle, where each performer would be crowned “winner of the round” and at one point came out in boxing robes. Yikes was that lame.
I would like Cook to win because he is a talented and different type of performer for the show and I think it would confirm that the show is more than just a few musical theater geeks performing on a big stage. But many people think that it would actually be better for Cook’s career if he did come in second place. Overall, the producers and the network really need to sit down and figure out a way to change this program because the ratings are falling and interest is waning. So I will be watching tonight to see if the true star gets his due or if the American Idol viewers fall for another creepy dude singing ballads. Unfortunately, I am afraid it will be the later.

Entertainment Weekly interviewed the two Davids after last night’s show

Here is David Archuleta’s best performance last night



Here is David Cook’s best performance last night

Is American Idol doomed?

The ratings are slipping and those of us who end up tuning in already figured out who would win back when there were twelve finalists, so when will the jig be up for American Idol. This season started off fairly strong and it was obvious that it wasn’t filled with a lot of screen time stealers, but more talented musicians. We had a few who had already received a record deal and some more who were destined for the Top 100, so what’s going wrong? Fox has been switching things up a bit to see if that would pull in stronger numbers or more callers, but it hasn’t seemed to work in their favor. The judging incident last week with Paula when she commented on two of Jason Castro’s songs, even though he only performed one, it confirmed to critics and some viewers that things weren’t as “live” as we were to believe.

So where do you go from here? It will be a cold day in hell when they finally pull the plug on this show, but the time between them announcing this season’s winner and next years’ auditions, you can believe that there will be many changes on the show and possibly some replacement judges. A show, which is targeted to younger audiences and that allows them to pick their next “star” needs to be much more hip, which is really the bigger problem with “AI”. Having Mariah Carey as a mentor this year was a stroke of genius and hopefully next year there will be more currently influential artists. Unfortunately, Neil Diamond and Dolly Parton just don’t draw in the kids anymore.
If you want to keep credit and the history flowing, add a Bob Dylan night – that could be incredibly interesting. What the producers of this show need is a gut renovation. I don’t necessarily think the judges need to change but I feel the method of judging isn’t the best. I think a panel like “Top Chef”, where one judge is present for the rehearsals and sees the work and preparation going into the performance would be great and this could be a role that Abdul could fill perfectly. Also, the producers need to contact a rock singer, a hip hop artist and maybe Carey again to have hipper mentors. And personally, if you don’t want these people to be Broadway bound, then don’t have them perform Andrew Lloyd Weber songs. The show can come back and be better than before. It just needs a whole lot of shaking.

What do you all feel about “American Idol”? What can this show do to bring back it’s audience or even better increase its audience?

Mariah Carey night on American Idol - Cook continues the reign!

I took a bit of a break from the madness that is American Idol, but I made sure to check out last night’s show. This week’s “mentor” was Mariah Carey, who is truly on an all out publicity blitz pushing her new album. The chicks bored me to tears, as usual and reminded why people need to be drunk when performing karaoke. But David Cook, once again, hit it out of the park. His arrangement and retelling of Carey’s “Always Be My Baby” was so interesting and it was great to know that Cook was performing for his brother, who is suffering with Cancer. Here is the knock out performance from the only guy who deserves to win this competition.

American Idol last night - David Cook blew the others away!

So most of you by now are well aware of my returned interest to American Idol. This season I definitely think is one of the best ones ever and I’ll tell you why. This time around, the ones who are doing well are actually the ones with most talent. There are of course the requisite annoying singing girls who push their voice too hard and are always pitchy and I am bored to death with them. We also have Kristy Lee Cook, who is pushing her “Proud to be an American” schtick about as far as her country-music loving voters can take it.

But it doesn’t matter because I have David Cook to entertain me every week. I am not usually a fan of rockers like this, but this dude has so much talent its ridiculous. And as opposed to Chris Daughtry, the only rocker type who was genuine and could have won the contest, Cook finds new ways each week to push himself out of the rock comfort zone. Last night, the contestants were asked to perform a song that came out the year that they were born and most of the performances actually bored me to tears. But, Cook blew me and the judges away with a slowed down version of “Billie Jean”, originally by Michael Jackson. It’s pretty brave to change up an MJ song, but when it is done well, its wonderful. Simon said the performance was amazing and I can not agree more with him. Cook has what it takes to win this competition and to reiterate Cowell’s remarks from a few episodes ago, if the contest remains about pure talent and charisma, no on can beat him.

Check out Cook’s rendition of “Billie Jean”.

I can't believe that country girl got a pass....

My name is Danielle and I watch American Idol and I am pretty shocked by this week's results. While I know David's performance was cheesy, it definitely was not the worst that night. I am pretty sure his stripping past did not help him grow a fan base. But how is that Kristy Lee Cook still here after this performance last week.

I think the new Lindsay Lohan movie Chapter 27, about the death of John Lennon will sit better with Beatles' fans then this murdering of "8 Days a Week". See, this chick thinks because since the country/Southern thing worked for my girl Carrie Underwood, it will work for her. She forgot one important thing - Underwood has talent. This Cook somehow managed to ruin two songs, two weeks in a row and she needs to get her candy ass booted next week. And how did David Archuleta, who forgot lyrics and was off pitch for half the song, not even get in the bottom three? America - you are disappointing me as always. Here is Hernandez getting the boot.

Seacrest is the hostest with the mostest

Ryan Seacrest confirmed to host the 59th Annual Primetime Emmys. Fox will broadcast the award program on Sept. 16 from the Shrine Auditorium.



Fox executives have said that Seacrest's experience on American Idol has more then prepared the host to outshine the competition. I think Fox is keeping it all in the family and is joining the Seacrest attempt to hijack all forms of entertainment media.

Now that Merv Griffin has passed away, and Dick Clark is pretty much in retirement, Seacrest is ready to take their places in Hollywood.