2008 American Idol Finale

May 21st, Look Ma, No Pants

Suzanne called me at 9:03 to ask my opinion on the American Idol finale. I hadn't watched it. I've been disappointed since Neil Diamond week. David Archuleta was going to win. How could he lose with all those teenage girls voting for him?

I was surprise but not shocked to hear Suzanne tell me David Cook won. "What? Isn't he the one with all the talent? What gives?" After Suzanne reviewed the highlights of the show, I wanted to see it. I'm glad I taped it, "As soon as we hang up I'm going to go watch it."

I came very close to not taping the finale this year. If Sean hadn't called to invite me over I might have forgot it completely. I told him I wasn't coming over. "I already know who is going to win… David."

The judges were dressed up: Randy in a red 'Captain Kangaroo' suit, Paula in a red dress cut low enough for her boobs to fall out, and Simon with a fresh white open shirt and black suit.

The hometown crowds in Kansas City and Salt Lake City were geared up as was the crowd in the Nokia Theater. An 'Up With People' version of The Temptation's "Get Ready" was performed by the 2008 American Idol Top Twelve all dressed in white jeans and t-shirts. C+-

Amanda and Michael look uncomfortable during these group song-and-dance routines.

David Cook and David Archuleta sang "Hero." The harmonies were very good but the arrangement and performance was stiff. C+

Mike Myers did a segment as the 'Love Guru'. It was silly and not funny.

Suzanne thought Seal and Syesha didn't mesh well on their duet of "I Have Been Waiting." I thought it was pretty good. Seal has a weird voice so no one is going to blend that well. C+-

Jason Castro reprised his version of Hallelujah throwing in more strings into the arrangement and sounded like he over sang it. B-

I was waiting for Leonard Cohen to come out of the wings. That would have been cool.

"Let The Good Times Roll" - a Ford commercial made up of this season's previous Ford commercials. It paid off when Ryan Seacrest gave Escape Hybrid keys to the Davids, "You do have your license?" he asked the young Archuleta.

The female contestants: Ramiele Malubay, Amanda Overmyer, Sysesha Mercado, Brooke White, Kristy Lee Cook and Carly Smithson sang "She Works Hard For The Money" all tarted up in red dresses except for Amada in red jeans growling out "Hot Stuff". C+

Donna Summer was helped down the steep stairs by two dancers then sang her new single: "Stamp Your Feet" B.

American Idol skipped Disco Week this year. I missed it. Donna handed her sparkly microphone to Syesha during the "Last Dance" duet. Syesha loved the attention and kept up with Donna Summer vocally. B

Carly and Michael did a smoky version of "The Letter", dressed in black they had chemistry, but the harmonies were a little weak- Carly sings too high. B-

Jason Castro, Michael Johns, Chikezie, and David Hernandez came out after some cracks by Jimmy Kimmel, and sang "Summer of '69." B-

David Cook and David Archuleta sing "Heaven", the harmonies were good at least until the other four sang along. C+.

Bryan Adams came out to sing his new song "I Thought I'd Seen Everything " C++

The boys sang back up. The band sounded very good- then I noticed it was Adams' band playing in the wings. Bryan followed up with a short version of "Somebody" B.

David Cook joined ZZ Top on stage to sing "Sharp Dressed Man". B

Trading riffs with Billy Gibbons would be awesome. He even boogied down with the knee-knocking dance. The stylized 'AC' on David's left handed Gibson Les Paul are his brother's initials- for good luck.

A star-struck Brooke sang "Teach Your Children" with Graham Nash. C+

The song needed a better arrangement- especially vocals- their voices didn't blend very well. Brooke looked good in a long blue dress and bare feet.

David Cook danced in his underwear ala Tom Cruise in "Risky Business" for a Guitar Hero ad. Sean didn't believe it was Cook. He thought they found an actor that looked similar, "... because David Cook is so popular." He didn't believe Suzanne until David Archuleta appeared in his underwear.

Jonas Brothers were there to appeal to a young demographic that American Idol is losing. They played "SOS", a catchy pop song like a modern Monkies. C+

Ryan introduced the best of the worst. Jared Wiley, Alexis Cohen. James Lewis, and Renaldo Lapuz in his white-feathered pimp suit singing his brotherhood suit along with the USC marching band, and joined by Paul and Randy.

David Archuleta sang a duet on OneRepublic's Apologize. B-

With the strings and the actual band it pointed out the direction American Idol should head. Even the vocal performance was better because the arrangement was so strong.

Jordin Sparks, worked the stage in a gold lame dress harder than she should to make up for the weak performance and material. One Step at a Time, was a bad modern song- the lyrics seem more spoken than sung. C-

Gladys Knight, from 1973 (Flip Wilson Show?), sang "Midnight Train To Georgia" with the Pips. The Pips in this video happened to be Ben Stiller, a pant-less Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr. You can see the original 1973 video on YouTube

Speaking of pantless, Carrie Underwood came out in a white jacket and heels and blew the roof off the mother singing Last Name. I generally don't like Country Music but it was a great performance and she was smoking hot. B+

Suzanne singled out the performance for criticism. She didn't like the arrangement- too country.

The ladies came out to sing "Faith." The lead got lost as the sound guy lost the microphone channel? The girls moved into the wings so the guy could sing "Father Figure" in black suits. The girls joined them for "Freedom". B-

Some old guy who didn't look like George Michael, came out and sang Praying for Time. C

The Davids listen while Randy and Paula ramble on. Simon apologized to David Cook for calling a knock out in David Archuleta favor after last night's performaces. Simon said they were both good enough that he didn't care which one won, "You're both nice guys and triers."

Edward Bodington handed Ryan the envelope. "Ladies and gentlemen, David and David the winner, by 12 million votes, of American Idol 2008 is David ...Cook.

David hugs his Archuleta and gives him a classy round of applause. It sinks in and he has to fight back the tears. The word nerd is at a lost of words. His mother comes on stage followed by his brother.

"This is all your fault," David says to his brother Andrew. (It was Andrew who was trying out for American Idol, David was just along for the ride and got talked into trying out.)

David Cook sings "The Time Of My Life" He sings surprisingly well considering the emotion and the general lameness of the song. C+

With the build up Suzanne gave the show I should have been a little disappointed but I wasn't. The show had all the best aspects of American Idol rolled into a two-hour package. When the show ended I recalled I felt the same way about last year's American Idol finale. I must have forgot. Cooks sings while confetti falls, he waves the other contestants up on the