'American Idol' finale: And the winner is ...
So who's it going to be? Kris Allen? Adam Lambert?
One of these two is going to win American Idol tonight. Well, eventually.
Host Ryan Seacrest tells us that nearly 100 million votes were cast last night and that for the season, more than 640 million votes have been cast. Then he introduces the judges, starting with Randy Jackson and a montage of his most annoying (to me) phrase: "for me for you." Then it's Kara DioGuardi's turn, and a montage of her most annoying thing, calling everyone "sweetie" or "honey," which she kind of stopped after the audition rounds, thankfully. Paula Abdul's montage is her using big words, sometimes correctly, sometimes not. And Simon Cowell gets a montage of clips of him saying, "What?"
Then, both dressed head-to-toe in angelic white, the finalists hit the stage and get reports from their hometown.
Then, the Top 13 (all dressed in white, too), hit the stage for a cheese-tastic rendition of Pink's "So What." The side-stepping choreography and the singing the end part in the round (a la "Row Row Row Your Boat") really brings it to a new level of goofy.
Next up is a performance by David Cook, who is surely thrilled he doesn't have to do those silly group performances anymore. He sings "Permanent," which sounds like it's based on his experience recently losing his brother. Ryan talks with him about it later, and David says that after the show tonight, the performance will be up on iTunes and all proceeds will benefit cancer research.
In a change of tone and subject, Ryan starts the "Golden Idol Awards" portion of the show, which gives fake awards to auditioners who humiliated themselves earlier this season. Nice.
The first category is for "outstanding male," and once Nick Mitchell/Norman Gentle is named, you know who's going to win, so that he can come out and do his "And I am Telling You" schtick again. Sure enough ...
After that, Lil Rounds and Queen Latifah duet on "Through the Rain." Then, it's Jason Mraz (*swoon*), singing "I'm Yours" with Alexis Grace and Anoop Desai at first, then a bunch of the finalists join them on stage, too.
Then we get to revisit Kris' journey on Idol, from his first audition in which he said that a lot of people are probably better than him, which put Simon off, to the current moment. This serves as an introduction to Kris' duet with Keith Urban on "Kiss a Girl." Did he do much country this season? Seems like an odd duet choice to me, but they sound good.
The performances continue unabated after the break with the female finalists taking on Fergie's "Glamorous." Speaking of Fergie, she then joins them on stage to sing "Big Girls Don't Cry." Then the rest of the Black Eyed Peas come out to sing perform "Boom Boom Pow." One, I agree with what @zap2itrick said on Twitter about HD not being Fergie's friend. Two, Fergie apparently forgets about how she's supposed to skip some lyrics, and they cut away to the Idol logo for a few seconds. Three, someone really should have told Megan Joy to not dance in the audience. That was awkward.
Back to the Golden Idols, this one for "best attitude." Katrina Darrell (aka Bikini Girl) is the winner, and she has some new, uh, assets. Ha, in fact, here's what Ryan says: "I would ask you what's new, but I think I know." She heads out on stage after accepting her award and sings for a few minutes, but then Kara DioGuardi comes out to join her -- and shuts her down. Yeah, Kara was better. She's also wearing a bikini, but it's hidden under her dress, sort of. Ryan says they bet Kara a bunch of money that she wouldn't do this, but she did, for charity. OK, that was kind of funny. But I still don't like Kara that much.
Allison Iraheta then gets to perform "Time After Time" with Cyndi Lauper.
Ryan checks in with the parents of the finalists (they're proud, they're happy, duh), and then introduces Danny Gokey, singing "Hello," after which Lionel Richie joins him for "Just Go," which Lionel usually sings with Akon. Gokey's so similar to Akon! But they aren't done yet; then it's time for "All Night Long."
Then, the finalists -- remember them? -- get some screen time again. Adam gets his "journey to Idol" clip show, which introduces another Adam performance. He comes out in an insane outfit with like metal wing/shoulder pad things and sings "Beth," at which point Kiss joins him on stage for a medley. Once they join him, his bizarre outfit looks positively understated. OK, that was pretty fun. I would still like to see the results pretty soon.
Ryan introduces Santana next, and Matt Giraud joins him for a few bars of "Black Magic Woman." Then the other finalists all come out for "Smooth" -- and too much awkward dancing.
After the Ford commercial, there's footage of David Cook surprising Kris and Adam with cars. Not too shabby.
Then, random, Michael Sarver, Megan Joy and ... Steve Martin?? Playing the banjo? What the ... heck? Turns out Steve wrote the song, called "Pretty Flowers," and it's on his new album. There is a lot wrong with this. I don't even know where to begin.
The dudes hit the stage after the break and sing "Do You Think I'm Sexy." Rod Stewart joins them and sings "Maggie May." I crack up hysterically because it sounds like the crowd goes crazy after he sings, "I really should be back at school." You know how people cheer like maniacs when bands call out their city name at concerts? "OMG, he said Baltimore? Yeeeeeeeeeeahhhhhhhh!" It just seemed like the kids in the front were like, "School! I go to school! Yeeeeeeeaaaahhhh!" Sorry, that was a little labored, but it made me laugh and distracted me from how rough ole Rod looks, so there you go.
More "Golden Idols," this time for outstanding female. You know it's going to be Tatiana, right? Yep, she's a nominee, and the winner, too. They do a joke (I think) about how they have to take a break, and she's not allowed to sing, but she manages to anyway, while being chased around the stage. Heh?
Then it's Kris and Adam -- yay, the finalists! the reason we are here! -- out to duet on "We Are the Champions." There's also Queen, a choir and the rest of the finalists on that big stage. Then another abrupt break. This really has been a choppy, though eventful, finale, don't you think?
Before the results, Ryan asks Simon what he wants to say to Kris and Adam. He says that he doesn't usually mean this (hee), but he thinks they are both brilliant and should be proud of themselves.
At long last, it is finally results time. The winner is Kris Allen!
Hey, Adam Lambert lovers, at least he doesn't have to put that horrendous single on his first album. This is probably going to work out better for him anyway in that regard.
Kris says it feels good, "but Adam deserves this." He also gets a trophy, which is new. Kris is so flabbergasted that he can barely talk. And speaking of that horrible song, Kris has to sing "No Boundaries" again, but at least they start him in a better key than last night.
So that's interesting. I think there was a bit of a backlash because the show was so pro-Adam all season. You know American voters love an underdog!
(Photo by Frank Micelotta / FOX)
Comments
America totally blew this one. Allen was talented, but Lambert was in a completely different league. This was a popularity contest. Shame on you America.
SKK: I think Adam will do just fine, probably even better unshackled by 19 Entertainment.
Posted by: Eric in PA | May 20, 2009 10:16 PM
Agreed, Eric. It's an upset for me, but I'm not surprised. Still, Adam deserves better than that cheesy single anyway.
Posted by: Jonathan | May 20, 2009 10:30 PM
Will Adam really be free of an AI contract? I thought they learned their lesson after Clay Aikin and changed that.
I like both contestants, although I did think Adam was the superior singer. While I congratulate Kris for his success, I'm sad that America didn't feel ready to vote for Adam...I know some people did not like his singing style, and that is fair, but there's also been a lot of internet buzz about his sexual orientation, and many mean-spirited comments.
Makes the "Change is gonna come" lyrics of last night seem a little bittersweet.
Posted by: liz | May 20, 2009 10:37 PM
It's always a popularity contest. Kris is more marketable. And like you said Sarah, Adam will do just fine. They don't have to win this competition.
Posted by: Car | May 20, 2009 10:51 PM
They said only a million votes seperated the top two last week, and who do you think Danny's votes went to? Makes sense, actually. Thank you America.
Posted by: Joe | May 20, 2009 10:53 PM
Well surprise, surprise, surprise. Take that American Idol producers.
No worries for Adam. He's got a fan base and several avenues open to him. For example, when one of the KISS members dies--which should be any day now--he can slide right in and they won't miss a beat.
Lots and lots of big names on the stage, but what are they going to do next year? How do you top Cyndi Lauper playing a dulcimer?
And, finally, Alexis Grace gets hotter with each passing day.
Thanks for blogging AI again this year, SKK. (Yes, I peeked...just in case the electricity when off or something.)
Posted by: Bucky | May 20, 2009 11:21 PM
I think this is how it should be. I was a Kris Allen fan all along, and he needs this exposure so he can produce the killer album he's proved he can make. I can't wait to buy it come this fall!
Posted by: Jackie | May 21, 2009 12:19 AM
Kebler, after reading your incredibly boring review, if I didn't see this show and had DVR'd it to watch later, I probably wouldn't bother to watch it at all.
In reality, it was infinitely more funny & UNEXPECTEDLY EXCITING than ANYTHING you said about it.
Gawd, you're jaded. I've read my last of your take on anything...
Posted by: Randy | May 21, 2009 1:04 AM
What else is new, AI is not a singing contest but more of a popularity contest. This is not far from some reality show where winner gets voted thru Text.
Best of luck to Kris and Adam and of course to the future of AI.
Posted by: bugsy | May 21, 2009 3:44 AM
Umm...you do know that Steve Martin has played banjo since the beginning of his career?
Posted by: jjjackson | May 21, 2009 6:20 AM
Eric in PA must have been living in an alternative universe. If this was a popularity contest as he described, Adam would have won by a landslide. I think the better term for the vote was it was an "anti-popularity" contest. SKK was 100% right, the vote was backlash against the judges who openly campaigned for America to vote for Adam.
Posted by: Scooter | May 21, 2009 6:59 AM
All the Danny votes went to Kris. That's ok, because when America votes with its dollars, Adam will win hands down. His work is much more commercially appealing, and Chris Daughtry has already shown us that you don't need to win the show to be a success.
Posted by: mstrchef13 | May 21, 2009 7:20 AM
Of course it was a popularity contest, it always is. With the judges pushing Adam, of course America is going to want the other guy to win instead. Maybe that will teach them to critique their performances instead of bowing down to contestants like they did with Adam.
Posted by: Chris in KS | May 21, 2009 8:26 AM
I think America bucked against the judges, who had crowed Adam the winner weeks ago! For that fact, I am glad that Kris won, even though Adam is the better singer. Maybe next year the judges (and they can get rid of the 4th one) will stick to judging the singing alone: not whether someone is the total package or constantly telling the singers what kind of singer they should be (poor Lil Rounds), or predicting the winner at the outset of the competition. Yes, America got it wrong, but for the right reasons. Go America!
Posted by: BmoreMan | May 21, 2009 8:53 AM
Very surprising outcome! But maybe not so surprising. I'm sure that my next comment will be dismissed as so much "sour grapes", but I do think that homophobia / femme-phobia is behind this upset outcome. Adam is more talented than Kris, no doubt about that. I do agree that Adam will be better off with the freedom to do his own thing on his first album and I bet there are many established producers dying to work with him.
Posted by: Keisha | May 21, 2009 9:13 AM
I posted this on April 29th before Matt got kicked off:
My prediction on the top five:
1. Kris
2. Adam
3. Danny
4. Allison
5. Matt
Can I call it or what??? I AM American Idol.
To Eric's comment, America didn't get it wrong. It's not about the best singer...it's about who you connect with. That's what music is all about. And America connected with Kris, not Adam.
I'll be the first to argue that Adam is a better singer than Kris. Based on talent alone it probably should have been Adam and Allison in the finals. But Kris sang with much more heart and feeling. And that's why I voted for him.
Posted by: Allen | May 21, 2009 9:25 AM
Adam will now be able to have the career he wants, not the one Idol would have laid out for him! I think both guys are going to do just fine....
Posted by: Linda | May 21, 2009 10:18 AM
Adam is very talented and has a wonderful career ahead of him. He also won't have the contractual obligations that go along with winning this title which will allow him to move ahead in which ever direction he chooses. As far as Kris winning, I think America made a great choice. He epitomises the boy next door image which is the face of America. He can also play multiple instruments which gives him more versatility. Very different genres, what you like is a matter of preference and America voted and obviously prefers the less screechy flamboyant KISS style of music. Both will do great things.
Posted by: sigun in Baltimore | May 21, 2009 11:27 AM
Randy - Go away. Noone who reads Sarah's blog has any interest in your opinion. Critique the show, not the summary. Moron.
Go Sarah!
SKK: Aww, thanks for springing to my defense, Allen! And Randy, it's a live-blogged recap, with the main point being reporting what happened and who won ASAP, which I did. Thanks for reading, but feel free to skip future posts. Won't hurt my feelings.
Posted by: Allen | May 21, 2009 11:59 AM
Even better then Adam replacing a KISS member, I thought he was brilliant as Freddie Mercury's replacement for Queen. They should have signed him on the spot. I think the underdog backlash effected the vote, but Kris is more marketable and Adam will do better on his own.
Posted by: Frank | May 21, 2009 12:03 PM
Hi Sarah! Great write up, as usual...but no comment on the Cyndi Lauper duet with Allison? Did you like it? Not like it? Also, it's "Do You Think I'm Sexy"...I know, I'm being picky! Anyway, enjoy reading your postings about Reality TV - very interesting!!
Oh, and I was a big Danny and Allison (and Alexis) fan, but I was pulling for Kris. Yes, Adam is talented, but a) the infatuation the judges had with him was sickening, and b) his screaming got on my nerves...very "Sam Harris" like (Star Search - 1980's...for you young folks, do a search for Over the Rainbow Sam Harris on Youtube...you'll see what I'm talking about.
Congrats to both - they'll both have records, and the public can buy whichever they prefer, or buy neither and just watch the show (like I do!)
SKK: Thanks, Mort! I will make the fix. Picky is good because picky is right.
Posted by: Mort Shuman | May 21, 2009 12:17 PM
Losing already secured Adam with a better career. His voice reminds me of the GREAT rock lead singers...Steve Perry of Journey, Peter Cetera of Chicago etc.
There was a guy on Star Search years ago who sand like Adam!!!!
Posted by: Sherry | May 21, 2009 1:20 PM
America got it right. Adam, while very talented, didn't have a bigger following. Kris has a much wider appeal and is as talented.
Posted by: David in MD | May 21, 2009 2:16 PM
I agree with the comment that the show didn't flow well at times... However, watching the the Rock Band/Stars of my era was interesting ... I know my hearing is getting bad but I thought KISS was singing "I want to take gerital all night and advil every day..."
Posted by: JD | May 21, 2009 3:58 PM
I actually enjoyed the show last night - it reminded me of the variety shows they use to have in the 70's with all the different musical guests. I would definitely pay to see Adam sing with Queen. I absolutely loved Queen in the 70's and think Adam would be a much more worthy successor to Freddie Mercury than that other guy (Paul Rodgers?).
Anyway, I was not surprised to see Kris win. I figured he would pull in all the Danny Gokey votes.
IMHO Adam is the star and I'm sure he will go far.
Posted by: CJ | May 21, 2009 4:35 PM
i really, really wanted adam to win. They said america voted wrong. And some people voted for kris on the phone tuesday night but it said they voted for adam. idk, but adam should of won.
Posted by: vicki | May 21, 2009 8:57 PM
that finale was absolutely awesome; it so made up for that lame/boring last performance episode
Posted by: Nomad | May 21, 2009 9:23 PM
Yea Kris
Posted by: Bucky | May 22, 2009 8:48 PM
It's a pretty well known fact that Steve Martin is an excellent banjo player. He won a Grammy for his 2002 CD.
Posted by: grnacrz | May 26, 2009 2:40 AM