What a Way to End American Idol Season 8!!

David Cook said it best last night when he said, "I don't know that America can get this wrong." Be it Adam Lambert or Kris Allen who would be crowned the American Idol of Season 8, the winner would be well-deserving of the title, without a doubt.

By now, y'all have probably already read or heard who the winner is, but I guess I'll go and save it for the end of this post and just pretend like I'm breaking the news to ya, m'kay?

I was happy to see the whole boxing "In this corner..." crap Ryan Seacrest did with the Davids last year wasn't making a cameo this season! He announced that just under 100million votes came in Tuesday night, bringing the season total to a world recordbreaking 624million! What promised to be a star-filled two hours and seven minutes began with a montage of judges' quotes, including Randy Jackson's "For me, for you...", Kara DioGuardi's "Sweetie," Paula Abdul's word-of-the-day calendar vocabulary, and Simon Cowell's need for a hearing aid.

Kris Allen and Adam Lambert joined Ryan onstage, dressed in all-white...with non-working microphones. Live feed was viewed of Carly Smithson surrounded by Adam fans in his hometown of San Diego, while Mikalah Gordon was with Kris fans in Conway, Arkansas.
Kicking off the entertainment, and also the reprise of group songs sung this season, was Pink's "So What," performed by the Top 13, who just happened to be wearing all white also. :o) Watching a second time, I just noticed that the trio who sang the lyric "you weren't there, you let me fall!" was Adam, Allison, and Danny. Was that some producer foreshadowing/message to America? Hmmmm.

Last year's champ, David Cook was up next with "Permanent," and my husband asked, "Can't we just vote for him again?" Sorry, honey. This song was a tribute to David's brother Adam, passed away recently from cancer. I tearfully awaited a photo montage, but really, the lyrics were tribute enough. The itunes video proceeds from this performance go to a cancer research charity.

And in the true spirit of what's American Idol if you can't make fun of the reeeeeeeeally bad auditions...the Golden Idol Awards began with the Outstanding Male category. Nick Mitchell/Norman Gentle won the award and approached the podium dressed suspiciously in a black hoodie. Come on...y'all knew he was going with the breakaway pants, right? Norman Gentle '09, Peace Out.

The first duet of the evening was Lil Rounds singing "Cue the Rain," joined by Queen Latifah, who tried to pull off a Lil-alike one piece black spandexy outfit. The song had it's moments.
An even better moment was Anoop Desai singing Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours," then joined by Alexis Grace (which made me giggle because it had been leaked that Megan Joy would be singing this) and a barefoot (ew, why?) Jason Mraz, and the rest of the Top 13.

We then watched the Idol journey of Kris Allen and were treated to a surprisingly delightful duet of "Kiss a Girl" with Keith Urban. Who woulda thunk the southern boy could do country? Duh. It was great!!!! They complimented each other very well (Danny Gokey should be taking notes on how to do a duet well!). Even Simon stood to clap...trying to look uninterested.

Back from commercial break, the Top 13 girls reprised their group performance of "Glamorous." I think Megan Joy was trying to go for "hot" in her hot pink short shorts...but I think she only made it to another "h" word...that rhymes with Gucci. The girls were then joined by Fergie, and they all became backup singers that raced offstage once the rest of Black Eyed Peas joined Fergie for "Boom Boom Pow." The only thing that would have made their performance even more spectacular would have been if the striped backup dancers (or zebras, as my kids called them) ripped off their hoods to reveal the men of the Top 13...but when I noticed most of them had lady parts, I didn't think it was happening.

The corny Golden Idol Awards continued with the Best Attitude category, awarded to Bikini Girl Katrina Darrell. The best line of the entire season was when Bikini Girl came onstage and Ryan said, "I was gonna ask you what's new, but I think I know"...too bad he's already used that on Kelli Pickler before. Did you rewind your DVR to see Simon and Randy's reaction to her walking out??! Well you should!! Hi.freakin.larious! Almost as good was Katrina trying to re-sing "Vision of Love" and getting schooled (again!) by Kara DioGuardi...who then revealed her own bikini-clad bod...to win a bet with Ryan, etc., who will now be donating a lot of money to her favorite charity.

Next up, to start the list of songs entitled, "Why the H Didn't You Sing That During The Competition!!!?!" was Allison Iraheta and Cyndi Lauper's duet of "Time After Time." Another great pair...minus the riffing at the end!

Ryan checked in with Kris' parents (but not his wife?! what the...?) and "Team Lambert" while Danny Gokey got set on stage to sing "Hello." Ummmmmm, Helloooooooo?!?! What would possess him to sing that song after David Cook rocked it so originally last season?! And that is reason #43 that I'm glad Danny Gokey went home. Then out came Lionel Ritchie to duet "Just Go" with Danny...and we all heard a song with worse lyrics than Kara's co-written coronation song! Lionel and Danny redeemed themselves, a little, with "All Night Long" next.

It was time to watch Adam Lambert's idol journey, and out he came, in serious Adam fashion with angelic-yet-not mettalic shoulder pads and HUGE platform boots (seriously, y'all, he could have strapped cinder blocks to his feet and been shorter!), singing KISS' "Beth." Did you see his grin and eyebrow waggle when he sang "cuz me and the boys will be playing' all night"?? LOVED it!! And that eyeliner...to.die.for! Adam then breathed new life into KISS' "Detroit Rock City" and "Rock n Roll All Night" !!! It was BEYOND amazing. Seriously! Do you think Adam's parents ever said to themselves, "One day my baby is going to sing with KISS?" Wellllll, maybe. What a moment! For Adam, the Lamberts, AND for Idol!

Carlos Santana and Matt Giraud were up next with "Black Magic Woman" and the rest of the Top 13 took on "Smooth." These were followed by the final Ford music video with images of all the previous videos, to the song "I Will Remember You." Then a clip of David Cook presenting them with new Ford Fusions. Surpriiiiiiiise...not. Kris said he needed a new car so bad...one with 4 doors and room for an infant car seat perhaps?! (Still no confirmation on the babybump, btw!)

Megan Joy and Michael Sarver were joined by Steve Martin for a banjo ballad about walking by the river and making love. Don't worry, I didn't get it either. When put on the spot when Ryan asked him who will win, Steve replied, "Well, I know it's a long shot, but I'm hoping I do."

The guys of the Top 13 went all Men In Black and sang "If You Want My Body," then Rod Stewart awkwardly stumbled around like an oldie needing a hip replacement (or two!) and sang the longest!song!ever!... "Maggie May." He told the audience, "Thank you kindly..." at the end of his song, but in my mind I heard him say, "...now where's my inhaler!" Flash forward to Danny Gokey in 35 years! *clears throat* :-O

The final Golden Idol Award was presented to Tatiana Del Toro, who feigned surprise and "rushed" the stage when Ryan told her he was...oops...out of time, then she escaped her two "escorts" off the stage like four times (*eyeroll*), and it finally really was time for a commercial break.

"In a few short minutes, either Kris Allen or Adam Lambert will walk away with the title, but in the eyes of the nation, both are victorious," was Ryan Seacrest's intro for Kris and Allen's duet for Queen's "We Are The Champions." What a great song. Then out comes the band! Where were these guys on Rock Night?! I liked both Adam's and Kris' voices with this song. Awesome!

After the final commercial break of American Idol Season 8, it.was.time. Simon gave them a "the future's all yours" spiel, and the official...and British (so you gotta believe what he says with that accent) vote tallier brought Ryan the envelope...

"For the final time this season, dim the lights, heeeeere we go! After the nationwide vote of nearly 100 million, the winner of American Idol 2009 iiiiiiiiis...Kris Allen!"

Ryan told Kris, "You're a superstar, bro!" Then pottymouth Kris was like, "Are you fri**en serious?!" I don't think Kris was expecting a win because he did NOT have a single thing prepared to say!!! He stammered, "It feels good, man, but Adam deserves this! I'm sorry, I don't even know what to feel right now, this is crazy! Thank you so much." Ryan presented Kris with the new American Idol winner's trophy, and he still couldn't find the words. And when Adam joined him centerstage, Kris looked ashamed, like he'd stolen his car or something.

Ryan Seacrest began thanking the band and judges, etc., and when the cameras flashed to the judges table, everyone was standing and clapping...except Simon! Whiner.

Do you think the lack of Ryan telling us the margin of votes by which Kris won means that it was a landslide? I do. Ryan announced that Kris would be singing "No Boundaries" again, Adam said something to Kris through his teeth...probably "Haha, you get to sing that wretched song"...or maybe he just giggled maniacly, but naughty Kris called him another potty word. Tsk. Tsk.

Kris sang the song much better than the night before, and missed his confetti shower as he led the Top 13 to the judge's podium, and FINALLY, he was joined by his wife, who's shoulder he cried on. So sweet!

Congratulations to Kris Allen, and also to Adam Lambert...there were no losers last night!!!
And that wraps up the five months of the Idol season that would never end. We survived a fourth judge, a second Hollywood week, a Top 13, the Judge's Save, and a Norman Gentle.

Thank you all for a fun season!!

Kate '09 Peace Out.