97.5 million votes…with 12 million votes making the vote 56% to 44%…so it was not even close…my hope is still intact…..

Mikalah Gordon in Cook’s home town-so what

Matt Rodgers in Archie’s home town-so what x2

Top 12 is back and performed with some of the dancers from So You Think You Can Dance…and I don’t know if you noticed, but Archie was just marching around in time to the music-not singing a word…..what was THAT all about? Cook was singing!!

Duet by the Davids-Hero was ok, Cook outsang Archie

Mike Myers as Pitka the Love Guru was classic marketing failure-as bad as Robin Williams on Idol Gives Back, maybe even worse.  Cross that movie off the list of things to see….really really stupid.

Syesha sang with Seal-she looked great, he looked like a rumpled Mr. Clean in a white t shirt and pants….they were not in sync and it was not great….I still love his voice, though.

Jason sang Hallelujah again—ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Each of the Davids get a Ford hybrid—and Archie looks like he’ll faint AGAIN.  Don’t these kids ever watch Idol? They get cars every year!!!

Girls sang with Donna Summer-she sounded good, was wondering why she needed to be escorted down the stairs by 2 men, though-I hope she’s not ill.  Her last number with Syesha “Last Dance”-she sounded winded…

 I LOVED "nurse from hell" Amanda’s vocals this evening-she is still god-awful and I'm thrilled she wont be on tour. She looked like she was in excruciating pain every minute she was on stage. Funny, so was I!! 

I have no idea what he was doing, but Ryan was trying to break dance or else he was seizing over on the side of the stage while the girls performed. What a jerk.

Carly Smithson and Michael John sang some weird version of “the Letter”-it was kind of jazzy, but reminded me of some cheesy porno movie background.  I couldn’t watch it all with that stuck in my head. She still sounded great and he was not quite so terrible either.

CELEBRITY-Jeri Ryan in the audience

Jimmy Kimmel did some schtick…not that funny. I think he was asked to apologize in some way to Simon for the obnoxious nipple jokes during Idol gives Back…..I enjoyed his joke about Simon’s parents, “Rosemary and Satan Cowell” and that made Simon laugh, too.  I don’t think Simon is someone you mess with-I think he’s too wealthy and too influential.  Who the hell is Jimmy Kimmel to take him on? Sanjay in the audience-Jimmy Kimmel mocked him.  Mocked Ryan, mocked Paula, mocked Randy…ho ho ho..GET OFF THE STAGE

Top 6 guys sang “Best Days of My Life” and “We’re in Heaven” with both Davids. Special guest Brian Adams sang…another Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz moment for me.

Had to laugh till I choked over the new Disney offering:” the American Idol Experience”…Oh, how I wonder who will end up fronting that gig?!!!   "Archie!!!!!!!!!!!!  Can you please stop fainting for a minute and get over here to pose with Jasmine and Aladdin and this Brownie troop??"

The best of the night was David Cook singing Sharp Dressed Man with ZZ Top.  It was awesome and great fun.

Graham Nash has dropped a notch or two for me now that he did a duet with Brooke Shut Up White-and one of my favorite songs Teach Your Children. (Always been a CSN fan)  they sounded good together but she better not tour with them (CSN) and ruin it for me.

Some people did not seem to notice the commercial for Guitar Hero featuring David Cook-the Risky Business number, in his underwear…he was incredible!!!!  If you missed it, you really missed it.  Archie did the same thing later in the show-clearly, the kid never saw the movie and did not know the song---it was completely out of his league.

Jonas Brothers???? Who CARES?? GET OFF THE STAGE

I really enjoyed the flashback to some of my favorite auditions-foul mouthed Glitter Girl from Allentown, who’s going “get into actressin’”, the weird guy singing some operetta song in a falsetto that made your skin crawl, and good old Renaldo LePaz in his white suit and cape singing “I am your Brother” backed up by the USC marching band and cheerleaders…..give that man credit for being a good sport.  Still, my favorite of the entire year was James in his gold jacket a la Century 21 singing the ever popular “low” number “LET MY PIPPLE GAOOOOOOOOO”  It makes me laugh like a fiend every time I see it.

Lots of filler material I didn’t care about in here-Archie sang something accompanied by someone, Jordin Sparks sang something wearing a golden “Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz" dress that looked terrible on her, Carrie Underwood sang something wearing some strange looking outfit that reminded me of the white Dolly Parton cape ensemble, only she’s so beautiful that she didn’t look stupid in it.

When the top 12 started with Faith and them moved into Father Figure, I was hoping that George Michael would perform and TA DAH, there he was.  Apparently his ego prevents him from actually performing with the kids at the same time, but he sounded good-not as good as when Carrie Underwood sang the same some on Idol Gives Back, but still good.  Paula was weeping, of course. She can probably be moved to tears by a  rubber dog terd.

George Michael is not aging well-looking jowly and wrinkled and the Wonder Woman-sized sunglasses have to go…I would have figured him to be a likely cosmetic surgery seeker and I was surprised he hasn’t been tightened up yet.  I do love his voice, even though I would never have let my kids go within half a mile of him-in a public park restroom or anywhere else.

FINALLY, after 2 excruciating hours of fluff, filler and self-promotion…wait!  First, Simon has to apologize to David Cook for bordering on disrespect….gee, how transparent…so much for the winner not being known before it’s announced to America…..

But, to my relief , DAVID COOK wins Season 8 and is our new AMERICAN IDOL

At least my vote for the Idol counted for more than my votes for Gore or Kerry did…..and I suspect I will enjoy Cook more in the long run that either of them, anyway.

Celebrity-Camryn Manheim is going nuts-large unfettered body parts are flapping around like wild-watch out, or you could lose an eye….

It was nice to see David Cook win, graciously acknowledge Archie, get a bit overwhelmed and them step up and sing… he should have a good ride.

Now get up out of your chairs, hide your remotes and go have a life until next January when Season 9 begins-I know I'm going to!