David Cook Wins American Idol!!

George Michael gave an unbelievable performance demonstrating that he's ready for his first US tour in 17 years but it was David Cook's night when Ryan Seacrest announced that he was the new American Idol.


More Later,

Anne

American Idol results Final 3 Castro finally sent packing

The group song was Steely Dan's "Reelin' in the Years" and the band sounded great. I haven't written about Ricky Miner and the band much but they have done an unbelievable job this season.

During the call in segment, 14 year old Sarah asked all the Wannabes what was the biggest challenge that they have had to overcome and Archuleta said, "I dunno. I haven't been thinking about it lately, sorry."

But Castro stole the show when he said, "Uh, just the brain being dead." Classic, truly classic and I give him a lot of credit for being honest.

After Maroon 5 performed, Ryan Seacrest chatted with Adam Levine and asked if he had any advice for the Wannabes to which he replied, "Get ready to work, baby. It's going to be really tough, and you're going to have to work a lot and then you're going to get jaded and you're going to say god I hate this, but you'll really love it so just remember that."

Jason Castro and Syesha Mercado made up the bottom two and after 51 million votes, Castro was finally sent packing, which he told Seacrest that he had already done.

Before his final performance Seacrest told Casto that he seemed relieved to which he replied, "There are three songs next week, I don't know what I would have done."

America has regained some credibility with this cast off and Castro showed more personality and likeability tonight than he had in the entire rest of the season.

More later,

Anne

American Idol Final Five Results

Syesha Mercado and Brooke White made up the bottom two tonight and after Neil Diamond did his best impression of Will Ferrell doing Neil Diamond, Ryan Seacrest delivered the bad news which immediately caused Brooke to burst into tears.

Making it to the Final Five on American Idol is a tremendous accomplishment and Brooke has nothing to be ashamed of; she grew considerably as an artist throughout the season and has an even shot at a career in music.

Neil Diamond is an icon I have loved since I was a kid. His songs dot the soundtrack of my life and I wish he had sang one of his hits but I understand that isn't how it works; his new record Home Before Dark drops May 6 and he needs to sing one of his new songs to promote the new album to the American Idol audience.

Dolly Parton did the same thing when she sang her new song "Jesus & Gravity" and it seemed to undermine her stature as an iconic songwriter because she sang an unknown song aimed at a niche audience. I felt the same way about Diamond.

Idol would be better off getting mentors based on catalog only not catalog with an album dropping during the season.

Seacrest took the opportunity to defend Paula Abdul by saying that this morning he had read what was written about her comments last night and that none of it was true. He did not elaborate any further.

I didn’t think that she seemed inebriated but she certainly was confused when she offered a review of a song Castro was yet to sing last night.

She appeared on the radio with Ryan Seacrest today and explained the goof by offering two explanations; she saw Castro's second song "September Morn" in dress rehearsal and when making notes during the live broadcast she wrote notes for David Cook on the same page as Jason Castro and meant second person not second song.

She should have stuck with the first explanation because then she only would be on the hook for offering feedback from the dress rehearsal not a convoluted double answer where the second one doesn't really make sense given that she continued to speak to Castro not Cook.

Either way, it was funny in the moment but today seems totally blown of out proportion.

More later,

Anne

Carly Smithson goes home on Idol

The bottom was made up of only two: Carly Smithson and Syesha Mercado and after both performed it was announced that after 38 million votes Carly was eliminated. Unbelievable that the Troubadour survived another week.

Leona Lewis, Simon Cowell's British discovery who is currently the largest selling artist in the world sang an awesome "Bleeding Love." It's easy to see why this girl is huge.

Neil Diamond next week.

More when this bad taste goes away.


Anne

Not even VotefortheWorst.com can save Kristi Lee Cook

Mariah Carey was the guest mentor this week on American Idol which coincides with the release of her new album E=MC2 which dropped yesterday. Earlier this year Mariah Carey surpassed Elvis Presley for most #1 singles by a solo artist with 18.

Tonight Carey gave a great performance of “Bye Bye” from her new album. She was a great role model for the Idol Wannabes this week who is technically proficient and connects powerfully with her songs and audience. The women struggled while the men seemed to do well with her songs this week.

Kristi Lee Cook, Brooke White and Syesha Mercado made up the bottom three and unfortunately for Kristi Lee Cook it was time to pay up for mangling the Beatles “Eight Days a Week” oh so many weeks ago.

Kristi Lee has a good shot at making it in Nashville where she is likely headed.

I’ll let you know whom www.votefortheworst.com decides to support next week but I’m thinking Brooke White.

More Later,

Anne

Apparently rockin an ascot two weeks in a row is the kiss of death

Carly Smithson, Syesha Mercado and Michael Johns comprised the bottom three and in a stunning turn of events, Michael Johns was booted off American Idol.

Smithson repeatedly motioned that she believed that she would be the Idol wannabe to go but it was John's turn to sing after receiving the worst news one can receive on the top rated show.

Johns performed a great copy cat version of Aerosmith's "Dream On" and should land with a record deal of his own.

More later.

Anne

Ramiele Goes Home on Idol

Again no surprises on Idol this week. Ramiele Malubay, Brooke White and Kristi Lee Cook were in the bottom three and Ramiele went home. (Note to self: zoning out during a performance and having to rewind is a very bad sign.)

Cook offered this explanation of his hospital visit after last night's show: "The whole thing kind of got blown out of proportion. I have high blood pressure and it spiked and so they took me there as a precaution; but I'm cool, I'm not going anywhere."

Dolly performed a new song "Jesus & Gravity" (Jesus lifts her up and gravity hold her down); not exactly my cup of tea but I admire her energy and positive outlook. She's an icon and a nice person, I wish this week on Idol had been better for her.

The winners of America's Next Great American Band (American Idol for bands) the Clark Brothers sang "This Little Light of Mine" which was a weird mix of a gospel song with country guitar stylings and something like punk vocals (or maybe he was just yelling). Don't worry, Next Great American Band never really found an audience and I don't expect it back.

Next week's theme is Inspirational songs.

American Idol Chikezie sent home 9 remain

No surprises tonight, Chikezie, Syesha Mercardo and Jason Castro were the bottom three and Chikezie was sent home.

Chris Cornell called Ryan Seacrest and Lee Greenwood contacted American Idol to each say that they liked the performances of their songs (David Cook and Kristi Lee Cook respectively).

More later,

Anne