“American Idol” crowns season 7 champ
May 21st, 2008, 8:03 pm · Post a Comment · posted by Chris Hansen Orf
Chance are that if your reading Idol Speculation right now, you know who won the season 7 crown — if you are even a moderate fan of “AI,” you tuned in tonight for the star-studded two hour finale that gave us our latest “American Idol.”
For those who missed it, here is a brief rundown on the highlights of the finale:
Host Ryan Seacrest announced that 97 1/2 million votes came in(!) after the final two contestants, David Cook and David Archuleta, performed their alotted three tunes last night, and one contestant scored 56% of the vote, a surprisingly confortable margin considering both of the contestants made a legitimate case for being the winner last night.
Appearing on the show were the “Idol” season 7 Top 12 (including our hometown girl, Mesa’s Brooke White), who performed a few group numbers and there were a few duets (Syesha Mercado and Seal, Brooke and Graham Nash singing CSN’s “Teach Your Children” were th highlights); teen sensations the Jonas Brothers performed, as did One Republic, Donna Summer and George Michael; last year’s “Idol,” Glendale’s Jordin Sparks sang, as did season 4 champ and current country superstar Carrie Underwood.
Mike “Austin Powers” Myers was on hand as “The Love Guru” (his new film character) to give the Davids ”advice,” Jimmy Kimmel was his usual hilarious self and a funny bit with Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr. and Jack Black.
Whew! So much for the “brief” rundown — it was a two hour show!
So, we finally got down to business and Ryan Seacrest announced that DAVID COOK is the new “American Idol.”
Idol Speculation predicted a Cook win a few weeks ago but thought that after last night, when the judges lathered heaps of praise on David Archuleta (Cowell proclaimed Archie the winner of the night by “knockout”), that the Utah teen might pull it out on the scorecards, but the kid came up short.
Over 6 “Idol” seasons, there have been winners who have gone on to music stardom (Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood) and winners who have faded from the spotlight (Ruben Studdard, Taylor Hicks) and plenty of contenders who failed to win on the show but who have carved out nice careers for themselves (Chris Daughtry, Kellie Pickler, Clay Aiken and Bucky Covington).
Only time will tell which of the season 7 contenders will go on to a successful musical career, but Cook and Archuleta will at least get to make a few records, and we “Idol” watchers will be watching their rise (or fall).
So long everybody!
