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by Mark_Thompson from los angeles

Last Post 24 days, 17 hours Ago


Well it's official....the best Idol finale since and perhaps the best there has been
May 22, 2008 | 12:52 AM
Category: Entertainment
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In the very beginning of it's run AMERICAN IDOL was a huge hit but still looked at by some in the recording industry as a bit "cheesy" or "mainstream".  Eventually, that wore off (you may differ with me but I think it took about two seasons).

When Prince appeared at an Idol finale it should have told everyone that Idol had arrived on every level.  Now the coolest mega-artists and producers are "angling" to get on the show for the most part.

Plus, major studios, actors, publicists and performers are jamming in the door to get their stuff on the show in any way possible.

It's been a win-win.  Good for the artists and good for Idol. 

And so tonight we benefited from a more mature Idol and we see all of this come together....

The Idol finale had a tip of the hat to older artists like Graham Nash, Donna Summer and George Michael and newer  phenoms like the Jonas Brothers.

This finale was the very best since Kelly Clarkson (season one).  It had everything from humor and fun performances like the "friends forever" number to a genuine overwhelming surprise ending.

David Cook clearly benefited from yet another Idol phenomenon.  Audience backlash against the judges.  After the apparent "coronation" of David Archuleta the night before the audience rose up and cranked out a whopping 12 million extra votes for Cook to give him a convincing win. 

It was terrific.

The outcome was such a forgone conclusion that you almost felt guilty tuning in to the finale to see what the judges had told us the night before.  And then....and then, the best finish we've yet seen and the Idol honor given to a genuinely sincere and grateful guy whose emotion at the end of the night said it all.

Congratulations to David Cook and all those who put together a great night.


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Member Comments Total Comments: 8
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marv read my blog view my photos
May 22, 2008 | 11:17 AM

mark, i usually watch the 10 o'clock news until you finish your segment. i care not for sports so garcia is not telling me anything i am interested in hearing. last night i fell asleep before wheel of fortune was over. i awakened at 1am, saw a segment of the 1am replay of ch 11 news. yet i had no idea who won american idol until this morning. i still don't know who the special guest was. what ideas can we develop for a new program...i know we can succeed.
jpapagan read my blog view my photos
May 22, 2008 | 2:32 PM

I disagree that it was the best finale ever.

The final decision was refreshing, since David Cook is way more appealing and marketable that the cheese-ball, schmaltzy power-ballad, teen star-searchy David Archuletta. Finally, the cool guy won. He's got an edge, can rock, but also has legitimate vocal chops.

As for the other 115 minutes of the show, I thought there were only 2 legitimate segments:
- Syesha singing with Seal was HOT. She is hot in every sense of the word and has a great career ahead of her.
- Carrie Underwood's performance was legit. She's a superstar.

As for the rest, please - I don't need to see Donna Summer singing her "new single" - Huh?? Why do we need new music from Donna Summer at this point? We barely need her old music, unless we're at a wedding. Same goes for George Michael and Bryan Adams. And all the rest of the "top 12" brady bunch/'sunshine day' group numbers were as cheeseball as ever.
sebar read my blog view my photos
May 22, 2008 | 9:00 PM

LOL Mark, I read who won in advance over the net before it aired on the west coast.

By the way, when do we get a new show with you and the girls? Perhaps you will wizen up to the proper co-host Christine Devine and Lauren Sanchez....makes for a hot, hot, hot show. I can't wait to see the three of you in action...
Emma_Lechtid
May 22, 2008 | 9:21 PM

i just woke up and thought it was 6AM. most bizarre, i took my daily vitamin supplents, made coffee, moved the car for street cleaning. got a call from the pharmacy at 5:40 and asked the woman why she was calling so early. i know i was awake at 4pm. so i must slept for an hour and a half. but it such a frightening experience not to know what day it is and whether it is early morning or late afternoon.
Mark_Thompson read my blog view my photos
May 22, 2008 | 9:32 PM

Hah!! Cool breakdown on it....

I was evaluating based on the universe that is American Idol. I guess it will only be a TV show with certain limitations given it's general ethos. In other words, it has a pop bent and has always cheated toward that 70s and 80s classic stuff.

We kinda' disagree on Donna Summer (one of the greatest natural voices pop music has ever seen) or George Michael (who is iconic --admittedly an 80s icon--and brings an amazing talent to the stage).

I too am not a fan of the "Brady Bunch" stuff, but people who are fans of the show got to know that cast of characters and presumably want to see them perform again. Integrating them into numbers together is about the only way to do it.

Given what it is, I still think it was pretty impressive :)

While we are dumping on things we DIDN'T like though...could have lost Graham Nash and probably not felt it.
craftyguy read my blog
May 22, 2008 | 10:54 PM

the only day better then the day American Idol ends will be the day they cancel it..talk about cheesy ..karaoke sucks at the local bar why magnify it?
mystere read my blog view my photos
May 23, 2008 | 10:39 AM

Mark, my good "weather slave",

When Idol first started, I got concerned that it would be like the WB series POPSTARS, in which they had a "manufactured band"...in Idol's case, a "manufactured artist", but Idol took things in a much better direction. When you compare Idol to Popstars, Idol has a number of people who are active in the entertainment industry, while all the Popstars manufactured bands have been nothing but 1 hit wonders who flopped and are nothing but has beens now. This season has been the greatest so far; everyone who made the top twelve has great potential. I was one who agreed with the judges at the end, but even though D.A. became the runner up, I thought it was great. Both of those guys put up their best game, and they are both winners. In fact, I think all of the top 12 are winners, and the top 10 are going to have plenty of fun touring.

Now, about the "weather slave" remark: does that bring back some memories Mark? Pleasant memories to be more precise?

"Mr. E." from Cypress
marv read my blog view my photos
May 23, 2008 | 11:56 AM

Edo, man you're focused here. i actually approved the concept of American Idol although i did not think i would watch and indeed i did not watch for the first several seasons. i wonder if those who become the what is it? top 24 or top 12 actually must auditions with the thousands? i cannot image Simon, Randy and Paula actually observe more than three or four dozen in any city. the show is dynamite. Simon and Randy are excellent.
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Mark_Thompson

On the nightly FOX 11 10pm News with occasional appearances on Channel 13 and even Good Day L.A. I am brimming with thoughts that will both entertain and bore you all in the same instant. I look forward to getting your thoughts too. Please watch for the new show HOLE IN THE WALL Thursdays @ 8p

Member Since: 7/4/2006


 

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