This season of American Idol started with a girl in a bikini and ended with a bona fide surprise ending. So in some ways, Wednesday's two-hour finale — which packed in performances from Cyndi Lauper, KISS, Queen, the Black Eyed Peas, and all of the year's top 13 — was the perfect culmination. View 25 Photos › Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3 Photo 4 Photo 5 You're already telling me what Read more

So how does it feel to be the new American Idol? The word on Kris Allen's lips when he stopped by the Idol press room a couple of minutes ago was "shocked": "I felt shocked almost every week that I made it," he said. "And to be the American Idol, I'm completely shocked." And he meant what he said at the end of the show when he called out that Adam deserved the Idol title. "I feel like he deserves Read more

Depending on your perspective, the American Idol finale is either the best two hours ever or the most excruciating two hours of your year. Either way, it never fails to be a kind of crazy, psychedelic blend between a televised award ceremony and a giant Ford commercial that brings the season's contestants back to the stage for one last time (until the tour that is). America smashed all Idol Read more

Well, the American Idol finale showdown between the Davids did not disappoint. The show opened to what would become a rather prolonged metaphor for a singing boxing match of sorts, complete with the Rocky theme song, Michael Buffer, and shiny robes! Tension was high and it felt like anyone's game heading in before the singing started, especially after young Archuleta faltered last week. To guide Read more

So if you're like Pop and me and your DVR cut off right after the lame Sgt. Pepper tribute on the "American Idol" finale last night, here's the clip of what you missed. For the record, I was right on all of my predictions of what happened, except there was no weepy Hasselhoff this year — just Jordin's tearful parents, which almost made me cry at my desk just now. What can I say? I'm a sap. To Read more