Idol FInale: My Take (It or Leave It)

Yesterday was all kinds of screwed up for me. I wasn't at work most of the day because I had to be at home waiting for National Grid to come install a new gas meter at my house. Their window for when I should be home? Noon to six. Thanks for narrowing that down, guys, thanks a lot. At first I was all annoyed about it, but then it occurred to me that I would have to be at home. By myself. Just waiting around.

Oh, darn.

I haven't had that much alone time at home in a good long while, and I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed it so much, in fact, that I neglected to do a few of the things I had meant to do, such as blog about Idol. So here are my belated thoughts.

The Davids were my favorites for most of the season. (Well, them and Hottie McHotterson, Michael Johns, but alas, we had to say goodbye too soon.) I was ultra-excited about the finale because never in my Idol-watching career have my two faves gone head-to-head at the end.

I really enjoyed Tuesday's show. I thought that Clive Davis picked great songs for both contestants and loved both of their first performances. Here's my question, though: why can't the contestants ever pick good songs for themselves? When they are given the choice of anything—anything!—they want to sing, I find that they usually make odd and poor choices. What gives? That's my long-winded, semi-rhetorical way of saying that I thought the second two performances were not as strong for either of the D's, although I did love hearing Little D do "Imagine" again.

So after the show, I was sure that David A. was going to win. I thought he had stronger performances overall and was guaranteed such a slew of teenage girl voters that he had it clinched. I think both contestants were—are—equally talented in different ways, but I thought that Archuleta had it all sewn up.

Last night, I settled in with some friends for lots of food (spinach/artichoke dip, Chinese, cookies, ice cream, Gio's Soon-to-Be-Famous Spiked Strawberry Lemonade) and had a blast watching last night's results show. The highlight was David Cook's Guitar Hero ad. Awesome. Low point: that endless, dirge-like, George Michael song. Good lord that song was BORING. And those glasses! He looked like some kind of fly. Amanda Overmyer was also a lowlight. In all of the group performances, she looked so pissed off about the drudgery of having to appear on the results show. Boo-hoo for her. 

Of course the real highlight was when it was announced that David Cook had won. I was truly surprised, and excited, and he looked so genuinely overwhelmed and happy. I love that his mom and brother came up on stage, and how clearly thrilled he was to see his family. And I love the confetti that comes out of the ceiling! I know that sounds goofy, but it's so fun! 

And now, no more Idol until January. Boo-hoo. Alas, 'twas a great way to end Season 7, I have to say.