Loved the DWTS finale! I thought the cha cha face off was a great way to do the first round. I liked that a lot and hope they keep going with that in future seasons. Kristi took that round hands down - I actually really enjoyed watching them together this time. I thought Christian was fun and Jason did okay, but there was no comparison there.

Although -hey, did you know a woman hasn’t won in five seasons? Because, wait five seconds and they’ll tell you again! Pimp the girl power much? And I’m a girl, would love to see a girl win, but sheesh, let her do it without all the obvious boostage.

Freestyle round - It’s funny, but while I thought Kristi was fantastic and a huge boost back up over the past few seasons of freestyle, she is not a hip hopper. So it was funny that, for once, the hip hop didn’t work for me, but Uncle Lenny was all over it!! Ha! Still, it was cute and difficult as all hell, and we got to hear Mark’s British accent pop out (he’s American but grew up in England) so it was all good for me. I thought Jason brought the fun and I just laughed and enjoyed the whole routine. And I’m all for as much man flesh as they want to show me. He can keep his shirt off all the time, won’t hurt my feelings. Christian starts off with the manflesh and shaking what his mama gave him (thank you forever, stoner camera dude, for that close up.) I thought it was hot Latiny goodness, from start to finish, and was really amazed at how he managed to finish out this competition at a pretty high level. Kudos to Cheryl for the choreo that got him this far. What I liked most about their routine, was that it was totally grounded in ballroom, no hip hop in sight (we have Thursday night for that!) with all the lifts put in as an adjunct to a great ballroom routine. Worked for me. Kristi wins this round, but for sticking with the core purpose of the show alone, they take a very, very close second for me.

All told? Yeah, it’s Kristi’s trophy to lose. If she can’t pull this off? I don’t know what it will take. I just hope all the girl power pimpage doesn’t backfire on them.

So, who wins? Results Show - Usher. Twice. Recaps. A lot. Finally? A winner. First, who’s not a winner? In third place, Christian & Cheryl. And though I’ve loved them and enjoyed them, I think that was the right call. Then, stars return to dance again - fun to see everyone, and realize just how good the finalists grew to become. Hi Adam! Best speech ever. Ha! Most honest speech goes to jr winner Brandon “I am SO excited right now” when the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders gave him his trophy. Tom Bergeron is the best host ever. Hilarious. Finalists dance one more time. Jason finally gets his perfect 30. It was, perhaps, the most fun all around season ever, with the most completely fun bunch, but all things must come to an end, and a winner crowned. This season, the glitter ball trophy of maximum cheesiness goes to? Kristi & Mark!! Well deserved! Made even better by how everyone gathered round, Jason and Christian put Kristi up on their shoulders with the trophy. I don’t ever remember a cast so truly enjoying each other. Great finale to a great season! (Wouldn’t you kill to be at that cast party?) See you in September, Tom!

Now Idols sing for the win….which David will win?

Okay, seriously? Wtf was up with that opening? Sugarfoot vs Babycakes? Big ol’ arena tonight. Ten minutes in and I’m so done with the boxing metaphors.

Clive picks the first set of tunes. Cook gets U2’s I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For and Archie gets Elton’s Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me. And you know? Not bad, old man, not bad.

Loved Cook. Loved. And was it me or did he look pretty hot? Seriously. Rowr. You could tell he was totally getting off on singing in such a big arena and I really enjoyed seeing that. (Plus? I get to see him sing in person next month thanks to a close friend….seats right up front. First time ever seeing Idols sing live and I’m actually really looking forward to it. Wild!) Judges - You know what? I’m not even going to care at this point. Like Cook said, competition is over, now we’re just having fun. Great way to see it.

Archie? Great song choice for him. He’s…him. Him squared. Well, done. They are so different, so you’re going to like what you like, but given that Cook is way more my style and taste, Archie is really entertaining and good and it makes for a fun finale. He’s working it out, y’all, Archie Style.

Round One? Judges give it to Archie. I say, a tie. They’re too different, and both did themselves quite well. Although, Cook simply Cooked, while I will say that Archie Out Archied even his own self. So I’m willing to concede.

Second Round - Each singer gets the top ten vote getters from the song writer’s competition and they can choose from that which one to sing. Oh. Yay. (Have you heard them? Did you hear Jordin’s finale song last year? Yeah. Not real excited here in the Kauffman house, gotta tell ya.)

Oh, and still? So done with the boxing thing.

Cook comes out with the axe strapped on and I’m totally along for the ride. I liked Dream Big and liked it for this show, given the moment. Nice choice, nice delivery. Nicely done for an unknown, and whoever wrote it, shouldn’t be cringing in embarrassment like last year’s winner. You can tell he’s made up his mind to just enjoy this night for whatever it will be, soak up the moment, and what happens, happens. I concur, Cook, I concur.

Archie chooses In This Moment, which is (shocking!) a ballad. He does an Archie job, he’s in very good voice tonight, but I found it kinda boring. However, to be fair, I’m not a ballad fan. This did nothing to alter that sentiment.

This round, for me, hands down went to Cook, but I’m sure they’ll give it Archie again. Which? They do. I’m hoping the pimpage works, as I’d like him to win, so Cook isn’t tied to making an Idol produced record. Cook will have a career. The win would mean more to Archie.

Final Round: Contestant chosen song. And shut up Jim Lampley.

Cook picks a song by Collective Soul, which he has never sung before. Archie goes with Lennon’s Imagine, which he performed on the show in the first two weeks, and feels was his strongest performance. We’ll see how that pans out for him. (Not exactly holding my breath there.)

Cook goes first, folk guitar and the microphone. It’s slow and melodic, but not exactly balladic. I like it. A lot. I would buy this man’s album tonight. I know Archie has embraced the Idol Attitude better tonight, but this is the man whose career I would follow and whose concert ticket I would buy. Loved this one. It’s understated, so it won’t grab the judges, but it works for me. And it works on him, because once he’s finished, the moment, everything he’s done to get to this point, overwhelms him and when the crowd rises to its feet for a spontaneous standing ovation we get Cook tears. And we get mine. That? Is an American Idol. The judges can’t refute that….and they don’t. Except Simon, who, wow, totally harshed the buzz. I usually agree with Cowell, but dude? Way to ruin a man’s perfect final moment. Appreciate the honesty, but seriously? Shut up.

Archie caps the night with a stellar performance of Imagine, and the crown is totally his to lose. If he wins - it’s a win all the way around for me. So, there is no way for this to end badly.

Hi Ruben!!

So? DISH time. Who wins?

Don’t forget you have until 8pm tonight to get your second vote in for the week. Good Luck!

Tags: Writing //