Well, that was a surprise, wasn't it? I mean I had predicted in this space that David Cook would prevail but I assumed the margin of victory would be closer. 12 million votes? That's a landslide.

But the victory for Cook was well-deserved. At least if you judge them by last night's contrasting commercials for Guitar Hero. I just think the star-making machinery would break little David Archuleta.

Otherwise I thought the finale was a bizarre night, produced with far less imagination and energy than Idol wrapups usually provide. Maybe even the producers were worn out by this tedious season and just wanted to see it end. I second that emotion.

But congratulations to David Cook. We who are to rock, salute you.

Seacrest...out!

For more of my thoughts on last night's Idol, go to:

www.daveondemand.com/dodblog

Well, that was a surprise, wasn't it? I mean I had predicted in this space that David Cook would prevail but I assumed the voting margin would be far closer. 12 million votes? That's a landslide.

And well deserved, judging by the contrasting commercials the two Davids did for Guitar Hero last night. I just don't think little David Archuleta is equipped to handle the star-making machinery.

I found the rest of the finale pretty bizarre and produced with less imagination and energy than previous Idol sendoffs.

Maybe even the producers were wornout after this tedious season.

But congratulations to David Cook. We who are about to rock, salute you.

Seacrest....out!

For more of my thoughts on last night's Idol, go to:

www.daveondemand.com/dodblog

I'm guessing we all agree that Fox waaaaaay overdid the boxing match metaphor last night as the two Davids faced off for the penultimate episode of American Idol.

But it was nice to have Jim Lampley there to add his, um, bromides. Lampley is the sporting world's answer to Ryan Seabottom: a glib know-nothing.

 But he fit right in in last night's cliche buffet: "May the best man win"..."You have to leave it all on the floor tonight" ...."Keep your eyes open at all times"...."You could sing the phone book".

I can't believe they brought back the gnomish Andrew Lloyd Webber to serve as a supernumerary coach to the two finalists. That was excruciating. Does Webber have compromising video of Nigel Lythgoe? How in the world was he invited back?

It was an interesting night musically. David Cook, who all season long has shown a canny ability to pick material, blew it when it counted most. And David Archuleta had three excellent outings (although I could have done without the melisma overload on "Imagine").

So if you think this is a talent contest, then Archuleta clearly and deservedly takes the crown tonight.  If you believe in tradition, you get the same result. The singer who goes first on finals night (Cook) has lost every season.

Personally, I don't believe in either of those things, and am convinced Cook still has a puncher's chance to win this thing.

Wait, was that a boxing analogy? I feel so ashamed. Of course that could be the residual effect of watching a full season of Idol.  

For more of my thoughts on last night's Idol, go to:

www.daveondemand.com/dodblog

...but I'm pretty sure that won't matter to the millions who even now are making Little David Archuleta the next "American Idol."

David Cook? He leaves with his integrity intact, unwilling to repeat himself just to win the right to sing some song with "Moment" in the title.

And whatever's going on at Sony BMG, it doesn't seem to have knocked scary Clive Davis off the "Idol" stage, after all. Though I don't really know what Andrew Lloyd Webber was doing there tonight, other than giving Little David one more grownup to be afraid of.

Just watching that poor boy practically whimpering between songs makes me cringe.

But, hey, at least Kristi Yamaguchi just won "Dancing with the Stars."

And actually seems happy about it.

So dude, dude, listen up. How do we  create  two American Idols of equal, album-selling strength this year?  Tell you what.  We push and  shove   David Archuleta into the winner's circle, no matter how good or bad he is.  Cause we know the young girls are gonna just eat up the guppie. And the thing is, we don't want him to suffer the jinx of Clay Aiken - that other big cornball belter - who's done okay but will forever be remembered as an "also ran."

And get this, dog, having David Cook lose actually helps him in the street credibility  department and ultimately, in his career.  Just like Chris Daughtry, who came in fourth to, um, who was that person? - but has lived to conquer rock radio, to sell millions of discs and downloads. Those radio programmers would never have  jumped on his case, if C.D. had  been the  champion of some  hugely successful,   corny, mainstream pop  television show. But as a  loser, Daughtry  was able to keep it real, stay  scrappy, maybe even a little resentful and ready to get even - giving  the world the finger with  those big ol' boisterious  rock and roll songs. And that's  just how David Cook's gotta travel down life's highway, too.   

 Simon was the only one to declare a winner in round one - to David Archuleta - frothing over his hammy (especially in the  exaggerated closing) performance  of Elton John's "Don't Let The Sun Go Down on Me."  Pulease.

 Then the "fix" really started to show in the second round, when Simon failed to  feel (or at least acknowledge) the kick in David Cook's personal  song choice - a  reaching  for the gusto folk rocking  song by Emily Shakelton  called "Dream Big."  (Google her name and the title, and listen for yourself. It's a decent piece of work.) But what did our favorite English  judge and jury think of David Archuleta's much cornier choice of  "In This Moment" by one Ryan Gilmore? "A much better song - more in keeping with the evening." Yeah right.  Simon didn't even make fun of little David's stupid jacket with the giant boat anchor applique. What's with that?

Final  round, Cook hits with a Collective Soul number, "The World I Know." It's a gutsy choice, not overplayed, and  good for positioning Cook's future career. He ain't no fool.  Randy compliments him for showing different sides, Paula applauds him for "originality," and Simon lectures/hectors  the guy for not repeating one of his big moments from earlier in the season  - "Billie Jean" or "Hello."  Cook retorts that he's looked at this whole thing as a progression, and didn't want to repeat something he'd already done. Another notch on his credibility belt.

And then, in keeping with the night's boxing championship theme,  all three judges take a dive,  feign a knock out,  when little David reprises  his gushing read of John Lennon's "Imagine," and once again truncates the song to death, taking out any whiff of the original's outspoken nature.    Like he really had to cut it down to 85 seconds on the final night?!?

 As if that wasn't bad enough, for the recap, the show's producers  managed to pull out and replay the one and only line in Cook's first performance - U2's "Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" - where the  guy sang  flat. Sure seemed like a subliminal message to me:  "Attention, anyone with ears - David  Cook is officially  a 'loser.' "  

So hail to the chief, the new boy king. May he live long and prosper, hopefully  learning (someday soon)  to look us in the face without wincing, and finding some material that doesn't turn instantly to sap in his mouth.

And here's to the loser, who'll get to play stadiums, stomp with the best and throw  his fist in the air, like he just don't care.

Don't you love Andrew Lloyd Weber? No? "They've got to sing it as if it's their very, very last night on the show," he observes. Master of the obvious, he's ready for a judge's chair.

"The World I Know"? How many other people know it? Seems to me you should pick something familiar if you want to get America to vote for you. On the other hand, Cook killed it.

Cowell had it right. The kid understood the competition better, reprising his beloved "Imagine," even if his performance in the final round, to the ears of one TV critic, was less exciting than Cook's.

Only one more day. Phew! 

Was Cook's guitar hooked up? Don't matter, Dog, 'cause he was singing his face off. Redundant Randy can still be cool.

Archie stunk up the joint. That song could be his downfall.

Whoever wins, I'm excited about that "Fringe" show, coming in August on Fox, from Lost's J.J. Abrams. But will the thrill last after we've all seen that promo 3,846 time in the next three months?

How can they never have been in the bottom three, if there are only two left? And is it wrestling or boxing? Isn't supposed to be singing?

You wouldn't mistake David Cook for Bono.

And you wouldn't mistake Paula for anybody anybody pays attention to.

But you might mistake David Archuletta for Elton John. Is that good or bad? I kind of think it was good. Give him the first round.