Carrie Underwood kept her winning streak alive and tonight joined Kelly Clarkson as the only American Idol who was never in the Bottom Three.
The perky blonde from Checotah is now the proud owner of a red Ford Mustang convertible, a Marquis private jet card, a $1 million recording contract and, oh, that little matter of the title as our next American Idol.
Congratulations, Carrie---and what a season.
But, before we look into the idolhabit crystal ball, let's get to a recap of tonight's two-hour wind-up to the results, as there are many nuggets for the mining there.
Of course, there was Drama-in-a-Can everywhere, but that's alright. We know what we're paying for here. However, with all the dead air in this show, I must admit I found myself actually pining for more group numbers, regardless that they usually are ear-splitting groaners.
Speaking of group numbers, the show opened with our Top 12 finalists, minus Bo and Carrie, doing a Beach Boys medley with varying degrees of success.
Scott Savol, who even at the Kodak Theater managed to squeeze major squeals of delight out of the audience, floated a nice falsetto on "Barbara Ann."
Lindsey Cardinale and Mikalah Gordon---especially Mikalah---reminded us of why they got the boot and early. Nothing to see here. Move along. I do believe I'd rather hear William Hung sing the pregnant-with-meaning "In My Room" than have Mikalah Gordon use it for her dissertation in Butcher School.
Vonzell, as usual, filled the stage with sweetness and light and Anthony was positively adorable on "Little Surfer Girl." The mind wandered as he plaintively crooned, "Do you love me, do you, surfer girl . . .?" We're thinking, is Ms. Underwood backstage answering "yes, yes, I do love you! I do!" even now? And wouldn't that just be a prize: a convertible, a jet, a record deal, the title and True Love Too? The heart cannot take it all in.
Constantine, in "I Get Around," got to growl a little on the "I get bugged driving up and down the same old strip" line, then we were off to the irrepressible "Good Vibrations" to top it off.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Shark
I missed a lot of the show;
Somehow... I drifted off fantasizing about Mikalah Gordon being torn apart by wild dogs.
I dunno what got into me... but...
She needs her own show!
2 - Shark
BTW: Bo dodged a bullet; being crowned "American Idol" would have sent his soul to Satan faster than a hot yo dog disappears from Randy's lunch bucket.
3 - Shark
I will miss Paula's 'unique' form of hand-clapping, but thankfully, there are some retarded seals at my local zoo.
4 - Shark
Oh, and Sticker, extra points for yer headline!
5 - Sticker
thanks, Shark, I try. Especially with headlines!
6 - HW Saxton
Shark, Miss Mikalah attended High School
("Cimarron-Memorial")just down the block
from my house (I live out in Las Vegas)
and I have seen her several times at the
neighborhood supermarket.I know,like big
whoopie-do but I just think it's funny
because people treat her as some kind of
a f**king star.Pathetic but funny.
7 - chet
As always, excellent recap Sticker. I still have no idea why the finale was 2 hours? I pray to God I never see or hear from Ms Gordon ever again! The red carpet report was painful to watch. I had a feeling Carrie would win when Simon predicted it last night. This is the first year I have watched the show, I blame my girlfriend, but it did provide some good entertainment. I am fine with Carrie winning, she will sell records, but I would have liked to seen a Bo-Constantine finale. Kudos again to Sticker for doing a great job this year. By the way, does anyone agree with Simon when he asked LaToya if she was drunk? She sounded like she downed a few refreshments with a little alcohol in them??
8 - Natalie Davis
Interesting head for a phillyburbs.com story on tonight's event: Carrie Wins, We Lose. Of course, Bo will be making great music for years to come, so I don't really agree with that statement. But the story itself is fascinating. Here is an excerpt:
Harsh, considering that Carrie seems like a really nice person and she is a pleasant enough singer, but AI is all about musical mediocrity. That's just the truth. Or it was until Bo Bice showed up. In the end, though, the show (and the American mainstream) went for what is safe. And that is Carrie. Bo is dangerous -- he is hella talented, takes musical risks, and, well, he IS sex appeal personified. Too hot for America or a certain segment thereof? I think so. As FABULOUS as it would have been to have a performer with credibility, passion, edginess, and raw appeal as the American Idol, we've gotta be realistic. Just as Americans (about half of 'em) went for the presidential candidate they thought was safe, they (about half of 'em) went for a safe Idol. Good for them; I'll stay away and just listen to my Purge and Sugar Money MP3s, which provide more entertainment than four years' worth of Kellys and Carries combined.
In the long run, this outcome is for the best. America gets Carrie's safe pop-country stuff for as long as it remains trendy (hey, Kelly has been doing well for three years now). Perhaps she'll gain a personality on the way. Meanwhile, Bo gets to remain Bo, undiluted, unbroken, undimmed, untampered with, unbowed. And he doesn't have to be chained to those 19 Entertainment dinks for a year. Quoting my American Idol (who is, to me, the only one who counts), it's all good!
I can't speak to the entire show, which it appears I was lucky to miss (for an unlucky reason; an old friend died Sunday and I was at a memorial service this evening). But I got home in time to see the end: Did anyone notice the tepid applause after Seacrest's announcement of Cowell's dream come true? Thankfully, Bo is a gentleman and encouraged the crowd to clap louder. He is a great musician and his "loss" is AI's loss -- but it appears Bo Bice is an even better human being and friend than artist. That is saying much.
Get to know the real Bo. He rocks. If you can't abide mainstream pop pap, join the Bice squad and celebrate the music of the Idol for the rest of us.
9 - TylerNewton
I'm not surprised that Carrie won.
Pretty obvious now that when we have a final where it's a woman vs. man, the man will lose. Bo wasn't great last night, but he was head over heels better than Carrie throughout the season.
Hopefully Bo's CD doesn't have any of those AI "original" songs. They are horrible!
10 - Natalie Davis
Unless one of the two is a negro. Then the negro automatically wins, right? Mr. Newton, you have to get past looking for stereotypes -- this wasn't man vs. woman, this was about mainstream pop vs roots-rock and blues. Safe won the day.
11 - TylerNewton
"Then the negro automatically wins, right?"
Now you get it! Just don't forget about how it's okay to be black and fat (like Ruben and Frenchie), but not okay to be white and fat, especially white, fat, and female (Jennifer Todd)
:-)
12 - Nebulah7
This is not a talent contest... it is a popularity contest... always has been... I can only guess (and of course I think I'm right) always will be. Carrie is a beautiful young woman. Her stunning blue eyes, and alabaster skin are enough to dazzle even the most cynical eye... and obviously did. But let's get real... she could not carrie (pun intended) Bo's j-strap when it comes to singing. She regularly went sour on notes... in fact I would say at some point in every song I've heard her sing she has landed flat to some degree. She's just not that accurate with her tonal quality. On the other hand, I can't remember ever thinking that about Bo. I'm not saying that Carrie can't sing. Quite the contrary... I think she sings very well... she's just not in Bo's league. So, the most popular won... I expected nothing different... but can we stop getting all wrapped up in the quality of the singing on AI please? Otherwise somebody is going to start talking about how good a singer Scott Savol is, and then I'll have to seriously consider stabbing a pencil into my eye socket.
13 - Eric Olsen
super super job Sticker, all your hard work is very much appreciated - thanks so much!
14 - Sticker
chet--
Thanks again for your kind words.
Like you, I'm fine with Carrie winning. I think all the things I have spotted her for over the season are totally correctable with coaching and experience.
She will make good records and have a good, maybe great career.
But it would have been great to see Bo get the title.
15 - Sticker
natalie davis-
I saw that phillyburbs.com head, too. I haven't been reading them, but from the little I have seen, they have been consistently harsh.
That said, there is something to your MOR theory. But I think it's even simpler than that: there's a huge segment of the music/entertainment fan world that robotically follows beautiful blonde chicks.
There are never too many for some people.
So add in people voting the hottie vote in a very close race otherwise, and here we are.
I do like the statement it would have made if Bo had won, but in the end he might just be better off.
16 - Sticker
nebulah7--
I think you're exactly accurate about Carrie's tonal quality. Also I found her singing diction atrocious (and, therefore, regularly ragged on her for her mondegreens and sounding like Dori speaking "whale", etc.).
Fortunately, these probs are all correctable. She'll soon be coached on how to improve her diction. She'll get more experience performing. She won't be so nervous and may actually blossom.
So I'm cool with her winning.
But Bo---now there's a man who has potential to rock the world!
17 - judy
Great job on the AI final....LOVE your sense of humor. Carrie is good and she'll be a big country star. Problem is, I don't listen to country music and don't listen to regular radio, so will probably never hear her sing again.
I agree that it would have taken AI up several notches to have Bo win. It would have given the whole AI enterprise credibility that it needs to be taken seriously.
Was anyone else surprised by the cars given to both of them and the personal jet card given to the winner? The advertising/corporate sponsor dollars are pouring into the AI enterprise.
Will the money people dictate who wins in the future? Did they decide the fresh-faced, naive, young Carrie would win this season? Am I just paranoid and overly sensitive to the influence money has on just about everything in the US?
18 - Natalie Davis
My guess is that you are completely correct. Sick f-in' country, eh?
America has its Barbie doll; my Idol is Bo.
19 - Natalie Davis
Oh, and Mr. Newton? Please. Get. Help.
20 - Shark
AI is the eptiome of American Democracy -- the way it works in a perfect world: phone in yer votes, one call -- one vote!
America has spoken, and as with our larger elections, we usually go for the person with the most plastic per pound.
PS: Does Ohio usually vote country-pop?
PPS: re. Carrie's need of "training" etc, jeesus, people, yall ever been to Checotah Oklahoma? The girl has spent her short life milking cows and singing to barnyard animals. Give her a break!
21 - Shark
Oh, yeah, and somebody wake me up if she ever does a spread in Playboy.
Thanks,
Shark
(reads articles only)
22 - jarboy
i wanna have an all-day 3-way with bo and carrie. i just don't wanna hear carrie sing ever again.
23 - jarboy
oh, and how hilarious that some peeps in here use the word "negro". how fuct-up is that shit?
24 - Sticker
judy-
Thanks for stopping by and glad you enjoyed the humor. But, as much as I love it, AI is a target-rich environment, so some of the credit has to go to the subject matter.
As winner, I think the Bigs will guide Carrie into a pop-country sound. If she succeeds at that, she'll be huge.
25 - j caulk
Can anyone out there tell me the name of hte song that Vonzell and Billy Preston did last night? Please?