American Idol - The Finale!!

It's started!! Ryan and Simon bicker for a few seconds and then almost immediately, Blake and Jordin are singing "I Saw Her Standing There". Blake has terrible shoes on again.

Ryan throws it over to Gwen Stefani on tour. Mia thinks she's lip synching. It's hard to tell! Something's definitely off.

Kelly Clarkson!! Looking good in over the knee boots and a short dress!! She sounds fantastic!

Group song! Sanjaya still can't sing. All the guys are wearing white suits - I hate that look. Phil was allowed to take off his Navy uniform for tonight - that's a relief.

Ugh, Blake is rapping with some guy. Awful.

Now the girls! All in white as well. Gina's had a new haircut!! Haley's legs are still long.

Tony Bennett is well enough to perform and sings "Once In My Life".

Yay - Carrie Underwood is singing "I'll Stand By You". Carrie is my favorite Idol. Although she looks a bit odd wearing a long dress over jeans! Carrie is so gracious -thanks Idol and all her fans. She's very smart not to forget where she got her big break!

Sanjaya is getting his own segment - and oh my god - he's performing with Joe Perry from Aerosmith!!! What?????

GREEN DAY!!! Fantastic. The rumors were true. They sing "Working Class Hero".

The wizards at Idol have managed to coax Rubben Studdard out of hiding to sing with Jordin. Rubben still sounds great.

Poor Taylor Hicks - he had to follow Green Day.

Bette Midler - fabulous - wait - she's singing - Wind Beneath My Wings. Nooooooo. Mia and I are wondering what she's doing there - I suggested Bette needed a night out?

9:50 - only about 8 minutes left before we find out who wins.

American Idol tribute to Sgt Pepper!! Kelly Clarkson comes out first and sings Sgt Peppers, then out comes Hicks - enough said. Then Carrie again - looking so much better in a lovely short black dress and singing "She's Leaving". Suddenly she's being backed up by the Idols. They appeared out of nowhere. Rubben shows up and sings Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. Is this medly ever going to end? It's 9:56 and still no winner. Now the Idols are singing "I'll get by with a little help from my Friends".

9:58 and there's a commercial. This doens't leave much time for the winner to sing "This is my Now" and sob.

10:03 - It's finally time. Ryan tells us there were 74 million votes. Simon and Randy both think it's going to be Jordin.

Dim the lights - it's JORDIN.

The crowd goes wild. She's excited. Blake doesn't really look that unhappy. Jordin expresses her love for everyone! It's over for another year!!

American Idol Gives Back

Last night on American Idol, Ryan Seacrest finally made the announcement that he's been threatening us with all week. I have to admit I was more shocked at this announcement, than the fact that Sanjaya made it through to the final twelve. In my pea brain I was convinced that Ryan was going to announce a nation wide song writing contest, and the winning song would be used in the finale of American Idol in May. I was wrong.



American Idol is teaming up with Charity Projects Entertainment Fund for a two night special American Idol Gives Back!

On 24 and 25 April, the Idol shows will raise awareness and money for underprivileged children in Africa and here in the US. Coca Cola, Ford and AT&T, are all going to give money for every vote called in and then on the results show, America will have a chance to give.

It's going to be quite the event on April 25. A crazy cast of characters will be performing, Annie Lennox, Bono, Borat, Pink, Gwen Stefani, Michale Buble and Il Divo. Wow. My head hurts.

This TV event is going to be huge. I'm sure that Idol Gives Back will raise gazillions of dollars. Now if they'd only give us back the hours of our life that we've spent listening to Sanjaya sing!