‘American Idol’ finale on par with last season’s
The “American Idol” seventh season finale Wednesday night managed to essentially match last year’s performance, with the coronation of David Cook watched by an estimated 31.7 million viewers.
The finale was up slightly among total viewers compared with last season, but down a notch among the adults 18-49 demographic.
Last year, 30.8 million viewers tuned in to see Jordin Sparks win Fox’s singing competition. Wednesday’s “Idol” total, by comparison, will represent the show’s third-largest audience ever.
In the demo, “Idol” registered an 11.4 preliminary rating, according to Fox’s time zone-adjusted fast nationals. That’s down 1% from last year — the lowest-rated “Idol” finale since the show’s debut season in 2002. The rating is also down sharply ‘- 20% — from the show’s 2006 finale.
‘American Idol’ producer: David Cook’s victory grew from coast to coast
American Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe knew David Cook would defeat David Archuleta as the home viewer votes were rolling in immediately following Tuesday night’s live performance episode.
“The votes were coming in from the east coast and the percentage was about 6% in Cook’s favor quite early on, and it got wider and wider as the evening went on, ” said Lythgoe as a guest on Thursday’s broadcast of Ryan Seacrest’s KIIS FM radio show.
“So I really knew [Cook would win] around 10PM, 10:30PM [west-coast time].”
Cook won Idol’s seventh-season title after “97 and a half million” home viewer votes were cast following Tuesday night’s final performance episode that saw Archuleta and Cook each sing three songs. During last night’s finale Seacrest said Cook defeated Archuleta by a 56% to 44% home viewer voting margin, or roughly 12 million votes.
Simon Cowell explains David Cook apology, didn’t know he’d won ‘Idol’
“I was almost horrified when I went back home and watched [Tuesday night’s performance show]. It was literally like watching and listening to a whole new show. What you thought was good wasn’t very good and what you thought was bad actually was a lot better, ” said Cowell as a guest on Thursday’s broadcast of Ryan Seacrest’s KIIS FM radio show.
Cowell told Seacrest he was only thinking of one word when Cook was revealed to be the champ — “justice.”
“I thought it was the right thing, ” said Cowell. “You always think in a situation like this where someone who’s cute like David Archuleta, that it’s going to be carried by young girls or grandmothers or [whoever] vote for people like David Archuleta. But actually the person who I thought did the best performances over the 11 or 12 weeks actually deserved to win and he did win. It was good.”
‹Cougars 4 Cook sign was our first clue
…Cougars 4 Cook.
There it was, on a poster in the …American Idol audience last week, after David Cook belted Roberta Flack …The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face in the Key of Emo. And that slogan ‘ not to mention the woman who hoisted it ‘ speaks to the 25-year-old singer popularity with, ahem, women of a certain age.
Maybe it his edgy-yet-mainstream appeal, sly grin, sparkling hazel eyes, facial scruff, love for crossword puzzles, love for his mom and brothers. Or perhaps it the way he broke down in tears after his final performance, a rock-anthem arrangement of …The World I Know, which he rebelliously defended from Simon Cowell criticism.
David Cook is ‘Going to Disney World!’
David Cook is no professional athlete, but he celebrated like one after winning “American Idol” on Wednesday night.
Cook, the season seven “Idol” champ after beating teen crooner David Archuleta, took a moment to shout “I’m going to Disney World!” during the celebration following his win, Disney said Wednesday. It was a rare off-field exception for those famous promotional words, which have almost always been uttered by sports figures.
Since 1987, Super Bowl, World Series and NBA Finals champs have made the pronouncement as the crowd cheers and confetti flies.
The “Idol” tie-in relates to the new “American Idol” attraction opening at Walt Disney World in Florida in January 2009.
Jordin to David Cook: Get Some Sleep!
David Cook, listen up!
From one Idol to another, Jordin Sparks has some advice to offer the new American Idol champ as he prepares to kickstart his recording career.
…Sleep as much as you can because it’s a year later and I still haven’t gotten a full eight hours of sleep yet! the singer tells OK! at the finale. …It goes by so fast. Here it is a year later and I’m still like reeling from winning last year. I would say, try to enjoy every moment you have.
Five Reasons Why David Cook Won “Idol”
1. “Idol” voters were ready for something different. Archuleta had a good voice, and one that was very much in the vein of previous “Idol” champs. That’s why early on he looked like the favorite. But then Archuleta sang exactly the same way week after week, while Cook offered variety ‘ and a variety that included an ability to sing sweetly at times. So he wasn’t a threat to viewers who preferred traditional sounds. This scenario says that Blake Lewis’s ascent a year ago was a bigger watershed than it seemed once Jordin Sparks won. Lewis’s finishing second said there were still a lot of voters looking for ¦ something. And Cook provided it.
Why Didn’t David Archuleta Win ‘American Idol’? Five Things That Went Wrong For Early Front-Runner
If you are a fan of David Archuleta, you probably went to bed Tuesday night feeling pretty confident that he’d be crowned the next “American Idol” champ. After all, he’d just delivered a trio of knock-out performances on the show’s penultimate night, drawing raves from the “Idol” judges, winning over the studio audience and getting his fellow finalist ‘ former bartender David Cook ‘ to admit defeat.
Things were looking pretty good. Arch showed up, blew ’em away and closed big time. All that was left to do on Wednesday night was fit him for his crown and send him off into the stratosphere. Only, things didn’t exactly play out that way.
Cook 1st job: Turn ‹Time Of My Life into gold
David Cook has been crowned the new American Idol, and it’s time for this year’s kickass rocker to start his kickass rock career.
First stop? A sappy little ditty called “Time Of My Life.” This year’s coronation song came once again from the “American Idol” songwriting contest, which proved so successful last year that Jordin Sparks’s “This Is My Now” was the only debut single from an “Idol” winner to miss the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
But it’s really no surprise that “Idol” chose to revisit a song-selection process that was, on the face of it, clearly a failure the last time. In fact, it’s totally in fitting with the rest of the season’s insistence on keeping things that don’t work and fixing what ain’t broke.
‘American Idol’ Runner-Up David Archuleta Marvels At Second-Place Finish: ‘I Didn’t Think I’d Make It Past The First Round!’
David Archuleta has rarely been seen without a giant smile on his face throughout season seven of “American Idol, ” but his biggest grin was reserved for after he came in second. Huh?
Backstage at the Nokia Theatre after the “Idol” finale Wednesday night (May 21), the 17-year-old from Murray, Utah, looked as if the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders as he excitedly laughed through questions about his “big brother” David Cook and sharing a stage with Bryan Adams.
Coming in second place on ‘Idol’ could work in Archuleta’s favor
It’s been one amazing season, with many surprises and twists. To say I was shocked that David Archuleta didn’t take the “American Idol” 2008 crown is an understatement. I nearly fell off the couch.
However, David Cook is certainly talented and unique enough to be a very deserving winner. Rumor has it that they’ve both been offered deals ‘ no surprise there! Really, the only thing Archuleta is missing out on is the title itself (and a few extra songs on tour).
Like Clay Aiken, runner-up for Season 2, Archuleta is every bit as popular as the winner and has nothing to be bummed about. In fact, this could actually work toward his advantage.
Don’t weep for David Archuleta – on ‘Idol, ‘ loss may be more
David Archuleta needn’t weep into his Wheaties today.
Winning isn’t everything – especially on “American Idol.”
Ask Chris Daughtry.
Two seasons ago, the bald-headed rocker got kicked to the curb four turns before the end of the series. But he went on to outsell the singer who won (Taylor Hicks) by a margin of eight to one.
‘American Idol’ Predictions: Who Was Right, And Who Got It Wrong?
It certainly was unexpected when “Idol” host Ryan Seacrest crowned the comb-over-sportin’ Cook this season’s champ ‘ especially when you consider that, after Tuesday night’s performances all signs seemed to point to an Archuleta trouncing. Of course, it wasn’t Archuleta’s time to shine, and Cook ‘ who went to the “Idol” auditions to support his brother, with no intention of going before the judges ‘ pulled off an epic surprise victory, winning the title by a margin of 12 million votes.
In the weeks leading up to this week’s finale, MTV News surveyed a number of established artists, celebrities and fans to find out who they’d forecast as the nation’s best undiscovered talent.
Has America Turned Against ‹American Idol?
From American Idol’s disappointing, ratings-deficient season premiere back in January, all the way through to Tuesday’s disappointing, ratings-deficient pre-finale, critics have been writing eulogies for the show’s influence and forecasting its inevitable slip from Zeitgeist-capturing juggernaut to something you’d only watch if your Wii were broken. “Ridiculous!” others claimed, presumably in unison. “Sure, it’s less of a hit than it used to be ‘ but it still draws at least 20 million viewers per episode, meaning it’s still way more popular than pretty much anything else!” But what if Idol’s biggest problem isn’t the people who’ve stopped watching, but the ones who still are?
After American Idol What Does the Future Hold for David Cook and David Artuleta?
While many dim pundits like yours truly foolishly predicted that David Archuleta would beat David Cook on “American Idol, ” we should’ve paid closer attention to your views. In our Gold Derby poll reaping more than 13, 000 votes yesterday, Cook trounced Archuleta by a ratio of 3 to 1, revealing a surprising groundswell of support for the 25-year-old rocker.
Even Cook thought he would be the runner-up. As he acknowledged to Entertainment Weekly, “Basing it off of the judges’ comments from Tuesday, yeah, I went into tonight thinking Archie was gonna win.” During that revealing post-win interview, Cook said he intended to make his voice heard during the recording of his debut album. “I have to be involved. Whether it’s me writing by myself or with other people, I definitely want to have my hand in the creative process.”
American Idol sets Text Messaging Record for TV Show
AT&T announced today that it has beat it text messaging record of 64.5 million by generating more than 78 million messages dedicated to this year season of American Idol. By texting their votes this season, AT&T wireless customers helped crown the new American Idol winner, David Cook.
AT&T introduced text message voting in season 2 of Fox hit television show. AT&T sponsorship helped put text messaging into the American culture. Back in 2003, when the text messaging voting component was first introduced to American Idol, text messaging was a relatively new technology used almost exclusively by the youth market. Today, test messaging has spread to older people and is almost as popular as voice communication.
‹Idol got its groove back in season seven
“American Idol” is still the No. 1 show on television, but season seven brought out more doubters than the program has seen in a long time. The ratings were down. Young viewers started turning away. Whispers started to suggest that big changes might be in store for next year to recapture some of its lost magic.
But despite all the negativism, the seventh season of “Idol” will go down as one of the best in the show’s history, and better than anything “Idol” has come up with since season four. It was more compelling than anything “Idol” has come up with since that Carrie Underwood-Bo Bice final, and produced the buzz and the champion that “Idol” had lacked since.
What Went Wrong for David Archuleta?
OK, so as we all know, David Cook beat out David Archuleta last night on …American Idol. But what was a surprise upset for some was kind of a given for many of the hundreds of readers who wrote in during the broadcast.
While there were plenty of Archuleta-heads, many Newsroom readers who gave the kid props for vocal skills simply didnt see him as having the stage presence and personality necessary to be named Idol ¦
Commentary: Older votes may have cost Archuleta ‘Idol’ crown
LOS ANGELES – It’s a question that likely is gnawing at every David Archuleta fan today in the aftermath of the “American Idol” finale: How could the 17-year-old Murray kid with the golden voice and vast teen following lose on television’s biggest show?
After all, from the first live episode where he effortlessly sang “Step Around, ” Archuleta quickly captured the imaginations of millions of 12- to 15-year-olds with his cherubic face, soft grin and soulful voice.
As his vocal coach, Dean Kaelin, said at the start: “He’ll attract that ‘High School Musical’ crowd.”
What Cookin? Why one David became ‹Idol
The duel between Davids brought an estimated 31.7 million viewers to the Fox finale of …American Idol, a million more viewers that last year showdown between Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis, Nielsen Media Research reported Thursday.
That preliminary estimate beats last year audience of 30.7 million. That would be a coup for Fox, which has seen ratings for its franchise slide during the past month. But the final competition between winner David Cook and runner-up David Archuleta proved intriguing in the final days.
David (Hussein) Cook
I dutifully watch American Idol every week because my daughter is a huge fan. After two seasons, I have learned to (almost) enjoy it. I basically just pretend I’m living in a different age and a pleasant second-string country, maybe in Latin America or the Middle East, where every week me and my extended family sit down to watch a goofy variety show filled with amateur singing and colorful local characters. Then last night, after the final results show, I found myself unreasonably elated when they announced that David Cook had won. For those of you who are above such frippery, you might not know that this was not at all the expected result. The night before, after the final showdown, the judges had all but declared the other finalist, David Archuleta, to be the better man. Then last night they dragged us through Fox infomercials and a string of has-been celebrities until, an hour into the show, they announced that in fact COOK had won, by nearly 12 million votes.
David Cook shows what determination and a dream can accomplish
LOS ANGELES | The …American Idol finale wasnt a big story out here, especially Wednesday when the Lakers and Spurs launched their own version of a heavyweight fight.
So on the TV news later, there was cursory attention to the big news in Kansas City: David Cook won the seventh …Idol title in a blowout that was unexpected.
But in spite of its minimal West Coast news value, many in Kansas City will enjoy his success, now and whenever (or if ever) he has a hit song.
79 Year Old Fan Reacts to Cook’s Win
After an …Idol-heavy day at MTV News, we thought wed close up shop at Newsroom with this quick post, on our favorite pop-culture addict of our grandparents generation, one Paulie Martin. After we told you just how super-faithful an …Idol viewer Paulie is ‘ not one episode missed! ‘- it was only fair to check back in with the septuagenarian for his reaction to the season finale.
Predictably, he was ecstatic that David Cook won by 12 million votes ‘ but he knew the kid would take the prize all along! Archie, Paulie said with great finality, …just wasnt as good. And you better believe Paulie was ticked off at Simon Cowell premature prediction that Archuleta would wipe the floor with Cook. …Simon and his big f’ ing mouth, he said. …Im so happy the people proved him wrong!
American Upset!
Well, the confetti’s been cleared and the last ballad belted, and Seacrest is out (not like that) for the final time this season. I was certainly not expecting David Cook to win the Idol title, but, like Simon Cowell, I think I would have been OK with either possible outcome. At first I thought the producers must have felt the same’ the two contenders spent much of the finale dressed in various near-identical ensembles, and they even starred in twin Risky Business-themed ads for Guitar Hero. In hindsight, though, I should have recognized those commercials as signs of Cook’s impending victory, inundated as the broadcast was with the rock-hero vibe. David A. was thrust out of his comfort zone into a duo cover Nickelback’s “Hero, ” clearly meant as a Cook vehicle. And even Mike Myers made a Guitar Hero crack during his too-long spot promoting the (tremendously politically incorrect) summer film Love Guru. Add Simon’s earnest apology to David C., and it’s clear the upset was being set up from the start.
American Idol Banter: It’s One for the Rockers
…WHAT does it look like when the No. 1 show reaches its critical mass? said Ryan Seacrest as this year …American Idol finale began Wednesday night. …THIS!
And there they stood, the oddest couple to grace a soundstage since David Bowie and Bing Crosby bonded beneath Christmas tinsel and sang …The Little Drummer Boy. Though they share a given name, finalists Archuleta and Cook embody two strains of pop that could be fairly compared only in a competition like this. For most of this century, in fact, scruffy rock dudes like Cook have considered sugar pop purveyors like Archuleta mortal enemies. But not on …Idol ‘ a Top 40 lovefest designed to heal such divides by touting universal qualities, like …originality and …making it your own.
With Cook crowned king, it would seem that …Idol voters have embraced classic rock as this year universal language. But reality is not so simple. The problems …Idol faced this season, which a very fine finale almost washed away for two energetic hours, reflect the dissolution of any kind of unifying force in pop, even one that can be maintained for the length of a television program.
On the Scene: The ‘Idol’ finale
Inside the Nokia Theatre last night, reading the buzz of the live audience on hand for the American Idol finale, I was struck by how the most electrifying moment of the night came courtesy of an imperious Brit… and how the most surprisingly unelectrifying moment of the night also belonged to an imperious Brit. In the former case, I’m talking about Simon Cowell, who had everyone on the edge of their seats. In the latter case, I mean George Michael (pictured), who, despite the buildup, had everyone sitting rather complacently on their bums. First, Simon…
‘American Idol’ Recap: On the Scene at the Finale
In the head-to-head battle of the Davids, Missouri bartender David Cook emerged as the latest winner of American Idol on Wednesday’s live season finale on FOX. With 97.5 million votes cast (a record high for Idol), Cook beat out Utah high school student David Archuleta by a surprising 12 million votes in front of the crowd of 7, 000 at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles.
The two-hour build-up to the much-anticipated announcement was jam packed with brilliant surprise performances by superstars like Donna Summer, Bryan Adams, ZZ Top, Carrie Underwood, Jordin Sparks, One Republic, Jonas Brothers and George Michael. But Cook’s crowning moment was well worth the wait as he broke down in tears of joy and then proudly sang his soon-to-be released debut single, “Time of My Life.”
After the show, both Davids made their way to the press room (as other performers had done earlier in the night) to spill all to the media. Hollywood.com was there to chat with the star-studded bunch. Below are the highlights from both the press room and red carpet arrivals.
Life Lessons from American Idol: You Can Be a Winner Even When You Finish Second
In a record breaking finale in which more than 97 million votes were cast, Cook bested David Archuleta for the idol crown by a margin of 12 million votes. As winner his prize package includes a new Ford (F) Escape Hybrid, a million-dollar recording contract with 19 Entertainment and Sony/BMG (SNE), as well as the coveted position as headliner for this summer American Idols Live! Tour 2008.
But, what does winning really mean for Cook career future (and will finishing second mean that young Archuleta’s career is over already)? The answer is unclear. Winning American Idol doesnt necessarily guarantee big success in show business (think Ruben Studdard), then again, it hasn’t exactly hurt others (like Kelly Clarkson).
Jason Castro’s homecoming plans, May 29
It official. The City of Rockwall released final details about Jason Castro homecoming celebration, which is happening Thursday, May 29. The fanfare begins with a parade featuring the top four American Idol finalist and his family, and includes an exclusive mini-concert at The Harbor.
Idol Star’s Charity Blamed For Donation Goof
A strange internet mix-up is all connected to former American Idol contestant Jason Castro.
It led to a sudden rise in donations for a West Michigan-based charity. Castro is known for his soulful style and unique look. The singer also attracted fans on the internet. After he was voted off, the blog castrocopia.com suggested that fans donate money to Castro’s favorite charity. His official site, daydreamingboy.com claimed Castro’s charity was GLOW Ministries, a group based out of Zeeland that helps the poor in Haiti.
That was news to Amber Snyder. She and her husband Phil help run the organization. Their website is usually quiet, but before long they had hits from 15 different countries with around $1, 000 in online donations.
Melinda Doolittle Prepping Album For End Of Summer Release
She was arguably the nicest contestant in …American Idol history, and last night Melinda Doolittle, from Season 6 was back on the scene and updating Access Hollywood about her musical endeavors.
Melinda told Access she been working on her debut album on the East Coast.
…Ive been having a wonderful, wonderful time, the pint-sized singing powerhouse said. …I just got back from NY ‘ Im working on my first album. And I have never had so much fun in my life. So I am loving it.
Doolittle said her album would be a mix of flavors when it hits store shelves at the end of summer.
…I get to do some retro soul and add a little bit of grit in it, she said. …Add a little Cookie to the soul.
Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Sarah Jessica Parker Sign On As MTV Movie Awards Presenters
Previously announced Hollywood megastars like Jack Black, Lindsay Lohan and Steve Carell will be joined at this year’s ceremony by a newly announced crop of presenters, including Sarah Jessica Parker, Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Presenter Robert Downey Jr. will be making a cameo appearance as Tony Stark in “The Incredible Hulk, ” but audiences needn’t wait until then to see Iron Man and the Hulk together, as the “smashing” pair of Edward Norton and Liv Tyler have also confirmed that they’ll present at the awards show, broadcast live this year on Sunday, June 1, from the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California.
Also joining the fun are Emma Stone and Katharine McPhee from “The House Bunny.”
Idol’ alum Ace Young takes his time to get first CD right
Ace Young has again made ” American Idol’s” Top 10.
It’s been two years since Young was among the finalists of the Fox-TV show’s fifth season. Now, he’s on track to release his self-titled debut album on July 15, making him the 10th contestant from that talent-laden year to put out a CD.
That could be daunting, considering the season’s winner, Taylor Hicks, and runner-up Katharine McPhee already have been dropped by their record companies.
But Young, 27, says that’s exactly why it’s taken him so long to get to this point.
