In what was a truly shocking (at least to this AI superfan) season finale of American Idol, David “Cookie” Cook took the season seven crown of American Idol by an approximate 12 million vote spread.

My American Idol mojo has been fairly off this season with only 1 out of the last 4 eliminations coming in where I expected them to. Carly Smithson out before Syesha? Brooke White out before Syesha? Castro out before Syesha? You get the drift. However, my season finale mojo has only failed me once with season two’s crowning of Ruben Studdard, a victory I still think was incorrect and later “covered up” by the AI peeps. Yes, I’m an American Idol conspiracy theorist. Don’t judge! The snacks at our meetings are totally worth being a member. I assumed I was safe with my prediction of this season’s winner even if I was disappointed with what I thought would be the outcome. As with last season, I assumed the more talented, musically inclined contestant would take second with the Disney pop princess claiming the title. In some ways I’m very glad I was wrong. Others? Not so much.

I can’t see Cook making the album 19 entertainment likes its winners to make. They’re usually disposable pop albums that will be bought by the masses, but don’t generally give the artist much say in what is put out there. For a lucky few, like Kelly Clarkson, the winner is able to make their initial 19 Entertainment album and then make the album they want with the kind of music that works for them. Kelly’s had enormous success doing this and I really hope Cook gets the same opportunity.

Highlights of the Finale:

The George Michael medley - it must be an Eli Stone thing, but I can’t get enough of GM right now and the Top 12 sounded great; One Republic - I will sadly admit I have no idea who they are, but my iPod is about to get really familiar with their music because I heart that performance; The Jonas Bros. - the less I say about these guys, the less eventual evidence there will be in court against me; The David Cook Guitar Hero Commercial - see “The Jonas Bros.” comment, only bold it, put it in italics, highlight it, and underline it…I will say this, and this alone, the moves he did were dead on from the movie; Carly Smithson and Michael John’s performance of “The Letter” - these two need a tour all on their own. I may need to find someone to mentor so I can go to an Idol tour concert; Carrie Underwood - the girl can sing, no doubt about it, but I kinda wish Jesus still had the wheel and hadn’t dropped her off at the Short Skirt Emporium because there were a couple of times the mosh pit got quite a show; The boys from “Tropic Thunder” as the Pips - Robert Downey, Jr. can do no wrong, Jack Black can do wrong, but you’re laughing so hard you don’t care, and Ben Stiller…well, try to remember “Zoolander”; Simon’s apology and comments right before the crowning - the classiest I’ve ever heard him; and of course, David Cook’s win - he was so moved and humbly appreciative. Wow.

Lowlights of the Finale:

The girl’s Donna Summer medley - between Brooke’s awkward step-pause-no I’m supposed to step here-pause “dance” moves and Amanda’s totally obvious desire to be anywhere but on that stage, it came across disjointed with the other girls who were trying and actually wanted to be there; Bryan Adams - other than being kinda musically irrelevant for the past, I don’t know, 15 years?, I wasn’t quite sure it was Bryan Adams. Does being Canadian make you age like a 60 year old meth addict?; Jordin Sparks - my beef here is all shallow. She was wearing my homecoming dress from 6th grade and looked way better in it than I ever did, but she wasn’t trying to work a side pony tail, and let me tell you, that is rough; and, the unfortunate shoving of David Archuleta off to the side when the winner is announced. It’s sad that all season long, every other lesser eliminated contestant gets a video send off and a nice final moment. Not the runner up. They are pushed to the side of the stage and only acknowledged if the winner does so - which David Cook totally did - but still, that’s pretty crappy treatment of someone the show and America was in love with 30 seconds earlier.

Overall, it was a very fulfilling season, most of which we’ll have forgotten this time next year. Later, American Idol, see you in January!