Photo: FOX
Perhaps in keeping with Scotty McCreery's low-key country demeanor, the two hour and seven minute American Idol Season 10 finale played without tension, drama or surprise.
Ryan Seacrest's announcement of Scotty as the winner at show's end felt anticlimactic. Scotty said "I gotta thank the Lord. He got me here," proceeded to sing his sappy dull single, I Love You This Big, and after sharing how big his love was on that teeny, tiny song, he ate the confetti that fell from the ceiling.
Runnerup Lauren Alaina looked radiant and seemed poised for an upset after handily outperforming Scotty during the finals Tuesday night but a girl isn't going to win Idol until producers change the voting methodology that allows unlimited votes. The young voting demographic that sent 122 million votes into Idol coffers last night will seemingly favor the guy every time.
The only moment of any tension was the morbid fascination we had watching and wondering whether any stunt people or singers would be injured during the Spider-Man performance to keep in line with its Broadway reputation. Alas, the only injury was to Bono and The Edge's reputation as songwriters after their toothless Spider-Man song.
Otherwise, the long finale mostly strayed from the painfully lame sketches of early Idol finales in favor of trotting out a plethora of pop stars young (Lady Gaga) and old (Tom Jones) without any outright disasters but few Idol Moments. Lady Gaga performed her current single Edge of Glory atop a rock cliff and looked as if she stepped off the set of an 80s Motley Crue video. She was in good voice, the song's catchy. Beyonce sang two tuneless songs, one of which had one set of repeated lyrics -- "Make love to me" -- that proved so tedious it was enough to kill any desire you had to take her up on the offer.
Marc Anthony rode his wife J.Lo's coattails -- or would that be tassels? -- to sing on the Idol stage. Shameless. The Idol men spilled cheese all over the place with a medley of Tom Jones hits. Strictly Velveeta. That is, until Jones, 71 in a couple weeks, appeared and showed the boys how it's done. Two-thirds of 90s R&B act TLC turned up and it sounded as if the raspy lead singer swallowed a brick before a rough rendition of their hit, Waterfalls.
Perhaps the most exciting performance belonged to rocker James Durbin who was cast away in fourth place but returned to the finale to sing a medley of Living After Midnight and Breakin' the Law with his idols, Judas Priest and the British metal group's lead singer Rob Halford.
After that thrilling moment early in the night, Idol had nowhere to go and went there slowly. No one seemed too excited with the possible exception of label heads who finally have an Idol twosome with serious marketability. Scotty, 17, will have the entire field of young country traditionalists to himself if he's allowed to remain real country (that sappy duet with Tim McGraw was not a good sign) and Lauren, 16, will fit on the radio right next to her idol, Season 4 winner and all-time most successful Idol champ Carrie Underwood, with whom she sang Before He Cheats tonight.
Did viewers check yes or no for Scotty McCreery as the Season 10 American Idol winner or did Lauren Alaina's gift of a mom song from shrewd producer Jimmy Iovine cut to the hearts of Idol's demographic and ensure she wins the show?
Find out in tonight's 2 hour and 7 minute finale (make sure those DVRs get that added time) and follow @HowardCohen on Twitter for live commentary. Result and review to appear here after the show.
Didn't they sing this alreasy this season?
Posted by: MrsEvans | May 25, 2011 at 08:07 PM
sing what and hiiiii
Posted by: gail | May 25, 2011 at 08:08 PM
Born this way....
Posted by: MrsEvans | May 25, 2011 at 08:09 PM
sorry I forgot I was behind I'm recording this show.
Posted by: gail | May 25, 2011 at 08:10 PM
Shalom...
Posted by: MrEvans | May 25, 2011 at 08:10 PM
EW EW EW! I am soooooooo happy Sloth is NOT a finalist!
Posted by: MrsEvans | May 25, 2011 at 08:11 PM
I happened on here today and saw you and Leslie had a gab fest last night...last I check a while back no one had been posting and I hadn't looked in a long time. Nice to see you Mrs. Evans...and you're having a baby?
Posted by: gail | May 25, 2011 at 08:12 PM
Nice to see Sloth got a spot in the Village people.
Posted by: MrsEvans | May 25, 2011 at 08:14 PM
He's the bald guy?
Posted by: gail | May 25, 2011 at 08:14 PM
Yes we are, a little girl!
Posted by: MrsEvans | May 25, 2011 at 08:15 PM
James Durbin was more Meatloaf than Judas Priest and I muted the TV during the Born this Way number because Lady Gaga is bad, but a cover of her is worse than bad.
Posted by: Lesley | May 25, 2011 at 08:15 PM
Where have you been all season?
Posted by: MrsEvans | May 25, 2011 at 08:16 PM
So who were your faves this year?
Posted by: gail | May 25, 2011 at 08:16 PM
These montages make the judges seem dumb and trite.
Posted by: MrEvans | May 25, 2011 at 08:17 PM
I picked Lauren from the start! She never wowed me like I expected but I still feel she is the best of the bunch.
Posted by: MrsEvans | May 25, 2011 at 08:18 PM
Lusk? someone pour sulfuric acid in my ear dreams please?
Posted by: Lane | May 25, 2011 at 08:18 PM
I didn't start watching til about 5 weeks ago.
I didn't know anyone was posting over here.
Posted by: gail | May 25, 2011 at 08:18 PM
Gladys? This is a Midnight Train to Boredom
Posted by: Lane | May 25, 2011 at 08:19 PM
Gladys! Jacob channeling his best Touched by An Angel..
Posted by: Lesley | May 25, 2011 at 08:19 PM
Gladys "Black don't crack!" Knight! Love her...
Posted by: MrEvans | May 25, 2011 at 08:19 PM
Somewhere Roberta Flack is uttering the c word on her tv
Posted by: Lane | May 25, 2011 at 08:19 PM
I'm huge fan of Haley!
Posted by: gail | May 25, 2011 at 08:20 PM
Have you ever eaten at her chicken and waffles joint in Hotlanta?
Posted by: Lesley | May 25, 2011 at 08:21 PM
hahah you all are so funny still!
Posted by: gail | May 25, 2011 at 08:21 PM
Gladys playing the Trop!
Posted by: Lane | May 25, 2011 at 08:21 PM
Lane, what C word, chicken?
Posted by: Lesley | May 25, 2011 at 08:21 PM
Gladys pissing her life's savings away at the Trop. Oh wait, she did that already
Posted by: Lesley | May 25, 2011 at 08:21 PM
gail--it didnt seem like any of us had any faves this season.
Posted by: Lesley | May 25, 2011 at 08:22 PM
I loved Casey, personally. But I was in the minority.
Posted by: MrEvans | May 25, 2011 at 08:23 PM
BTW Lesley... is herald.com the only website that still has pop-ups? Tell HoCo to do something about that, please.
Posted by: MrEvans | May 25, 2011 at 08:24 PM
Dang you all are fast I must be doing something wrong what is the secret to posting...I now know about f5 but do you have to scroll down to hit post?
Posted by: gail | May 25, 2011 at 08:25 PM
Nice!!!
Posted by: MrEvans | May 25, 2011 at 08:26 PM
Nice!!!
Posted by: MrsEvans | May 25, 2011 at 08:26 PM
Tenacious C
Posted by: Lane | May 25, 2011 at 08:26 PM
In case I forget Congrats on the baby Mr and Mrs Evans...way cool. Lesley is mind boggling with twins and working...I told her a while back she was a bad example for maternity leave :)
Posted by: gail | May 25, 2011 at 08:27 PM
Kung Jew Pandas
Posted by: Lane | May 25, 2011 at 08:27 PM
The Herald just upgraded its computers from Commodore 84s to Apple 2c.
Posted by: Lesley | May 25, 2011 at 08:27 PM
Jack Black should totally be in MIA filming ROA instead of Russle Brand. Tje part was MADE for him!
Posted by: MrsEvans | May 25, 2011 at 08:27 PM
I liked Casey also. And Crystal Bowersox. Oh wait...
Posted by: Lesley | May 25, 2011 at 08:27 PM
Jack Black been interested in seeing what he does.
Posted by: gail | May 25, 2011 at 08:28 PM
Jack Black looks groomed for a change.
Posted by: Lesley | May 25, 2011 at 08:28 PM
Thanks Gail!
Posted by: MrsEvans | May 25, 2011 at 08:28 PM
I imagine the inside of the Herald newsroom still looks like "Absence of Malice".
Posted by: MrEvans | May 25, 2011 at 08:28 PM
Gail: what else is there to do when the babies are sleeping? Well, thanks to Lane, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire on Facebook, but besides that, not too much.
Posted by: Lesley | May 25, 2011 at 08:29 PM
I like Casey and Jack
Posted by: gail | May 25, 2011 at 08:29 PM
Absence of Malice? More like "His Girl Friday"
Posted by: Lane | May 25, 2011 at 08:29 PM
Ashthethon got herself some Beyonce hair.
Posted by: MrsEvans | May 25, 2011 at 08:30 PM
You just a very impressive Leslie....and probably very high energy!
Posted by: gail | May 25, 2011 at 08:30 PM
"a la izquierda...a la izquierda"
Posted by: MrEvans | May 25, 2011 at 08:31 PM
end the medley with "Taco Flavored Kisses"
Posted by: Lane | May 25, 2011 at 08:31 PM