"You never get disconnected from American Idol, and anybody who wants to be disconnected from it -- especially anybody who made it to the finals -- I don't see the sense in that, you know?" That's how Season One runner-up Justin Guarini feels about the show that made him a household name back in 2002. "It's an amazing show," he says. "Every single year it dominates the ratings. Every single year all of us, no matter where we finished, get some sort of boost in our work from it."

Click here to read the rest of Justin Guarini: From American Idol to Idol Tonight

While Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis were busy doing three hours of interviews after the American Idol season finale, and while the rest of the finalists were living it up several miles away at the super-exclusive, no-press-allowed Idol post-party at the Skybar on Sunset Blvd., the winners of the 2nd Annual Golden Idol Awards were having the time of their lives at the official finale party that Fox hosts every year at The Highlands nightclub, located next door to the Kodak Theatre in the Hollywood & Highland entertainment complex.

Click here to read the rest of American Idol Gossip: Big Bird, "Bush Baby" and a Crabby Top Ten Veteran

The competition has ended and Jordin was crowned the winner but as Clive Davis' speech reminds us, the winner does not always take all. Davis rather glibly reminded us that Taylor Hicks has had lackluster success compared to fellow season 5 alums, Chris Daughtry and Katherine McPhee. In fact, in recent years it seems almost a curse to become the number one American Idol. A recent Fortune article stated that since Carrie Underwood, the winners' album sales have been on the decline.

An unspoken competition ensues once the show ends and record sales begin. Blake seemed unshaken and cordial when Jordin was announced as the season's winner but perhaps he was actually relieved that his album stands a better chance of being a hit. If this is so, I think he can rest assured that he is correct.

When you think about it, Jordin Sparks is the first American Idol winner to come off the show with a completed album. That's because the finalists' songs each week were made available for downloading, and fans who downloaded and saved all of her Idol tunes in effect now possess a full album's worth of her music.

Interestingly, the newest Idol champion hasn't assembled such an album herself. "I never downloaded [my songs]," Jordin admitted with a smile shortly after her victory on last night's season finale. "I couldn't do it! Maybe I should now. I did listen to them when other people downloaded them. I didn't want to do it myself, but it was really cool.

Click here to read the rest of American Idol Jordin Sparks on School, Blake and Her Unusual First Album

How does Blake Lewis feel about losing to Jordin Sparks on American Idol?

"I feel great!" Blake cheered shortly after the end of the show. "I picked Jordin from the Top 24 as the American Idol winner and I was right. I was going to try to wear a Vote for Jordin Sparks T-shirt [on the Tuesday show] but they wouldn't let me do it."

Click here to read the rest of Blake Lewis on Beat-Boxing, Losing to Jordin Sparks and the American Idol Summer Tour

"Have a good Idol!" my Starbucks barista says with a smile.

You hear it everywhere you go at the Hollywood and Highland entertainment complex in Los Angeles, home of the Kodak Theatre and the setting for the annual extravaganza that is the American Idol finale.

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Tonight is the night many people have waited months for - the American Idol finale. I get more viewing enjoyment out of the auditions and earlier part of the season. Once the contestants make it to the final 12, you have to figure that most of them have a good chance at getting a record deal. After all, last season alone, not only did the two finalists put out albums (Taylor Hicks and Katharine McPhee), but so did the third place finisher (Elliott Yamin), fourth place finisher (Chris Daughtry), fifth place finisher (Paris Bennett), sixth place finisher (Kellie Pickler), and eighth place finisher (Bucky Covington). Even David Radford, who went out in eighteenth place, and Patrick Hall, who went out in twenty-first place, put out LPs. So just making it to the top 24 gives you a shot at a recording deal.

Click here to read the rest of American Idol Finale - Blake vs. Jordin

You know, last year, when it came down to Elliott, Taylor, and Katherine, I really thought Elliott deserved to be in the finals. But, when he was sent home, I kinda understood. This year, the best singer the entire season was sent home in third place. After a very long, drawn out results show (although it was great to see Elliott - his CD is awesome!), Ryan called Jordin out. I thought "How odd. I would have called Melinda out first to keep a little suspense going." I mean it seemed anticlimactic. I was THAT sure that Melinda would make it to the finals. I would have bet money on it. Name ONE bad performance Melinda had. You can't because she didn't have a bad night.

Click here to read the rest of Jordin and Blake are in the American Idol Finals

There might be one more spark of excitement left in this show yet. Make that Sparks.

With Melinda "Shoo-in" Doolittle eliminated in the semi-finals of American Idol, we're left with the easiest choice between two singers the show has ever had.

Click here to read the rest of American Idol: Now It's All About the Sparks

Faithful Idol fans had a feeling about the top 3. It was almost obvious before the top 4 even performed that Lakisha was on the chopping block.

This week was shaky for all the contestants, even the invincible Jordin. Though Lakisha performed well each week, she lacked the spunk and originality that the top 3 possess so it was no surprise when she was sent packing. Sadly, there hasn't been a shocking results night since the days of Sanjaya.

If the order in which the safe contestants were announced is any indication of votes received, Blake needs to work a bit harder next week to avoid being voted off. Melinda is also vulnerable. Ryan addressed her (sometimes boring) consistency, saying "They want you to stand out even more." To this she responded that it was her goal to remain consistent but that she would try to step it up. Jordin's place in the top 2 seems certain but who will be next to go home? Blake or Melinda? Will next week's performances even matter or are the top two already determined among Idol fans and their favorites?

This show desperately needs another set of call-in numbers. Not for voting on the singers--another one of whom gets the "Going Home" send-off tonight--but for voting on the judges. Calling in would let us, the 30 million viewers of Fox's American Idol, decide which judge we'd like to get the most airtime.

And the winner would be...Simon Cowell.

Click here to read the rest of American Idol: Let Simon Speak!

There were no shocking reveals during tonight's Idol results show. Phil and Chris were sent home, leaving Blake, Lakisha, Melinda and Jordin in the top 4. Jordin was spared anxiety when Ryan told her to sit down immediately, saying that he'd already tortured her enough during last week's results show. Not many tears were shed as it seemed clear leading up to tonight that both Phil and Chris' days on Idol were numbered. A heartbroken Blake found comfort in the fact that he and best bud, Chris, would perform together on the Idols tour this summer.

Who's will win? Well, it doesn't really matter. When Ruben Studdard's recorded clip for Idol Give Back aired tonight, I couldn't remember if he or Clay Aiken had won Season 2. Last season's winner, Taylor Hicks, hasn't come close to the media mileage that runner-up, Catherine McPhee, has endured. And after Jennifer Hudson's Oscar nomination and subsequent win, it's clear that just being a top 12 alumni is enough to launch a successful entertainment career.

Next week, the idols sing "boogie sounds" under the guidance of Barry Gibb.

Last week contestants and American Idol fans alike were relieved when it was revealed that no one was going home. However, two hopefuls will be sent packing after tomorrow's results show. My bet is on Phil and Chris.

The theme was Bon Jovi songs and for many of the idols, classic rock would be the most challenging genre to date though even some of the sub-par performances were pretty darn good.

Phil kicked off the show singing "Blades of Glory" which was well received by Randy and Paula. Simon disagreed. No surprises there. I'd be shocked if Phil lasted another week.

Livin' on a Prayer, one of Bon Jovi's most famous and classic songs was sung by Jordin. In my opinion, a song so famous and well-liked is hard to butcher, even during karaoke. Someone could belch the tune of the song and I think I'd still enjoy it. Simon acknowledged that it was a difficult song for even a gifted female singer to pull off and Jordin seemed to agree. I loved her rendition and her edgy look. Despite the judges negative commentary, it was a breath of fresh air to see Jordin depart from her comfort zone.

From week to week, Lakisha teeters between being untouchable and being incredibly vulnerable because of her predictability (wasn't unpredictability what kept Sanjaya on the show week after week?). She sang a showtunes-y version of "This Ain't A Love Song" which Jon Bon Jovi described as a soul singer's song. The judges were unanymous- she nailed it. Simon even planted a wet one right on her lips.

A dark-haired Blake sang a Blake-ified version of "You Give Love a Bad Name." Bon Jovi sounded uncertain of how it would be received. Even I was holding my breath out of fear that the judges may have thought he'd gone too far out on a creative limb but the crowd went wild and so did the judges. What is an American Idol but someone who puts their own trademark on everything they do?

Blake was a tough act to follow. To make the his performance extra boring, Chris gave a straight rock rendition of "Wanted Dead or Alive." The general consensus was that the performance was underwhelming. It could very well be Chris' last week on idol.

Could "Have a Nice Day" become a church song? According the Melinda and Jon Bon Jovi, yes! Bon Jovi's advice was to turn the song into something she knew. Melinda seemed uncomfortable with the rock theme but she handled the song very well. Her splash of a newfound edgy confidence was icing on the cake.

The pool of contestants is dwindling. No matter who goes home tomorrow, it will certainly be an emotional results show.

Raising money for charities dedicated to helping the poor, sick and downtrodden in Africa and the USA is a good thing. Lying to viewers while doing it is not.

This week's American Idol: Idol Gives Back special was an awkward combination of telethon and talent show. The two-hour episode Wednesday night both gaveth and tooketh away. Between the endless and mostly pointless drop-ins by celebrities such as Jack Black, Seal and Celine Dion, and the clips of Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell hiking over mountains of garbage in parts of Africa they never clearly identified, Seacrest kept hinting slyly that the voting this week would lead to a "shocking" result.

Click here to read the rest of American Idol: Bait and Switch on Charity Show

Nashville, TN -- It's official: The best place to find former American Idol finalists is here in Nashville, and the best event to see them at is the annual CMT Music Awards, still the most exciting awards show on television, as Monday night's presentation at the Curb Event Center at Belmont University made clear. While the crowd of fans clustered in pockets along the red carpet cheered at the arrivals of such country superstars as Gretchen Wilson, Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Kris Kristofferson, Jennifer Nettles and Rascal Flatts, they darn near exploded at the sight of American Idol Season Four winner Carrie Underwood.

Click here to read the rest of American Idol Carrie Underwood Rocks the CMT Awards