DeWyze triumphs over Bowersox on `American Idol'
LOS ANGELES, CA
When asked by Ryan Seacrest how he felt, an emotional DeWyze
said, "I don't know. It's amazing, thank you, guys, so much ... I
love you. Crystal, I love you."
The finalists had closely matched fan bases, with just a 2
percent voting gap between them coming into the finale, Seacrest
said. DeWyze's victory was based on votes cast after Tuesday's
performance show, which drew more judges' compliments for Bowersox,
24, of Toledo, Ohio, than for DeWyze, also 24, of Mount Prospect,
Ill.
The finale made the most of Simon Cowell's last appearance as a
judge. A film package recounting highlights from the Cowell years
was shown and comedian Dane Cook came on stage to sing "Simon
Says," made up of the Brit's barbed comments, and to crack a few
jokes.
"You have the honesty of Abe Lincoln and the charm of the guy
who shot him," Cook told Cowell, who took the ribbing with a
smile.
The walk down memory lane continued with ex-judge Paula Abdul,
who often played Cowell's sparring partner during the seasons the
shared.
"I've loved all the fun we've had together," Abdul told
Cowell. "`American Idol's' not gonna be the same without you. But
as only I can you, it will go on."
Cowell, in turn, shed his usual cool in an on-stage appearance.
"I didn't think I was going to be this emotional and I
genuinely am. ... Everybody asks who's going to replace me, who
going to be the next judge. The truth is," he told the audience,
"you guys are the judge of this show and you've done an incredible
job over the years."
The finale, as usual, was stuffed with humor, including the
return of Larry "Pants on the Ground" Platt and William Hung,
return appearances by former contestants and music stars.
Kris Allen, last year's winner, sang "The Truth," with Carrie
Underwood, Michael McDonald, Christina Aguilera, Hall & Oates,
Robin and Barry Gibb, Janet Jackson and Joe Cocker were among those
whose performances were scattered throughout the two-hour show.
Bret Michaels, the ailing former Poison frontman and reality TV
star, joined "Idol" finalist Casey James on one of the band's
biggest hits, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn."
The bluesy voiced Bowersox, whose status as a single mom and
nurturing of the other contestants had earned her the nickname
"Mama Sox," had basked in praise Tuesday.
"You took that song and you absolutely nailed it," Cowell said
of Bowersox's rendition of "Black Velvet," a song he said he's
normally "allergic" to because it gets murdered.
The assessments of DeWyze were respectful but more measured --
with Ellen DeGeneres the exception.
"Lee, I couldn't be prouder if I birthed you myself," she told
him after he sang Simon and Garfunkel's "The Boxer."
DioGuardi admired DeWyze as an "emotionally accessible" singer
after he performed R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts" as his second
number, but Cowell urged him to try harder.
"When you come out for your last performance, I want a 10 out
of, because you're capable of that," Cowell told him.
With U2's "Beautiful Day," Jackson welcomed hearing "the guy
with the strong big rock voice" and DioGuardi said he had "one of
the most commercial voices of the season" and deserved to be in
the finale.
Cowell, who had pointed to DeWyze as the frontrunner before the
finale performances, said that "American Idol" was designed for
someone like DeWyze, who worked in a paint shop when he tried out
for the show and needed a break.
DeWyze's first single will be "Beautiful Day," which he
performed Tuesday.
Seacrest, who appeared to have an on-air testy relationship with
Cowell this season, had only warm words for him Tuesday and
Wednesday.
"We really are going to miss you. You are a dear friend and we
wouldn't be here without you," Seacrest said.
Cowell isn't going far: He's going to produce and judge "The X
Factor," a Fox version of his popular British talent contest.