American Idol Finale: The Next Taylor Hicks?

Yes, somebody named David has been chosen as the seventh American Idol. No, it wasn't who we all thought it would be. David Cook, a bartender from Kansas City, defeated David Archuleta by 12 million votes for the right to follow such luminaries as Fantasia Barrino, Jordin Sparks and Rubin Studdard into pop oblivion.

The judges--Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell--didn't like Cook as much as they loved Archuleta. Cook took chances in singing unfamiliar material, while Archuleta stayed in his comfort zone with Barry Manilow-type ballads--the kind most record people usually associate with pop chart success.

What might have hurt Archuleta among voters who are old enough to drive, besides being 17 years old (Cook is 25), were his Daddy Issues. According to media reports, Idol producers banished Archuleta's father to the audience for allegedly interfering with the teenager's song choices, and for being a general pain in the butt.

Only two AI winners--Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood--have had any kind of success since their respective confetti showers. For Clarkson, she had initial pop success before her last album tanked. Now she's touring with Reba McEntire. Underwood established herself in country music, taking home award after award, and was recently inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.

Is David Cook on the road to superstardom? Let's see . . . the song he performed at his coronation, "Time of My Life", is going to be his first single--which will hit Number One on the charts despite the lack of radio airplay. His first album, produced by seasoned music professionals with no creative input from Cook, will sell well but get no love from critics. What happens after that will determine whether Cook will be playing the Staples Center in Los Angeles, or working at the Staples store back in Kansas City. It's your choice, America.