Even on a show that tries endlessly to manufacture emotion, nothing can match the real thing. The final moments tonight were "American Idol" at its best.
Here was Danny Gokey, a man who had entered the competition shortly after the death of his wife. Buoyant, outgoing, he was immensely likable. And the song he sang (wonderfully) at the end was perfect for this widower -- "You Are So Beautiful."
Danny had picked out that song for Tuesday's performance, a great choice. Paula Abdul had picked his other song, an awful choice.
That may have been one reason for his surprise ouster tonight. A bigger reason is more basic: Kris Allen, also a fine singer, is cute as the dickens, with a shy manner and a slight smile that warms old people's hearts and sends little girls rushing to the phones.
Here are a few of my comments; please add yours:
1) No matter what happens, of course, the essentials remain: Adam Lambert is a spectacularly good singer and performer. Kris is likable; Adam is a star.
2) It was a great touch to show Adam back at the Metropolitan Education Theatre, in San Diego. This is where he had his first starring role, back when he was 10. "Idol" used to think of theater as a bad thing; Adam has reminded us that rock 'n' roll can be wonderfully theatrical.
3) Tell me this: Wasn't this the first time we've seen an enormous American flag, Patton-style, fronted by a man with Goth hair and two black earrings, singing the National Anthem?
4) Consecutive promos -- for a movie, a car and a charity -- were then followed by commercials. I would have objected, except that charity is a good thing and any promo done by Ben Stiller is fun.
5) Jordin Sparks has become a great singer; Katy Perry is an OK singer who knows how to stir up a storm.
6) In his visit home, Adam had approximately the scariest bodyguard ever.
7) The going-home stuff was a mismatch, as expected. Danny (Milwaukee) and Adam (San Diego) seemed to mostly be visiting strip malls. By comparison, Kris -- going to Conway, Ark., his college town and adopted home -- seemed to be in a real place.
8) That was the place where his shy, cute-guy smile seems to fit perfectly.
9) I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but Kris' wife is really, really cute.
10) All of that cute-guy, cute-wife, shy-smile, nice-voice stuff makes Kris a worthy contender. He's an ideal choice to stand alongside, when Adam Lambert -- one stunning talent -- becomes the next American Idol.
I am immensely relieved that Danny is gone. The two left in the competition are two whose albums I would buy, despite their vast differences (Allison Iraheta is the third). Gokey has become too smarmy for his own good, and Kris Allen's quiet demeanor and terrific voice (Jason Castro 2.0) make him a stronger contender. And, if they're telling the truth about the voting, the fans think so, too: Only 1 million votes separated Adam and Kris. That's actually a little surprising and means that this finale could actually challenge Adam a bit. I think against Gokey, he would have coasted through, but with Kris, he better bring his A game. And his lucky eyeliner.