‘Idol’ finale now a Hollywood spectacular

Vocally, the best song of the night is the duet between Elliott Yamin and Mary J. Blige. It sounds great and there seems to still be a lot of affection for Elliott from the pro-Taylor fan base.

One of the problems sitting near the top is that it’s almost impossible to identify the unannounced guest appearances. There’s a lot of “Who’s that?” and “I think that’s so and so” whispers to be heard but, eventually, the word gets out.

This mystery guessing game is true for most everyone except Prince, of course, who receives a wildly raucous round of applause for the first few minutes of his set. Rumor has it that he turned down the “Idol” producers to have a night based on his music but agreed to perform in the finale.

Kevork Djansezian / AP Former Idol finalist Clay Aiken, sporting a new look, performed during Wednesday night's season finale.

Clay Aiken wannabe Michael Sandecki is absolutely stunned when his hero walks behind him on stage. After the song ends and the cameras turn off, Sandecki remains in shock. He walks off the side of the stage and people sitting near the front try to shake his hand and offer their support but he’ll have none of it. He keeps his hands over his open mouth, never moving his arms, literally traumatized by the recent turn of events. His emotions get the best of him and he begins gently weeping before leaving.

The warm-up guy is moving around to different parts of the Kodak, tossing around “Idol” T-shirts and, with microphone in hand, comes across an ill young man who’s attending the show compliments of the Make-a-Wish Foundation. His plight touches many and is given a warm round of applause.

Also, down at the judges table, the make-up artist is touching up Paula. She wants to look her best before the winner is announced.

With only a few moments left in the show, Ryan announces that Taylor is the winner. As Kat walks off the stage, the women Idols are standing next to her and Kellie Pickler is the first to run over and give her a warm and compassionate hug.

Let the celebration begin
Kat seems fine with the results, far from devastated. The general consensus among the fans make it seem a forgone conclusion that Taylor would come out on top. Soon fireworks go off and confetti falls from the sky. Chris wraps his arms around Taylor, who’s still in a somewhat state of awe, and lifts him off the ground. The other guys gather round and all offer their congrats, as do the ladies.

Smoke starts to fill the Kodak and the audience slowly meanders out. Up near the top, the smoke is getting thicker and odorous.

Next are the two after-parties. Fox is throwing a B-list bash at a ballroom only a few hundred yards from the theater. David Hasselhoff is probably the celebrity with the highest wattage, drawing a few stares. Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna can be seen noshing on food but this one is mostly industry types and their families celebrating “Idol’s” incredible run.

Flat-screen monitors in the ballroom will begin broadcasting the show in about 45 minutes and there’s a smattering of postcards strewn around several tables with Taylor’s photo on them, declaring him the champ.

Meanwhile, there’s another party down the block at the Roosevelt Hotel, which the Idols and their families will attend. Most there will reflect on how their lives have been changed forever and thrown into the cultural zeitgeist.

But all that’s probably a little too much to think about right now. Most attendees haven’t eaten for hours — mostly due to nerves — and they’re starving and looking for something, almost anything, to eat. The food servers walking around with trays of hot and cold appetizers have become the newest celebrities for the time being.

Taylor may be the newest American Idol, but, hey, a boy’s gotta eat.

Stuart Levine is a Senior Editor at Variety in Los Angeles.

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