The number of votes is just incredible, 98,000,000 votes / (4 (number of hours the voting is open) * 3600 number of seconds in 1 hour) = 6,805 votes per second.... That number is a little skewed, because I'm not sure how long texting is opened, not am I sure if the phone lines are open for 7 hours (because of the delay in showing the show in other time zones and everyone had 4 hours to vote, perhaps it truly is 7 hours to vote from the east coast).  But still, we are looking at thousands of votes per second being processed.

I'm curious how they market both these people.  Neither one of them fits into the pop or country mold.  In particular, I wonder what they do with David A.  They had limited success with Ruben and Taylor Hicks, both doing soul, so they really have to be careful here, so they have to be very careful with David A and finding his core audience.  Perhaps he would be better suited for working on some performance skills, and maybe putting out a pop album??  Depending on the creative control David Cook can have, and what kind of band he puts together, he could be really great.

I was farily impressed with last nights show.  Ok Donna Summer, Graham Nash, and Bryan Adams aren't necessarily the biggest names in music anymore (nor is George Michael or ZZ-Top), but they did put together a good show.  I loved Teach your Children Well with Brooke White.  I was also impressed with the USC marching band, and they guy in white singing the never ending song about brothers.  BTW: there was a guy who tried out at the beginning of the season who loved the show so much, and Simon had told him he could be at the final doing interviews.  Was he there?  I saw no mention of him...

I think Simon truly does go back & view the show on tape.  He has apologized to other singers in the past.  I was impressed with David Cook on the finale and bored by David Archulettas performances.  Cook out performs him every time & that was very evident on Wednesdays result show when they did duets together.  You were drawn into David Cook & almost forgot about David Archuletta.  In fact I commented to my hubby that they should have done that for the Tuesday night show but guess it didn't matter.

I believe America got it soooooooo right this time.  They saw a natural performer who dared to do more obscure songs or totally change up a classic.  They saw someone they could actually go to a concert to & enjoy.  Unfortunately for David A. he can only do the ballads........Barry Manilow ring any bells with future concert goers???  You would leave half asleep & wonder how you ever drove home.

David A. has excellent vocals but can only take one song (maybe 2) in one sitting.  It never changes but sung superbly but still the same........

Yeah for both of them but a huge congrats to David Cook & all that voted for him!!!!!!!

       "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes...."

The idols tour will be good for David A, but I really wonder about his future until he improves.  I really don't think he would be great on broadway, and am not sure how many people would like to buy a record with him.  Maybe he should just stick with reality shows and try to win America's Got Talent or Dancing with the Stars?

But I have to say, I've have imagined him singing Mandy (while licking his lips and keeping his eyes closed) several times in my mind ever since someone said he would be another Barry Manilow.  Maybe being a Vegas Showman is in his future (not sure if being a Mormon would rule that out??)

What I don't get is he won $100,000 from Star Search.  No record company picked him up?  Did his vocal chord becoming paralyzed have anyt