[BusyBee]

Anyone else been watching this. What talent compared with that on our last Pop Idol. Though I did think the two girls who were voted off last week were very sore losers and went through the motions when they re-sang their songs whereas the boys voted off actually tried to show what the programme would be losing.

[Dan_]

I do watch it. I think the talent between our pop idol is vast. Loads of people that I like. You got any fav's busy bee?

[BusyBee]

I love Bo and Constantine - so different from the normal : just being themselves. I think the boys are much better than the girls.

[Dan_]

I am not much of a constantine fan he is a bit too cocky, Bo is good but my top 5 are: Nadia, Anwar, Carrie, Nikko and Mario.

[BusyBee]

This is the final week with Carrie and Bo as the final two. Just goes to show the difference between American Idol and the British version (apologies to Will cos he's great), but these two would wipe the floor with any of the other contestants in Pop Idol, The Rivals or X-factor. They are both absolutely great.

I hope Bo wins though - cos he is different.

[Dan_]

Yer I hope Bo wins and all, he has got a great voice. I went off a few people like Carrie and Nadia. I hope that the winner will release material over here, only Kelly Clarkson has really ever had a single out here. I always wanted Ruben to release over here but he never did.

[Valenti]

The winner is.........................................














CARRIE!!!!:spin :


So pleased she won! Although I really wanted Con to win, he has such sexy eyes!

[Amy]

Yep sure was Carrie....

Country singer named new US Idol

Country singer Carrie Underwood has been voted the latest American Idol in the climax to the fourth series of the TV talent show.
The 22-year-old student from Oklahoma beat rocker Bo Bice on the two-hour finale on the Fox network on Wednesday.

"Thank you America," Underwood, who won a recording contract, told viewers.

"I hope this doesn't change her," her mother Carole said. The show is still a ratings success and the three previous winners have all enjoyed chart hits.

The judges on Wednesday night's show, including Simon Cowell, thought Bice had performed better on the night but the viewers disagreed.

"This is the best night of my life. And it's going to get better," Underwood said after the show.

Previous winners of American Idol have veered towards pop and ballads in their careers, but Underwood says she is going to stick to her country roots.

"That's where my heart is. I feel like that's the music that's the most pure. And the people, the artists, are so nice. ... Those are the people I want to be among," she said.

Bice, 29, said he was pleased with his runner-up position, having only entered the contest following a bet with his mother.

"We can look forward to an album coming out soon, so keep your eyes open," he said.

During the live finale, the final 12 contestants all returned to give performances.

They were joined by a number of stars including George Benson, Kenny G and Billy Preston.

Guests in the studio included Courtney Love, with her daughter Francis Bean, David Hasselhoff and Ben Stiller.

The next season of American Idol is due to begin in January 2006.

Article BBC News

[Dan_]

Wish Bo would have won.

[Blink_Me]

I used to watch this, but lost interest in it.

[BusyBee]

I think Bo should have won, but I think Carrie had the image to attract the mainstream votes. She will be a big country singer, whereas Bo is more varied.

[BigMama]

I'm soooo glad that Carrie won. Bo is talanted, but 'BOY' does he know it. That put me right off. Carrie is a lovely girl and has proved that she can sing anything, where as Bo struggled a few times, I think it was his voice that kept him in, but he needed to be versatile aswell.
WELL DONE CARRIE!!!!!

[Dan_]

I think Bo is rather humble, he only went if for it as a bet with his mother and was so suprised to even make it to the top 24. Carrie struggled with other types of music other than country and came across as a bit boring. Bo sung several types of different songs.

[Romantic Old Bird]

Couldn't resist looking at this, which is a pity, because I watch it on Friday nights.
I'm not surprised carrie won. The yanks have such a predelection for country ******* songs and voices. She may become a country star, but as far as I'm concerned

Bo however has a FANTASTIC voice, classic for rock, but capable of softness and tenderness. His unaccompanied number last week was stunning. He has never been off key, whereas Carrie often has.

Bo's voice reminds me very much of Stealer's Wheel (Stuck in the Middle with you, Momma told me not to come, etc) which compromised of Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan. He could also belt out just about anything he wanted too and has great stage presence.

Carrie is Miss Apple Pie. Oh well, what can you expect from a country that votes George Bush back in?

[lilmissnaughty]

True

I didn't watch it that much, but from what I saw, Bo should've won.

[Lance]

Carrie was abssolutely brilliant throughout the series she was.She deserved it so much.

And Vonzell was robbed of a place in the final,she was very very very very deserving of the crown too.

[Razmataz]

i havent realli watched american idol but i hear its a hell of a lot better than our pop idol

[Lance]

It is,the standard is way higher,but then again so is the lack of standrd in some people.

But overall they surpass the UK by miles.