That's a LOT.

aI should not worry about David Archuleta,He has a bright future ahead of him.
People in Utah and in the whole country should talk about how SImon manipulated the people. For me both are good but David Archuleta is the best, he has an amazing voice and he know how to touch people hearts.
Please stop saying he lost, he didn't loss anything. He won so much. People that I know not just admire him for his voice but for him as a person, you don't need to know him to know that, you just see in his eyes.
God has something amazing waiting for him, remember there is a reason for everything, and David has somebody holding his hand...God.
I am sure if God will speak to him he will tell him how proud he is of him.
I have to Thank Americna Idol people for introducing us to David Archuleta, but now is our time to decide, David is in our hands now.
Please if you see David tell him how proud I am of him, that I love him dearly,just like he was part of my family.
P.S. I am not from Utah. Wa.

Maybe now some people in Utah will get a life.
It's a TV SHOW for crying out loud. HYPED UP for ratings. And you people are falling for it hook, line and sinker.
Do you really have nothing more important in your life than to sit and pine away with weeping and wailing and nashing of teeth over a TV show?
No wonder this state is the butt of so many jokes all over the country....

I think they cheat David Archuleta....

I think they cheat David Archuleta. Please if u see David A tell him how i'm very prode of him,he's like a part of my family.
P.S. I from New York. I will see u David A at Nassau Coliseum in New York Aug.4.2008.

Maybe because people outside of Utah have different tastes in music.

12 million votes is a virtual beat down.

What's your problem? Remember you can vote more than once as long as you are willing to pay. Do you really think that Cook was even better than Arch? Not according to the judges, but then again they may have different taste in music too.

Brilliant comment. Yah, Archuleta is in the finals because Utah has different taste in music, nobody else outdide of Utah liked this guy. You have and advanced degree in spite and need to enroll in logic 101.

Make it all go away now. There's a war against something in Iraq, phenomenal overspending by the government, some sort of political campaign going on, and oil hit $135. There's some stuff that needs our attention.

I'm stunned.......but I believe his dream will live on.

Wow, pc-generated high-speed texting is faster than the tweenies.

i called it when there were 10 left! David Cook wins since he is otherwise unemployed outside of bartending which is not a real life for anyone. Alcohol is a mind numbing drug to be avoided. Don't drink and drive i mean sing.
So David A. gets all the glitz without the pressure of being #1. he like Clay Aitken will be more popular in the end. Great future ahead of David A. Congrats to both.

"Maybe now some people in Utah will get a life."

Why is it only Utahns who need to get a life now that american idol is over? Why not Californians, they watch too don't they?

Also, Archuleta losing by 12 million votes is not a beat down. The total vote count was Cook: 54.5 million and Archuleta: 42.5 million. That's pretty close if you ask me.

Yeah, I'm sure David A. is looking for a career just like Aiken's. Constantly having your sexuality questioned, being ridiculed by every night time talk show host, being the punch line to all the AI jokes. Maybe you should have said Chris Daughtry or Jennifer Hudson.

Besides, some people *cough*Kelly Clarkson*couhg* do alright being number one. Some even get awarded with female vocalist of the year in their genre *cough*Carrie Underwood*cough*

Both Daivd's will be alright. Just like Taylor Hicks. I mean Fantasia. Or just like Justin Guarini. I mean like Ruben. Nevermind.

Who needs a life? You're the one reading the article and writing about it at 4:00 a.m. If American Idol is not your thing that's fine but why you feel the need to criticize others for having an interest in this story is the mystery. Are you that insecure about yourself that you need to put others down? I personally don't watch th show but I was interested because my kids like the show and David Archuletta is from Utah. Nothing wrong with that but something is wrong with you.

must be religious bias he lost and not talent!

TO Maria Nordlund

How did Simon manipulate the people?

don't forget this Idol stuff is all for fun ...for the audience. Some people get so caught up in things... pretty funny. David Archuleta certainly should try to make some money off his voice. Talent like he has isn't thrown out to just anyone.

I was hoping for David A. and sad that he lost. David was clearly the best this week. However, I think David Cook is very talented; I hope both do well. The great thing was that both are talented and great people. I really was impressed with how David Cook brought David Archuleta into it -like they were friends (which I understand is pretty close to reality). I don't usually watch American Idol, but this was a decent show, and what is wrong with that? These people do more than most people by putting themselves and their talents out there to be criticized by millions of viewers. I would say that is more of a life than those whose advise "getting a life" and should be applauded.

Finally: Do you really think that we should all sit around contemplating the wars and perplexities of life? Thank goodness for the few bright moments to distract from the problems we all face. You may now go back to sucking your lemon.

The ESA holds 19,000 people... how do were 4,000 'crowded' inside the building?

Question? The world has about 1 billion idiots. Why are half of them 'crowded' inside these message boards?

Utah is such a weird state?? THe people here trash their own state and make fun of it. then they criticize you if they hear any one dogging utah. I don't understand you people you are supposed to be this different people in a good way. Why are you such conformists? Try practicing what you preach for once and be happy with what you are and have.

you guys want this big guy big city image when your this little bitty state who goes and cries and gaga over some kid you don't even know. When the whole state follows it that should tell you that you live in a tiny bubble. So wipe your tears over some high school kid and get a life.

well, i am not going to cut down Utah because geographicall, it is a beautiful state. the mormons are very family oriented people. thats a plus also, i am a huge nebraska cornhusker fan and if you are from nebraska, most likely you are too whether win or lose. the utahns are let down because they think david a would put them on the map for some reason. i don't get it but he was very lucky to have all those people backing him. (david a) but i won't miss the whining on here and on channel 13. kudos to channel two. i can handle that one.

Glad it is over. Arizona media wasen't quite this bad when they had a local who actually won AI.
As the media said last night Cook is the winner and Archuleta is the loser.

No jt. We DONT care about the maps. David A. was the best and he was robbed of what should have been rightfully his!!!

that's why David Cook won, he's the first contestant in the history of the show that's actually had some good song choices. I mean Collective Soul, U2, and Aerosmith you can't beat that, especially by saying that you don't really know any Beatles songs and singing a Stevie Wonder version of We Can Work It Out on Beatles night. No one from Idol really makes it anyway, people just aren't interested in the kind of music, poppy stuff that most contestants sing. Sure Kelly Clarkson made it and so did Chris Daughtry but that's cause they're more of Alternative artists. Carrie Underwood's pretty popular for a country artist. Clay Aiken was big for a while from all of the hype and now the only time people talk about him is on late night TV as the butt-end of a joke. Everyone else has failed miserably, in a year you won't even remember who David A. was. The only time you'll hear about him is on Fox 13 at the beginning of each Idol season when they're like "hey remember that kid from here in Utah that almost made it?"

hey, sing good music, for your info Clay Aiken is now appearing on Broadway - seems to be doing pretty good. David A will become a great singer and will last over the years (such as Sinatra) David C - will rock, until the next rocker comes along and then he will be history. I would rather have a lasting career than be a flash in the pan.

I didn't care all that much which David won--they both have a bright future ahead of them. I wonder a little though if Simon was working the fans. He said he wanted Cook to win after the final performance night and I think he might have played a bunch of people. Some will vote just to go against Simon and that just might have been enough to throw it to Cook. Who knows? They're both good human beings and talented in very different ways. They'll have success with different audiences.

David A. has a great voice BUT... there is no way I would ever buy his music (so boring!). David Cook also has an amazing voice but he also has the appeal and ability to reach a bigger audience. I was actually surprised when Cook won but thrilled because they got it right this time. I suspect David A. will have his mormon faithful to follow him and he will do fine. Kind of like the Osmond groupies.

Wow! My wife says I'm pretty cynical and pessimistic, and she's right, but you make me look like Mary Poppins.

David A., don't listen to him. Keep following your dream of being paid to sing and you'll make millions of people happy and you'll be fulfilled knowing you've made others glad AND you'll make a ton of cash along the way for many, many years to come.

Clay Aiken has done FAR better then Ruban did. His CD's and tours have consistantly sold more and he just released his fourth CD. He is doing very well on Broadway and is making good money. He is far from being a nobody.

And Clay has consistantly said that he was better off not winning and being under the demands of AI and their contracts. Although a huge DA fan, I was glad he didn't win because my readings on AI and the resulting contracts has not been pleasant. They mold you into what THEY want you to be. DA will now be able to sing what he wants, sign contracts that will be good for him, and control his career. Having AI control his career would not have been a blessing, in my opinion.