Anthony, PacificCoastNews.com

For any American Idol fan, Ryan Seacrest is a household name, and during the AI season, is said and repeated several times weekly. Since his exposure on American Idol, Ryan has gone on to do a huge amount of work in the entertainment industry and has been very successful in entertainment news, and in the production of many hit reality shows for the stars such as ‘Denise Richards: It’s Complicated’. It is no secret that Ryan’s career has skyrocketed in lightyears, all thanks to American Idol, and sources are now saying that this ‘overnight fame’ has caused some eyes to go green with envy for Simon Cowell. Ryan says he enjoys a healthy competitive relationship with Simon, but Simon on the other hand, is said to be not so pleased with how things are faring for Ryan these days…

Ryan says: “If anything in my life is positive in terms of business, Simon actually feels a pain in his stomach or his side. If we’re in a restaurant Simon will get up and walk outside. He doesn’t want to hear it. He does not want to be around if a good phone call comes in.”

Ryan has also been the victim of incessant gay jokes during the judging of American Idol, but says he’s not bothered by it. In fact, he encourages it, no publicity is bad, right? He says ‘I’m short, I’m fat, I’m tanned…I don’t mind at all.” Who told Ryan Seacrest he was fat though I wonder?? In the end, Ryan is a workaholic because he loves what he does. His secret? Hard work, and being in the right place at the right time, with the willingness to put in the time and energy to get what you want. And as for Simon, Ryan says pffttt.

Josephine Santos, PacificCoastNews.com

Here is David Cook looking oh so cool and collected at the wrap party for the seventh season of American Idol. And why shouldn’t he look so cool? He may here, but there are a few things that gets him a little shaky, yes, even more than performing in front of Simon Cowell. Last night your American Idol sang the national anthem at an NBA playoff game, and he was sweating more than a little, having described the experience as the scariest thing he’s ever done. About the performance David said performing for the NBA was much more difficult than performing for American Idol, particularly given that the song is not only difficult to sing, but one you simply can not mess up in front of America. Whether it was the difficulty of the song, or the fact that Jack Nicholson was sitting in the front row that made him nervous, David was a little shaky even well after his performance. The only thing that calmed him down a little, was knowing he wouldn’t have to hear, from Simon, how dreadful it was following the performance. But, as usual, your American Idol had absolutely nothing to worry about. He nailed the anthem and was very relieved it was all over. And to cheer him on? His latest squeeze, girlfriend Kimberly Caldwell. You may remember this blonde bombshell from Idol’s second season. Yes, albeit a little shaky, David is doing well on ALL accounts.

Hopefully you all remember Luke Menard, it’s going a way back, but how can we forget this one? He was such a sweet crooner, and I was so sad to see him go, but now even more sad to hear of this news. Luke Menard was in the top 24, and made the cut to the final 16 this year, having been booted from Idol at the beginning of March. So close! It may have been best that his Idol time was cut short as Luke now has some serious health challenges facing him as he has just been diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Luke is 29 years old from Crawfordsville, Indiana and his Idol stats show his favorite quote as being “Don’t fight. But if you have to…hit first and hit hard.” And this is one motto he may have to take with him on this struggle he has ahead. David Cook is devastated, and found out the news just days before he was crowned this season’s American Idol, and literally dropped everything to visit Luke at the Los Angeles hospital before the finale. David and Luke hit it off on Day 1 of Hollywood week, along with Michael Johns and Jason Yeager, and this group of buddies referred to themselves as ‘The Four Horsemen’. David told People Magazine, “Any time one of your own is going through something as horrible as that, it makes everything else seem a little bit insignificant.” And David is no stranger to cancer in his life, his older brother Adam has been fighting the battle against brain cancer for 10 years now. David wants to use this chance in the spotlight to see what he can do for those that he loves.

Photograph: Jennifer Buhl/ Pacificcoastnews.com

Now that the American Idol has been chosen, it is common for America to wonder what happened to their other favorite. He was after all a favorite in order to last to the final two in the competition, so what is in store for David Archuleta now? It is no secret that many Idols, final two or otherwise go on to create big things in the music industry, but from an interview with People Magazine, music is not the only thing on this David’s agenda. He’s still only 17 and wants more focus on finishing school and tidying that area of his life up and stressed to People that school is very important to him. And yes, he does want to create music. His vision for his musical career is something along the pop lines, but he is inspired by pop artists John Mayer and Sara Bareilles who have meaning to their pop music. He thinks their music had depth and that’s a direction he definitely wants to go in. For David, that should come very easily as well. But as far as careers, he is not thinking that music will be the only thing. Which is a good thing that school is so important to him as he is considering a career as an ear/nose/throat doctor. He himself has struggled with issues in that area and he wants to be able to help others overcome those struggles in the same way he has. This boy wonder however has a long life ahead of him, and whatever he touches along the way, it is no doubt that it will turn to magic.

After a gripping finale, and a voting tally of over 97 million votes, yes America, you have inducted your latest American Idol. David Cook won the grand finale of American Idol last night in front of over 7,000 fans becoming America’s 7th Idol. David, the 25 year old bartender from Blue Springs, Missouri was shocked, saying he came into the show as the nerd of the group. But overall as he took his win, he fought tears saying he was completely amazed and thanked the show, his fans, and of course, you America. After winning, the classy man that he is, David congratulated his fiercest competitor, David Archuleta, for giving him a run for his money. This win is of mixed surprise to judges and America alike. Tuesday night’s final performances led the judges to say that Archuleta had won the night, but Simon Cowell predicted the title would go to David Cook. Why did you choose Cook, America? Simon chalks it up to the fact that THIS David took more risks, and made certain songs more interesting for the American audience. But even though it was too close to call at many points, it wasn’t last night as David Cook won by a landslide with 12 million votes more than David Archuleta. The show ended with David Cook singing what will more than likely be his first single, the win from this year’s song writing competiton, ‘The Time of My Life’. And Paula’s last words to both Davids? This is anything but a finale, this is just the beginning for both of you.

photo:Albert L. Ortega / PR Photos Press Room 2008 American Idol Finals

Wow suprised me even, thought the other David would win even though I liked Cook better… I’m just glad the finals for american idol were not like it’s been the last few years. I couldn’t stand all that lovey dovey music they made the contestants sing.