American What?

Right.  So I am going to diverge from my usual anecdote-telling,  baby-gushing family life usually discussed on this blog, and delve into pop culture.

Everyone who knows me, knows I love pop culture.  I'm like a sponge.  I don't know how I do it, but I just absorb useless factidotes from the media and world a

round me.  For example, I know that the entertainment world around me is currently focused on Cannes Film Festival, Ashlee Simpson's wedding, the release of the new Indiana Jon

es flick this week and Sex and the City (yessss!) the next, and of course... American Idol.

I really don't watch TV much at all these days - no time - but I do watch American Idol.  The best and worst of singing, bright eyed wanna-be stars, snarky commentary... love it.  In fact, I'm watching the finale right now.  

Unfortunately, Idol's one weak point is the forced, cheesy production numbers and numerous commercials hawking the Ford cars and latest Fox movie.  This year's finale is rife with them. Really, they've outdone themselves.  So much so that I'm blogging about it.

And now, without further ado, I give you the top awkward (and just plain wierd) moments from this year's Idol finale (in no particular order):

1. Big-voiced, skunk-haired rocker Amanda Overmeyer - see above - suffer through those cheesy girl group numbers. In pants.  (Damn those contractual obligations).
2. Poor Brooke attempting to dance during the aforementioned group numbers. Love me some Brooke, but girl's got zero body awareness.
3. Jason Castro.  (See: awkward).
4. Two words: ZZ Top?????
5. Carrie Underpants, Stevie Nicks called. She wants to show you the right wear to gypsy sleeves (and no, they're not supposed to be attached to each other).
   
   
6. David Cook's choke hold on new best buddy Bryan Adams. I hope for his sake they are as good of friends as he thinks to think - I kept waiting for him to lose that hand (below). 

7. David "Archie" Archuleta trying to comprehend the humor of Mike "Guru Pitka" Myers.  Mariska Hargitay to you, Archie.
8. Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and... Robert Downey, Jr?
9. David "I'm not gay, I just strip that way" Hernandez whispering "naked" during the George Michael medley.  Ew.  And speaking of George Michael...
10. George Michael gets the last star spot on the family friendly Idol?  Guess that wierd park moment from years back is forgotten at last, eh George. (We know, we know... it's your culture).

and last but not least...

    11.  Jordin Sparks, please shoot whoever told you to wear that gold lame party dress.  Immediately.  (I'll try and find a pic, but for now, here's the video)*

On a positive note, props goes out to my boy David Cook... I'm so glad he won.  Yes, he's a sell out, but I love how he's kept his rocker side throughout and just has fun with whatever he's doing.  Whether he's forced to wear some horrible white suit or dress like a gay matador in some horrible Ford Commercial, he does it with the enthusiasm of a bartender plucked from the obscurity of Blue Springs, Missouri and fixed - I mean voted - to win fame and fortune.  Good on ya, David Cook.

*My apologies for the YouTube quality on the links; it was just posted so it's fuzzy bootlegs. :)