Kris Allen wins 'American Idol'
And Adam Lambert loses. What explains the surprise 'Idol' outcome?
Adam Lambert was robbed, said Dan Abramson in The Huffington Post. “I don’t think he’s the god that everyone made him out to be,” but Lambert is “obviously talented,” which is more than I can say for Kris Allen, who beat out Lambert for this year’s “American Idol” crown. Allen has “no personality and an average voice,” so this just proves that America is “in love with mediocrity.”
No one was more surprised at Kris Allen’s win than Allen himself, said Anne Neville in The Buffalo News. He reacted with “open-mouthed shock” when “Idol” host Ryan Seacrest gave him the news, and said, “Adam deserves this.” It was, after all, Lambert’s “electrifying performances” that were credited with the record number of votes cast for this year’s contestants. Allen earned everyone's respect quietly—none of his solos were even televised in the show’s Hollywood round.
Everybody agrees that this year’s finalists were among the show’s most talented ever, said Richard Rushfield in the Los Angeles Times. But while “the public gaped in awe at Lambert’s virtuosity,” something was missing. Kris Allen, “in the quiet power of his performance, and his humble, unmistakable personal goodness, gave the show back its heart and a story that will bring tears to the eyes of all who behold it for ages to come.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Dog-friendly days out in the UK
The Week Recommends Fun activities for you and your furry friend to enjoy together
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
How community-based tourism can reshape travel
IN And five tips for finding a responsible community travel company
By Henry Haselock Published
-
Ed Martin: The US attorney taking on Trump's enemies
In the Spotlight He advocated for Jan. 6 defendants. Now Martin leads D.C. prosecutions.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published