‘American Idol’ Did What It Was Set Out To Do

Robert Bianco of USA Today weighed in on last night’s ‘American Idol’ finale, which saw Kelly Clarkson walk away as the winner of the $1 million recording contract. “In the end, though, Idol did what it set out to do,” Bianco said. “Against all odds, this harmless summer diversion found at least three people (Kelly, Justin and Tamyra Gray) with obvious talent, and another, Nikki McKibbin, with enough presence to be a TV personality. It certainly left us with bragging rights over the Brits, whose winner, Will Young, sounded like Peter Noone on helium. Whether Kelly has the savvy or the vision needed to support a career is open to question, but she’s earned a chance to try.” Read more.