In what was, for the most part, a painful two hours of group numbers and award gags (see: contestant Normal Gentle), things finally picked up when a newly "enhanced" (read: she just had a boob job) Bikini Girl came out to claim her Best Attitude prize. In the middle of singing "Vision of Love," Bikini Girl was completely out-sang and upstaged by judge Kara DioGuardi, who snuck up behind onstage. Yay! Chalk one up for pasty chicks who can really sing!

The Top 12 contestants were paired up with bonafide stars and that made for some of the night's more interesting moments. Allison Iraheta was joined by Cyndi Lauper, Danny Gokey by Lionel Ritchie -- get the picture? Kris Allen absolutely kicked ass in his "Kiss a Girl" duet with Keith Urban, and, dare I say, even out-sang the country hottie in parts! And Adam's "Detroit Rock City" was another electric performance and a super-smart pairing. I don't think the Idol stage has seen that much smoke and pyrotechnics since, well, ever!

It was fitting that Adam and Kris were flanked by the surviving members of Queen for "We Are the Champions," but I get the feeling the producers were doing that to stack the deck in Adam's favor. It just felt wrong, and not just because Lambert out-Freddied Freddy Mercury.

So it was a huge surprise when Kris Allen was announced as the winner! We have been saying in this column for the past few weeks that Lambert's victory wasn't as certain as the judges may think. In a day and age when California's bid to legalize gay marriage in Proposition 8 ignited a firestorm of debate across the nation, one had to wonder if America was ready for a gay American Idol. Clay Aiken doesn’t count. He came out after he won.

But Kris, whose likeable boy-next-door looks and goofy, lopsided grin endeared him to many, had the good fortune of improving drastically each week, and peaked at the right time in the competition. As Simon said, both contestants were very talented and deserved their spots in the finale. But on this night, it was darkhorse Kris Allen who stole the show!