Fellow contestant Michael Johns, right, hugs David Cook after Cook is announced the winner of "American Idol."

Fox

By the numbers

• 27.1 million: number of viewers who tuned in to the 2008 finale between the Davids
• 33.7 million: number of viewers who tuned in to the 2003 finale between Clay and Ruben
• 97.5 million: number of votes cast for the Davids
• 24 million: number of votes cast for Clay and Ruben
• 56: percent of votes for the winning David
• 2004: The year Clay Aiken put out a Christmas CD
• 2009: Probably the year David Archuleta will put out a Christmas CD
• 11: percent loss in younger viewers this season (ages 18-49)
• 31.5: average age of songs this season (the oldest to date)
• 1942: The year Graham Nash was born
• 1983: The year Brooke White was born
• 1: Number of tattoos on Carly Smithson’s arm that have been mistaken for a liking of Amy Winehouse (it’s really a geisha)

'Idol' 2008 CD

Here's my choice for the perfect CD mix from the Top 10

• “Always Be My Baby,” David Cook
• “Imagine,” David Archuleta
• “If I Ain’t Got You,” Syesha Mercado
• “Hallelujah,” Jason Castro
• “Love Is A Battlefield,” Brooke White
• “Come Together,” Carly Smithson
• “Faithfully,” Kristy Lee Cook
• “It’s All Wrong, But It’s All Right,” Michael Johns
• “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me,” Ramiele Malubay
• “She’s A Woman,” Chikezie

Wednesday night’s battle of the Davids may have been the most watched “American Idol” finale since the 2003 showdown between Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard.

I wasn’t a Clay fan, but I just knew he’d be crowned the next Idol. From where I sat all season, he was indisputably the fan favorite ... wasn’t he?

Not that night.

Five years later I sit and watch the now-bloated finale with all its shameless product placement and random guest appearances (ZZ Top? Donna Summer? Graham Nash? Really?) … not because I have a strong desire anymore to see a particular contestant win, but because I owe it to myself to finish the race. I invested so much time into this season that I would be denying myself proper closure by not tuning in. Besides, I’m already convinced that David Archuleta is going to win the crown anyway.

And then something happens. David Cook wins. And I think about all those David Archuleta fans who at this moment must be feeling blindsided the same way ClayMates felt blindsided when Ruben took the gold that night in 2003. Like Clay, Little David held the popular vote and was considered the frontrunner most of the season … wasn’t he?

Not this night.

Maybe I’m jaded now or still a bit peeved that Carly Smithson got kicked off too soon, or — more likely — the whole “Idol” formula is just getting a little tired, but does it really matter which David actually holds the title?

They’re both talented, and they’ll both go on to make beautiful music in their respective genres. And they’ll have their own devoted fans with clever names like the Arch Angels and … well, whatever name they dream up for David Cook fans. The only difference is that David Cook will get a head start.

It would’ve benefited David Archuleta more to win. Winning would’ve guaranteed him not only a contract (which he probably already has by the time you read this), but more importantly the guidance he needs as a young artist. He needs a professional hand (not Daddy’s) to help him nail down his niche.

David Cook’s sound is already defined. It won’t be long before you hear him dominating the airwaves. Let’s just hope record producers won’t suppress his knack for originality. Therein lies the potential conflict for David Cook as the winner. He’s owned by the industry now and will be shaped and molded accordingly. Hopefully this isn’t goodbye to the David Cook we all know and love.

And what about the others? While watching the finale, I wondered what would become of this season’s top 10.

Look at Jennifer Hudson (Season 3). Who knew she’d win an Oscar for her role in “Dreamgirls”? Or Tamyra Gray (Season 1). She’s on Broadway starring as Mimi, a lead role in “Rent.” And of course there’s the Chris Daughtry story. His landing in the No. 4 spot during “Idol’s” fifth season didn’t hamper his shot at No. 1 on the Billboard charts.

Maybe Amanda Overmyer will become the next Janis Joplin. (OK, that might be a big stretch, but you know what I mean.) Will Syesha Mercado end up as a lead on Broadway? Will Jason Castro come out with a wildly popular folk CD? You get the drift.

The whole thing is a crapshoot really. More than likely we’ll forget about most of them and then it’ll be on to Season 8 and the next crop of contestants.

Until then, though, all eyes will remain on the Davids, proving that in the end, they’re both winners.

Post your finale thoughts on my blog at blogs.roanoke.com