I feel similarly to you and Glow; loved your posts.

I am bugged by the show, though, and their complete and total pimping of Adam. Did they think America wouldn't see his talent without their pimping?

Here's what EW's Michael Slezak said in an article about experts calling the winner of AI:

"Michael Slezak

Senior Writer and Host of "Idolatry," EW.com

Winner: Adam Lambert

Why: Kris Allen's "Idol" run has yielded enough stellar performances -- "Falling Slowly," "She Works Hard for the Money," "Heartless" -- to fill up an infinitely playable CD. But when it comes to the addictive, thrilling, and often maddening spectacle of "American Idol," Season 8 has really been nothing more than The Adam Lambert Show, a wickedly entertaining, can't-look-away explosion of wild costumes, rock-star hair, emotionally gripping ballads, and glory notes that last longer than a Kara DioGuardi critique. And when you add in the fact that "Idol's" four-judge panel has generally treated Kris like the cannon fodder he was supposed to be, and has rarely strayed from viewing Adam's victory march as an inevitability, Wednesday night's finale should wind up as a tight race -- but one that goes Adam's way."

http://tv.yahoo.com/blog/experts-analysis-who-will-win-american-idol--336

From singing order to themes, judges' comments to the amount of airtime given, song assignments to pimp spots, to judges' PR campaigns on talk shows to media and celeb endorsements, and much more, the whole thing has been orchestrated from the beginning to crown Adam the winner.

And last night Simon was still at it, saying in so many words that Adam was the annointed one while reminding us that Kris wasn't worthy of being in the F2 until last week.

WTH? *heavy sarcasm* I thought ALL of the top 13 were AI winner worthy or they wouldn't be in the top 13. Ha! We know there's cannon fodder and Simon was admitting as much.

I won't mind Adam winning -- because he is so talented, but the show frustrates me.

How much more "beloved" would Kris be if he had had the early airtime, the singing slots, the extra pimp spots, the tongue baths, etc.?

I won't mind if Kris wins as it shows that talent can still shine through the AI machinations and because it doesn't take away from Adam's talent, but it would teach the show something about all their carefully laid plans.