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Another season of the phenomenon that is American Idol has ended. A new Idol is chosen and this time it seems like the majority of voters got their way. Blake Lewis had won over a number of fans, and impressed some with his creative interpretations of some of the songs he chose – such as his beat-boxing rendition of Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name." However, it seemed from the beginning that the night belonged to Jordin Sparks.

In the post-final press conference when Lewis came before the microphones, he couldn't seem more pleased. He didn't appear to be someone who had just "lost" anything. One of the first questions for Lewis was about his rousing performance with hip-hop artist Doug E. Fresh. Lewis could barely contain his excitement when talking about that particular moment. "Doug E. Fresh was dope," he said. "He's such a pioneer. I've been beat boxing for eight years now, and he's been an inspiration. It's the kind of moment that you won't ever forget. The energy in that room was amazing. It was hip-hop on American Idol and to me you can't do better than that."

Asked about working with Fresh, Lewis said, "We've talked about doing a track. I'm going to be in New York in a week, and what's so great about beat boxing is that it's such an impromptu style art form. You can be on the street or the subway or in the hallway with a friend. That's what's so great about the hip hop culture is that it's right there, you can reach it, you can grab it. Working with Doug E. Fresh is certainly a dream and it came true tonight."

Coming straight from the stage and hearing the results, Lewis was clearly being hit by a flood of emotions. "The experience has been so amazing that I can't even explain it. It's weird now that it's over. Right before we went out on stage I looked at Jordin and I thought, oh man. This is the last time I go out on the American Idol stage. It's truly been a blessing."

When asked what he whispered into Jordin's ear before Ryan Seacrest announced the winner, Lewis said, "I told her 'I love you Jordin Sparks.' And then I told her that if it came down to me singing the song, I wanted her to do a duet with me."

About the final song "This is Now" Lewis said "When I got the final song, and I saw it was going to be “This is Now,” – I said…"Really? Sweet! I am so excited…" I don't know if you can detect my sarcasm there, but yeah. It's a good song and anything she sings she owns. It's not my cup of tea, and not my kind of style. It's Jordin, and any key she owns, and it's "I'm Jordin Sparks and this is my now," you know? It's beautifully written and the writer sang the demo and he's got a great voice. It's a great song and Jordin made it hers."

Given that the final song was not something he was particularly comfortable with, Lewis was asked if there was a sense of relief that he didn't win, and didn't have to sing the song. Lewis said "Yeah, that's why I asked her to do a duet with me." Not being the winner does allow Lewis to go in his own direction. "I come from that jazz, hip-hop, freebase culture so when I approached this show I approached it as if they wanted you to make a show your own each week. As a performer and producer, I approached it as a remix competition. I'm going into it with Bon Jovi, doing it half time, changing it up. Those moments for me I really felt true to form, true to myself and keeping the integrity of my art. "

Lewis said his favourite performance was his well regarded rendition of Bon Jovi's "You Give Love a Bad Name." "I worked hard on that, making it a performance piece with dusting off the record and making up the sounds. I put a lot of effort into that. In the beginning I was hoping I would get that song. There was a point where I didn't think I'd get it because everyone was fighting for the same songs. When they announce it's going to be Bon Jovi week they give you a list and there was only six of us left, but that was the anthem. That was the one."

When he was asked how he felt about being second, Lewis quickly and sincerely responded "I feel great," then elaborating, "When Jordin made the top 24 I said she was going to win. I actually wanted to wear a Vote Jordin T-shirt, but they wouldn't let me do it."

When asked about his internet fans who call themselves "The Blaker Girls" he said that he loves them. "I talk to them on a daily basis. I love them and I love the support. That started as an idea from my best friend because I'd never seen the show before and she had seen every single episode. She kept me informed on what the show was about, which was good because on this show I was clueless. And my best friend has cancer, so all of the proceeds from anything that says Blaker Girls goes to a children's hospital in Washington.

When the topic of his future came up, there was a question about where he thought he'd take his first record. Lewis cited his eclectic music taste. "I like everything. From Harry Connick Jr. to Bjork to Fiona Apple. I love everything. I can tell you there won't be a lot of country on the album."

As for his now famous beat-boxing, Lewis assured the press that they can expect at least four beat-box tracks on the album." Lewis also said that fans can expect to see him with instruments on the American Idol tour, which is something the producers are allowing for the first time.

Lewis closed his talk with a few bars of some of his now famous beat boxing for the press.

With American Idol in its sixth season, history has shown that you don't have to win to be successful. Chris Daughtry proved that when his band became the top-selling act of the year. Lewis seemed aware of this, showing no signs of regret or disappointment – instead eager to put the show behind him and move on to his now promising music career.

After doing a marathon barrage of interviews with virtually every media outlet on the planet, Jordin Sparks finally made her way to the microphone and shared with the press room her thoughts and feelings about the whirlwind that is American Idol.

When asked if she was aware of the fact that so many people had cited her as their choice for the winner of this season, Jordin replied "I've kind of been in a bubble so I haven't had a chance to see everyone. When I went home there was so much support, but that was my home state and I have no idea what everyone else was saying. But I love the love, what can I say?"

Talking about her impending album, Sparks did not rule out the possibility of duets – something she had particular success with during the finale episode. "I'd love to do more duets. I don't know who yet, but someone I get along with, and we sound good together, I'd love to do that." She also expressed her desire to write. "I would love to write," she said. "I've written a couple of songs, and I don't know about the whole album but I have written and I hope I can write a little bit on my album."

Jordin Sparks is the youngest winner of American Idol at 17-years-old. "I haven't graduated high school yet, I'm only a junior," she said. "I'm still working on it. During this whole process I've been doing at least three hours a day because that's what I'm required to do. It's been cool, it's kept everything a little more real. I go to school then I go sing and get fitted for really amazing dresses. I would love to go to college one day, but I'm going to focus on this right now. But education is important and I'm still getting one. I actually get out of school tomorrow."

Asked what it was like to hear her songs when she downloaded them, she demurred "I never downloaded them! I couldn't do it. I never downloaded those songs, but I did listen when other people did. They've never done this before and I always had to go in early to record because of school. But it was really cool to see that people could go and download my music."

Asked the inevitable questions of what her favourite performance was, Sparks couldn't commit. "I loved all of my performances. There were some that I liked more than others, but I just tried to go out and top myself each and every time. I loved them all. I don't regret anything."

After she won, Sparks had one of her more surreal experiences. "Simon came up to me and gave me a hug and said 'You deserve this.' And all I could think was 'Oh my gosh, Simon Cowell is hugging me!" Other celebrities came to congratulate her, including Smokey Robinson and Bette Midler. Sparks found the experience overwhelming, but took Midler's advice to heart, which was "to enjoy the ride and don't take it too seriously."

It seems as though Sparks is enjoying the ride as the winner of this American Idol.

Her victory was only hours old at the times, but she was handling it with charm, humility and the kind of enthusiasm you might expect from an enormously talented 17-year-old. For now, it's over. Come January, Sparks will return to perform as a winner, well into her new recording career. A new crop of contestants will take the stage and the whirlwind will begin all over again.
- http://tv.ign.com