When the final tally came in, after five months of screening and coast-to-coast hysteria, the skinny kid with the glasses was declared the first Canadian Idol.
The surprisingly popular Canadian TV talent show came to a close following voting by the four Idol judges and 3.3 million viewers.
The winner was Ryan Malcolm of Kingston, Ont., a 23-year-old whose only prior musical experience was playing in a community band with his own family members.
The live, final broadcast of Canadian Idol from the John Bassett Theatre in Toronto was a drawn-out but homey affair. The main event was a vocal showdown between Mr. Malcolm and Gary Beals, 20, of Dartmouth, N.S. The two sang their way to the final from more than 15,000 pop star wannabes who turned out for public auditions last spring.
Canadian Idol finalist Ryan Malcolm of Kingston, Ont. sings in the final show in Toronto on Tuesday. (Frank Gunn/CP)
Much of the Idol finale's two-hour length was devoted to clips from previous shows and return appearances from Idol contestants who didn't make the cut.
The show opened with a medley sung by the final eleven Idol contestants, followed by a taped sequence of on-the-street interviews in Calgary, Halifax and Toronto with fans making predictions. There was footage of Mr. Malcolm and Mr. Beals's first appearance before the Idol judging panel, with both looking noticeably nervous.
Other flashback segments included host Ben Mulroney and sidekick Jon Dore singing the Idol anthem Choose Me alongside early-round Idol rejects. Some of the off-notes would have shattered glass.
Also on the show: Live video feeds at town halls in Halifax and Kingston with crowds cheering wildly for their hometown heroes. And a segment showcasing Canadian Idol's success in other countries. Hosts from the German and Finnish version sent videotaped best wishes to the Canadian finalists.
The program also featured an appearance by super-sized American Idol winner Ruben Studdard, who sang Flying Without Wings, from his new CD.
As expected, much of the final show's focus was on the two finalists, both featured in mini profiles with comments from Idol judges Sass Jordan and Zack Werner. The difference between Mr. Malcolm's and Mr. Beals's vocal stylings became apparent in their live duet of Crowded House's Don't Dream It's Over. Mr. Malcolm's delivery was pure pop; Mr. Beals's was all soul.
The audience quieted in the show's closing minutes, leading to the voting results and Malcolm being named winner. The announcement seemed a popular decision with the capacity crowd.
As recipient of the first Canadian Idol title, Mr. Malcolm is awarded a recording contract with BMG music—and the unofficial status of instant Canadian celebrity.
