Jordin Sparks Is 'American Idol's' Teen Queen

Was way beyond compare.

It cut in half the show's previous record time for getting a mention in that Sparks is just 17.

Not since "From Justin to Kelly" have we seen so much chemistry between the two finalist Idolettes.

It was just the first of many nods to the Beatles in the two-hour orgy of excess.

For the first time, all the "Idol" winners came back for the finale, except Fantasia Barrino, who couldn't get a night off from her starring gig in Oprah Winfrey's Broadway production of "The Color Purple."

But Kelly Clarkson showed up, singing her tune "Never Again."

Carrie Underwood, who received a big ol' plaque during the Trophy Show portion of the evening for having sold 6 million albums, and who had also performed during the "Idol Gives Back" charity fundraiser, sang "I'll Stand by You" -- only this time without an armful of bewildered African children.

Ruben Studdard sang a duet with Sparks, "You're All I Need." And Taylor Hicks performed; in case you, too, forgot, he was last year's winner -- not Chris Daughtry.

Gladys Knight performed a medley of her hits with this season's top six chick Idolettes, and Smokey Robinson sang some of his better-known tunes with the top six guys.

The Good Sport Award goes to Aerosmith's Joe Perry for agreeing to be part of the finale's Sanjaya Malakar Joke. The two of them performed the Kinks' "You Really Got Me" -- the song with which Sanjaya brought down the house during one week of competition.

Tony Bennett, who was one of this year's guest coaches but who didn't get to sing on performance night when he got the flu, performed "For Once in My Life" accompanied by a piano, in one of the show's most touching bits.

Green Day was the official Big Get of the night, singing a special cut off the CD "Instant Karma: The Campaign to Save Darfur" -- a collection of John Lennon songs recorded by various artists. Green Day sang his "Working Class Hero."

But all the celebs got upstaged by the adorable African Children's Choir, making a return appearance. They'd had the same effect when they appeared during the celebrity-studded "Idol Gives Back" fundraiser several weeks back.

Last night's show started on a somber note, and we're not talking about what Jordin and Blake did to a Beatles tune.

Just hours before the finale, Fox suits got word that Tuesday's final performance night on "Idol" had clocked a disappointing 25.2 million viewers -- "Idol's" smallest final Tuesday broadcast audience in three years and down 6.6 million compared to last year's Final Tuesday.

And, we're betting the network wished the "Idol" producers are also wishing they hadn't promised a precious slot in last night's "Idol" finale to Gwen Stefani -- the worst guest coach in the history of "American Idol" -- so she could sing her "favorite song" from her new album, "4 in the Morning." It was the taped performance that was supposed to have aired during an earlier program. Using the "American Idol" leftovers -- maybe not such a good idea in "Idol's" new ratings reality.