Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes was online Friday, May 23 at 1 p.m. ET to discuss the rockin'-est "American Idol" winner ever and takes questions on the season finales of "Grey's Anatomy" and other shows.

A transcript follows

Lisa Watches So You Don't Have To: "American Idol" | TV columns | On TV discussion transcripts.

De Moraes has written "The TV Column" for The Post since 1998. She served as the TV editor for the entertainment industry trade publication the "Hollywood Reporter" for almost a decade.

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Woe is DVR: Probably silly me for not adding the next hour to my scheduled taping, but my DVR shut down as Seacrest was saying "and the winner is David" -- do you want to delete or save the program? Should Fox not have build in extra time for this in the schedule, like they usually do: 8 p.m. -- 9:02 p.m.? I was really bummed out about not being able to see Archuleta's dad's expression! Anywhere I could go to see the full ending?

Lisa de Moraes: Hi. If they built in two minutes extra that would explain why you were cut off -- it ran about seven minutes long. It's a crime and a sin for Fox not to accommodate the fact that their live "Idol" finale always runs late.

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Washington: I watched "Ugly Betty" last night. If you blinked you would have missed Lindsay Lohan's guest appearance. Naomi Campbell deserves an Emmy for her effort by comparison.

Lisa de Moraes: I did blink (actually it's called getting home late and not setting up on DVR, but the effect is the same) and missed Lindsay Lohan's appearance. What did she even do? Naomi Campbell must be nominated for an Emmy for best guest actress, and she must not win, so we can see her punch out the TV Academy official sitting closest to her on Emmy night. I'm praying to the TV gods and I suggest you do too -- let's start a prayer chain...

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Amanda: She looked angry during the group singing Wednesday. Still bitter? Her debut at Whisky-a-Go-Go is tomorrow night -- sure hope she doesn't risk singing Kansas again.

Lisa de Moraes: She seemed mondo mad and also pretty slurry ... and like she had missed rehearsals. She was hilarious to watch because she kept messing up the stomping soldier choreography during the group sings. Next year I'm hoping they have Paula choreograph the finale and reprise her hit tune, "Dance Til You're Dead," or whatever it's called...

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Washington: So which of this year's AI contestants do we think will actually emerge as successful musicians out of all this (aside from Thatch Roof)? On the flip side, who will end up parking cars with Sanjaya or struggling sadly for relevance like Constantine or Justin?

Lisa de Moraes: Sadly, I do not think anyone will pick up Carly Smithson for a recording contract. She's kinda toxic since that Wall Street Journal story about her previous record deal. Baby Elmo will do just fine in Branson. Jason Castro will join Justin Guarini or Constantine Maroulis or whoever it is who hosts that Fox Reality Channel "Idol" recap show, replacing that useless whatshername. Syesha will be on Broadway in a heartbeat -- if Taylor Hicks can make it, surely she can too.

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Washington: Lisa, since Anne is going to get her head chopped off in the next episode, is The Tudors over, or will there be a third season?

Lisa de Moraes: Pookie, don't you remember your British history? Henry plowed through eight wives, so to speak. There's no end to the storylines...

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Your man, Mandy: the hell with "American Idol," did you know your man Mandy Patinkin is going to be free and live on the mall on June 1? Go here to check it out.

Enjoy!

Lisa de Moraes: Much as I love the madness that is Mandy Patinkin, I don't do the Mall. I don't enjoy crowds, particularly summer holiday tourist ones -- I'm easily frightened by men in T-shirts, Bermuda shorts and black ankle socks.

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Falls Church, Va: Lisa, can I just say -- I heart Freddy Rodriguez on "Ugly Betty." He is so adorable I just squeal every time he is on the screen.

Lisa de Moraes: I liked the season finale very much -- what I saw of it, that is. And the "Grey's Anatomy" finale was surprisingly good. I'd almost given up hope in that show but Shonda really pulled out all the stops last night -- in a good way.

Meanwhile, my chat producer just sent me a note saying the fire alarm went off over at WPNI (Washington Post Newsweek Interactive) and he has to leave the building. Sadly, he is the keeper of the keys to the questions. This will be interesting. You guys don't mind if I perform my favorite Andrew Lloyd Webber numbers from this year's "American Idol" to kill some time, do you?

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Anonymous: Is "Desperate Housewives" really going to jump ahead 5 years for next season or is it finished?

Lisa de Moraes: I think it's going to flit back and forth, like a butterfly in spring. I like the jumping ahead five years, if it means getting rid of a bunch of the kids. I have no use for the children on the show. I say get them all grown up and off to college...

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Washington: Lindsay Lohan channeled "Mean Girls" and appeared in a Betty high school flash back. She picked Betty for her dodge ball team then had all the girls hide behind Betty. It was method acting at its best.

Lisa de Moraes: I'm assuming Lindsay Lohan gave one of her usual, Bette Davis-brilliant performances ... I'm very sorry I missed it.

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"Grey's": I hated nothing about the finale last night. There was growth from the characters, storylines progressed, previously annoying people were surprisingly un-annoying (shut up, I know that's not a word), and Justin Chambers broke my heart.

I'm so mad there are no new episodes for months now.

Lisa de Moraes: Me too, except Justin Chambers who is such a loathsome character I can't sympathize with him no matter what he's been through. Telling Izzy to "shut up bitch" in the hospital? I don't think so. But I was surprised at how un-annoying Meredith and McDreamy were, loved the kitschy Harlequin-novel-esque house-o-candles. I even liked Izzy, and that hasn't happened in ages. I'm thrilled they've given her the clinic if it means we'll see less of her. I'm hoping they did that so Katherine Heigl can go off periodically and work on her brilliant film career ... hooray!

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"Moonlight": Why oh why did they kill "Moonlight." I'm so very disappointed!

Lisa de Moraes: Thank you for that un-crazy "Moonlight" comment. Usually "Moonlight" fans scare me. The numbers were not so good on this show, sorry to say. As a rule, I find that when a show, right after its pickup is announced, gets gutted -- everyone recast except star, etc. -- it means the show is in trouble from the get-go. Shows that get picked up in that condition seldom survive and it's always a good idea not to get too attached to them...

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TV Land: Is it just me, or did a lot of shows (ones that are continuing on next season) treat this season finale as if it was a series finale? All of a sudden Meredith and Derrick are functional and together again? Denny and Alan are going off fishing? Wisteria Lane fast-forwards five years? Am I missing something?

Lisa de Moraes: Well, there was absolutely no chance "Grey's Anatomy" or "Desperate Housewives" were going to go away, so I think that shoots down your theory. I do think the writers had a lot of time to navel gaze about their season finales during the strike -- it's the least they could do -- and yes it does seem they pulled out all the stops this year for their finales. I'm guessing it was done to try to bring back some of the viewers they lost during the strike. One-hour shows have really struggled since returning post-strike, even "hits" like "Housewives" and "Grey's."

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Bethesda, Md.: Lots of ups and downs (mostly downs) this season of "American Idol" ratingswise and talentwise, but in the end I thought the finale was satisfying. Don't you agree?

Lisa de Moraes: I really enjoyed both shows this week -- final performance show and finale. I was fully prepared to hate the final performance show when I realized they were going to hammer us with the boxing thing, but the performances were interesting enough and Paula was glittery enough to make it all work. The finale was so jammed with performances -- granted, performers plugging their new CDs or upcoming tours -- that it was a lot of fun. Wish someone would bring back the variety show so we could see a slew of interesting performers jammed into an hour on a weekly basis. I'd even sit through a plate-spinner or two....

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Hooray: I noticed that "Project Runway" starts a new season in July. Usually there seems to be a big gap. Is Bravo trying to get a final season in before they change networks?

Lisa de Moraes: This season was already in the works before "Runway" producer announced they were saying bye-bye to Bravo and moving to -- gack -- Lifetime.

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Kalahari: So, will you be able to watch the "Meerkat Manor" prequel this weekend?

Lisa de Moraes: No. Too painful. Seriously.

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grown up and off to college: More likely in jail for the twins. But Bri's younger "son" will be 6 and Maynerd (ugh) will be 5, obnoxious TV ages, and I already hate the Solice daughters. Give me the current crop of kids over 5 years from now... (sorry to disagree, Pookie, but you didn't think it thru...)

Lisa de Moraes: Drat -- you're right! Can't the writers concoct some kind of kiddie plague to hit Wisteria Lane? Like Dutch Elm Disease, only it strike precocious moppets instead of elm trees?

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Washington: Dear Ugly Betty: That cliff-hanger was completely unnecessary. Love, Washington.

Lisa de Moraes: Cliffhangers are never necessary, but they do tend to do a number and bring folks back in the fall. Why did you hate this particular one? And, have you seen the numbers on "Betty" since it came back from the strike? I'd argue they really did need a cliffhanger...

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Falls Church, Va.: Call me silly, call me dumb, call me not well-read in the world of TV, call me sappy, call me unrealistic -- but I loved "Grey's" last night. I thought it was almost all delightful.

Lisa de Moraes: Me too and I don't care how farfetched the girl-on-girl makeout or the hose-o-candles was. It was fantastic, particularly compared to the circle-spinning the show had been doing earlier this season.

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Rockville, Md.: Not eight wives for Henry VIII, just six.

Divorced
Beheaded
Died
Divorced
Beheaded
Survived

But I think they would have to recast Henry to get all the way through the list.

Lisa de Moraes: I'm an idiot. Of course Henry was eighth but wives were six. On the other hand, given the license they've already taken with history on this show, I see no reason why they can't pad it with an extra wife or two. ... Why would they have to recast Henry? He already bears no resemblance to the real deal, so why stop now?

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washingtonpost.com: The end of the finale of "Idol 7" (YouTube)

Lisa de Moraes: For those of you who got outdone by your DVR (and Fox)....

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The Tudors: Anne Boleyn is fun, but the real fun would be Wife No. 5, Catherine Howard (also beheaded). However, the fun was that Henry is old and infirm and she was 19 and lusty and not very smart. Sort of a Playboy Bunny type. But you lose the buff young Henry. It's all so complex...

Lisa de Moraes: I somehow seriously doubt they're going to stick to facts to the point they'll make Henry old and dotty in this series. I'm thinking this will be a Henry who has discovered the fountain of youth...

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Arlington, Va.: Do the music labels have to pay Fox/"Idol" to get their artists (e.g. Donna Summer, Bryan Adams) on the show?

Lisa de Moraes: If there's a god in heaven the performers' record labels pay Fox to give them the on-air time in the country's most watched program. I wish the "Idol" producers would stop with this silly inferiority complex they have about the show -- that the performers are doing them a favor instead of the other way around. Why did they have Paula out there saying "M.J." was going to be on the finale (as in Michael Jackson). I know she's nuts, but she's not nuts (she was told to say that, I'd bet). Likewise the executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, who told Ryan Seacrest the "biggest star in the world" was going to make an appearance on the finale. Which of the show's performers fit that description? George Michael? Nash? Donna Summer?

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Anonymous: Horatio on "CSI: Miami" is (presumably) dead. With Mandy from "Criminal Minds" already biting the dust, whose bad acting are you going to make fun of?

Lisa de Moraes: You forgot to mention James Woods on "Shark." I have every confidence CBS is going to put some cheesetastic actor on one of its new series. Maybe Geena Davis. She's on some new CBS series.

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Pittsburgh: Pookie, somewhere there may have been a Henry the Sixth who had eight wives, but the Tudor Henry in question was Henry the Eighth, who had only (ha!) six wives.

Lisa de Moraes: I know, I know ... my bad...

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Fairfax, Va.: Have you given any thought to do a "grading the finales" article where yo, umm, grade the season finales of the various shows?

Lisa de Moraes: Interesting idea. I'm still plowing through them. That pesky upfront week put me way behind schedule...

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Falls Church, Va.: So, Lisa, what did Betty do? I am rooting for Rome, but with Daniel gone from Mode, who knows...

Lisa de Moraes: I'm guessing she rejected both guys' offer and simply was heading off to a spa weekend to get away from these pesky persistent guys. Tucson? Paleeze! Rome for a holiday? I don't think so...

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Severna Park, Md.: We want Fat Henry!

Lisa de Moraes: Really? You want for forego the Jonathan Rhys Meyers eye candy, for fat -- and let's not forget, red-headed?

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Calvander, N.C. Pookie! What is "The Office" spin-off about?

Lisa de Moraes: Ah, glad you asked. Because when NBC made that announcement at its "infront presentation" -- as in "in front" of the other network's "up front" presentations (if you can't be best, at least be first: the new NBC motto) they said they were keeping it under wraps because it was top-top-top secret. Turns out, they simply did not know.

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Yay "Grey's": And lets hear it for the sexy dirty talk at the beginning! That was kind of surprisingly graphic, but fun!

Lisa de Moraes: Even I was a bit surprised, and I'm hard to surprise any more. But it was fun indeed. Thought the payoff at the end was a bit far-fetched, but whatevs -- as "American Idol" virgin cheerleader Amy Catherine Flynn would say. I say we cast the virgin cheerleader as one of Henry VIII's six wives. That would goose the numbers on the Showtime series...

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Bethesda, Md.: Hi Pookie, I just wanted to say thank you! A long time ago, you praised "Forsyte Saga" here. I watched the entire series last weekend, and I loved it and cried a lot! I am now feeling sorry for myself because I didn't watch "Life" on NBC starring wonderful Damian Lewis.

Lisa de Moraes: But, Pookie, "Life" is coming back, despite its mediocre numbers. See, there is an advantage to being on the fourth-placed network. ... Unfortunately, NBC has scheduled it for Friday at 10 p.m. But if, like me, you have no plans for Fridays -- ever -- you can watch him to your heart's content. I'm guessing NBC already has this season's episodes Hulu-ed...

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Poor Paula: Maybe George Michael just sounded too much like Michael Jackson and she couldn't keep it straight. I though George Michael was just horrible. And Paula was standing and crying while he sang. She is so out of it. Speaking of out of it, the most suspenseful part of the "American Idol" final was whether she was going to fall out of that dress.

Lisa de Moraes: Paula never falls out of her dresses -- she has her own gravitational pull. Didn't you know? Meanwhile, I too am guessing she doesn't know her alphabet very well and thought M.J. and G.M. were one in the same. I loved George Michael's performance, after I got over the shock of how he and his voice had changed. It's a lovely song and he gave a touching performance. Had I been there I'm confident I would have been crying buckets too, I admit.

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"So You Think You Can Dance": I love this show, but Nigel Lythgoe's condescension really is grating -- if the people where not worthy, why put it on the telecast?

Lisa de Moraes: I'm guessing he believes viewers have the same interest in bad dance auditions as they have in bad singing auditions on "Idol." He's wrong.

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Buffalo, N.Y.: I'd rather see a "30 Rock" spin-off set in Washington, centered around Cooter Burger...

Lisa de Moraes: I'd love that show. For those who missed it, Matthew Broderick played a D.C. government suit who was given this nickname by George W. ... oh, and WPNI fire alarm turned out to be just a poorly timed drill, FYI...

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Bethesda, Md.: What did you think of the "Grey's Anatomy" finale last night? I found it astonishingly satisfying since most finales seem to end with shattering, mysterious developments we are supposed to ponder about all summer. But maybe I am just a sap for character development and problem solving.

Lisa de Moraes: It was longer on character development and problem-solving than we've come to expect from a "Grey's Anatomy" episode, for sure. Hope she keeps it up next season...

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Desperate Housewives: The flash forward was a bold move, but I hope next season comes back to the present-day. I thought the flash forward was intended mainly to convey the shocker that one particular relationship was doomed, for reasons and on a timeline that will unfold (probably next season). It certainly promised to shake things up. Good play, Marc Cherry, because I for one was getting bored.

Lisa de Moraes: Me too. We know the relationship is doomed -- at least we think so -- and now we'll be sure to come back to find out what happened over the course of the next season. Interesting twist on the "cliffhanger." Marc Cherry appears to have done some serious navel-gazing while manning the picket lines. So some good did come of the strike after all..

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Brooklyn, N.Y.: The name of your discussion is On TV, so you should be the expert who can answer my question.

Why do some people (usually the very old ones) have a TV set resting on their TV set? My grandmother used to do this without explanation.

Lisa de Moraes: I'm bewildered. You're saying she had two televisions, and one was on top of the other? I'm guessing its a poor-man's split-screen ... I give up -- what's the answer?

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Fairfax Station, Va.: Hi Pookie -- your regular fans on your blog site have been lamenting the finale of "American Idol" since we won't be treated to your weekly snarkfests. Any other shows you plan on skewering ... I mean, reviewing regularly?

Lisa de Moraes: I'm going to catch up on my sleep during the holiday weekend and then mull just that. I'll keep you posted...

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Larry, Curly, Moe: Pookie, I see Coroner Munchkin fronting a rock band (like Daughtry) more than a solo career. What say you?

Lisa de Moraes: It would be very smart of him, but unfortunately, unlike Daughtry, Cook was not clever enough to make sure he did NOnot T win so this option would be open to him. I'm guessing the record label that now owns him does not have that in mind...

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Washington: Any thoughts on the new "90210"?

Lisa de Moraes: Some things already have been done so perfectly -- "Wizard of Oz," "Gone with the Wind," "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," "Beverly Hills, 90210" -- they simply should not be redone...

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For Woe is DVR: I was watching to see how the Archuletas would take it, and I don't think they showed them. They showed some happy Cooks, but I don't think you missed getting to see Baby Elmo's family's reaction. Baby Elmo took it very very well though. I was so proud!

Lisa de Moraes: Some commenter on my blog said they did see Scary Stage Dad reaction. I did not catch it. Baby Elmo took it like a man, but he will do just fine in singing career for having finished second. He is the new Clay Aiken...

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"House" finale: Can I just say, wow? Sean Robert Leonard, pick up your Emmy here...

Lisa de Moraes: Drat -- I haven't watched it yet. Part of my weekend catching-up plans. Good to hear it was fab...

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Patinkin and Caruso: Can we please get a network genius to do a Hallmark-Hall-of-Fame movie with Mandy "Voice of and Angel" Patinkin, and our favorite sunglasses wearer David Caruso?

Maybe a tortured melodrama about down-on-their-luck kids who want to put on a show in an optometrist's office?

Lisa de Moraes: Starring Lindsay Lohan and K-Fed as the kids...

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Trenton, N.J.: Is there anything scripted on tap for this summer? On HBO, FX, anywhere? Or has the strike torpedoed anything we might have gotten?

Lisa de Moraes: I'm looking forward to the CBS burning off of its '60s swingers series "Swingtown." I've been anxiously awaiting its debut all season.

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Washington: Am I the only one who felt like she wanted to shower after watching "Grey's Anatomy" last night? Lord.

McSteamy leering at McLesbians? Meredith getting it together so suddenly and completely that she builds a scale floor plan of their dream home out of candles? And then Derek leaves her there to break up with his current girlfriend before they move into the candlehut together? Bailey hands over the keys to the dear clinic that she slaved over to Izzy, who is such a weenie that she vacillates on ordering a psych consult for an attempted suicide?

Sigh. That show has really gone off the deep end. It used to be a guilty pleasure, but even I'm not that base.

Lisa de Moraes: You cite all these things like they're somehow bad. This show has always required viewers to put reality away in a drawer while watching. I find a house of candles completely plausible in the "Grey's Anatomy" world ... and, like I said before, if giving Izzy the keys to the clinic means we'll see less of her in the hospital, I'm all for it...

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Washington: With Season 7 "Idol" over, what's there to look forward to? Also, do we think Paula, Randy and Simon will survive as judges for Season 8? The show really did seem old this year -- old judges, old guest mentors, old songs.

Lisa de Moraes: They did get away from the younger guest mentors this season -- probably because last season's younger guest mentors were such disasters. One of them didn't even seem to want to be in the same room as the Idolettes, much less coach them. But yes, this season's guest mentors did seem particularly stretched and sliced...

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Up Here: "Henry plowed through eight wives, so to speak. There's no end to the storylines..."

And since it's the Tudors, there's still Teddy, Little Jane, Cocktail Mary and Betty One to do even if the wives run out.

Though after Hank VIII, the Stuarts may be more fun.

Lisa de Moraes: So long as they're all hot -- I'm there. I'm endlessly interested in British history -- particularly hot British history...

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Leesburg, Va.: Speaking of the Tudors and English history (which really aren't the same thing)...

Is Showtime planning to take the Tudors past the era of Henry VIII? I'm curious, because by limiting Henry to just one sister, they've eliminated Mary Queen of Scots from history -- they deleted her grandmother. Mary is kinda important, seeing as how Elizabeth I gets to execute her and Mary's son inherits the English throne.

It's a beautiful show with the costuming and sets and all, but it's so inaccurate, it's almost camp to watch. Did you see the Victorian-era carriage roll by in one 1530s episode?

Four wives left...

Lisa de Moraes: The nearly complete disregard for verisimilitude is one of the reasons I love watching the show. It's like when I used to live in Denver and watch "Dynasty," which was set there -- though, of course, it was shot in Los Angeles. My friends and I used to play a game called "Spot the Palm Trees." Endless fun. ... I'm out of time. Bye...

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