Los Angeles, May 24, 2006 – We hate to be curmudgeons, and we love American Idol as much as anyone, but if you thought that Wednesday’s two-hour season finale was too long and drawn out – and we know many of you did – it was positively endless for members of the press on the scene. We had to arrive at the Kodak Theater at 5 P.M.Pacific Time, and after the red carpet schtick, we were in the press room until 9:30, where, just like you, but not comfortably at home, we watched the show. In fact, we may as well have been at home: there we were backstage, just a few feet from Prince, Toni Braxton, Carrie Underwood and Clay Aiken, and none of them came into the press room. Not even Simon Cowell or Paula Abdul stopped in. At the end, winner Taylor Hicks appeared, and second-place Katherine McPhee put on a happy face, but she had already changed into her jeans, no doubt wishing she was at home, too.