Lee DeWyze named winner on 'American Idol'

The ninth goes to the dark horse.

Lee DeWyze, the 24-year-old Mount Prospect, Ill., native and former paint salesman, will probably never have to pick up a can of Benjamin Moore again.

"How does it feel?" asked Ryan Seacrest. "I don't know," said a clearly overwhelmed winner.

Wednesday night's results virtually mirrored the past two seasons, with their early sure bets (David Archuleta and Adam Lambert) and a couple of other contestants who were almost nondescript during their runs. They were David Cook and Kris Allen, and of course, the nondescripts won. Crystal Bowersox, the single mom with the bluesy chops from a remote Ohio town, was also considered a sure bet for most of the season.

DeWyze, as well, seemed to come out of nowhere, and that may have been by design. He became more assured as the season went along, leaving the impression that everyone else was playing it safe. In the dullest season ever, safe was something no contestant could afford.

Is DeWyze good? Yes. Vocally, he's inferior to Bowersox, but he looks better on TV, and in "Idol" terms, that's half the battle.

Don't feel bad for "Mama Sox." Runners-up Archuleta and Lambert have done well. So there's no shame in second place, and it may even be the real glory.