LOS ANGELES: So finally big David beat little David after all. The American Idol 2008 finals were a slugfest between David Cook, 25, and David Archuleta, 17. Anyone who had seen the final performance night must have bet their cash on Archuleta.

Judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul had showered Archuleta — nicknamed Little Archie — with constant praise, Cowell constantly undermining Cook’s efforts and saying Archie had “delivered the knockout punch” that evening.

Yet Cowell — among the most disliked men in America — was clearly in a minority as disgruntled Cook fans took the opportunity to deliver a punch all their own, and made the relatively tougher looking rocker win by 12 million votes.

Archuleta, however, should not fret. He has become that rarity, a recognisable finalist, a fate which is sometimes better than winning. Chris Daughtry only made it to fourth place in Season 5, but went on to make a record that went platinum, while season winner Taylor Hicks was dropped off his record label.