“American Idol” had never met someone like Adam Lambert before. He was wildly unpredictable and wickedly talented. The world nearly came to an end when “Idol” ran long and DVRs missed his closing performance that week. He was the unequivocal star of Season 8, with one notable footnote: He lost. Earlier in the season, while Bikini Girl was kissing Ryan Seacrest, producers were spotlighting the likes of Lambert and Danny Gokey, and when the final 12 were determined, only one had never been featured in the earlier rounds: Kris Allen. But voters quickly took a liking to his smooth voice and easygoing demeanor, and he managed to outlast all of Lambert’s competition, and eventually the big voice himself.

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