Ramiele Malubay center, of Miramar, Fla., performs on stage with the other contestants in the finale of the American Idol Tour at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Fla., Wednesday Aug. 20, 2008. (AP Photo/Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald)
"American Idols Live," the "victory lap" for David Cook, David Archuleta and the rest of the season 7 finalists, proved Thursday that the hierarchy of those singers was hardly a case of luck.