Well, this week has been full of shockers!

Based on talent alone, I was sure that the Dancing with the Stars champion would be Gilles Marini – (not based on his freestyle which was clearly all about Cheryl Burke instead of Marini, but on his body of work over the whole season). And I was sure that the next American Idol would be Adam. I didn’t watch the whole season, but I thought he was a better singer than Kris. Boy, was I wrong!

America still roots for the underdog. Shawn Johnson beat Gilles Marini on Dancing and Kris Allen beat Adam Lambert on Idol. Both dubbed dark horses, improved their performances over time to overtake the hearts of the voting public.

Some say that it’s not who wins but who gets the career boost or career at all in the case of Idol. Definitely Marini will get a boost to his career. ABC reportedly has already signed him to some episodes of Brothers and Sisters. There really is no doubt that Lambert will be launched into stardom. The man can sing all kinds of genres.

It is unclear whether external factors played a role in deciding who won. For instance, did Cheryl’s comments about knowing how to make a winner combined with her “all about me” freestyle jeopardize the mirror-ball trophy for Gilles or did America really think that American-born and raised, spunky Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson was truly a better dancer? One will never know. Or is it the case the boy-next-door-looking Kris Allen with his smooth, but not polished, sultry voice is a better singer than the guyliner wearing, reportedly homosexual, vocally accomplished Adam Lambert? One will never know.

What is interesting in all of this is that overall, subconsciously or not, we vote our beliefs and convictions. And a quick examination of what we do and how we do it, will signal to our own selves exactly what we believe. Can you believe that?

This week, was the week for the underdog - that scrappy American spirit that was present for the founding of our nation. The determination to never give up and never give in. Congrations to Shawn and Kris!