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No boundaries? Not for newly crowned American Idol Kris Allen. Or even Adam Lambert, despite (or, depending on who you ask, because of) his second-place finish in last nights finale.

I was numb, I was totally numb, I had no idea what to feel, Allen told Seacrest on his radio show this morning. Adam deserves this as much as I do. It was crazy, I never thought this would happen.

While neither winner nor runner-up seemed as thrilled or outraged as their respective fan bases over Americas choice of a new Idol, the emotional floodgates inched open this morning. The final two, along with judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson and Kara DioGuardi and last years winner David Cook, opened up about the shows outcome, the ever-sappy winners single and, yes, the Danny Factor to Ryan Seacrestwho let loose with whats sure to be a controversial opinion of his own.

I told him, I was like, You deserve this, and he was like, No, you deserve this. We love each other, man. Weve been friends ever since the Top 36, we were in group two together, and we both made it. Im really proud of him, and I know that hes really proud of me as well.

It seems the winners incredulity didnt stop when the cameras did. Neither did the mutual lovefest between Allen and his one-time Idol roommate.

Failing to process right along with him is the angry Adam factionof which, it should be noted, Lambert himself is not one.

And while Allen said he wants definitely to do the pop singer-songwriter thing with his career, it will take some time for his reality coronation to sink in. He said he has not at all processed his win.

I really was prepared for anything to happen. I knew it was such a tight race between the three of usDanny [Gokey], him and Iand I just kinda was prepared, you know.

I couldnt be happier for Kris, the glam rocker said. I really, really mean that. Hes one of the most open-minded, embracing of all types of people personHes just an old soul.

You know, the whole thing for me in this competition is that it wasnt a competition. It was like a platform every week, an opportunity for me to get up and do my thing for everybody. It was fun, and it wasnt about, Oh, Im gonna beat this guy or beat that girl, it was about, Oh, I get to stay on another week to do another thing.

Plus, as Paula Abdul would and no doubt has said, Lambert is already a winner.

I think theres always other things in the works, you know. Its about music, but its also the personality of the artist, about how the artist looks, how the artist dresses, its about all of it, its a package deal.

As for whether his outsize image or refusal to address rumors of his sexuality played a part in his losing, Lambert said he was a little worried about it before his audition, but said he was fortunate that fans were quick to embrace him.

My dad thinks Im cooler than I was beforehand.

As for how the Idol journey has changed Lambert, he says one small tweak has taken place.

I have to say I wasnt surprised, and I dont mean that with any disrespect to Adam, relinquished Idol titleholder Cook said. I dont know that either one of them would have surprised me. I dont think its the end for either one.

Meanwhile, the question on everyones mind and blog this morning is whether or not the best man won. For the PC-savvy Idol minds, the answer was yes.

I dont know. Singing is an aesthetic thing for me, it kind of depends on what you like. Theyre both great performers.

That covers best man. But what about best singer?

[Kris was] probably the right win in terms of being a nice guy. Was he the best singer in the competition? No.

Count on Cowell to give a more straightforward answer.

He didnt have quite as kind words about the winners single, however, which happened to be cowritten by fellow judge DioGuardi.

If you allow America to vote, you live with the vote. I wouldnt have said he was the best singer in the competition, though. I think he was like a little puppy dog.

Mountains, hurricanes, rivers, oceansits probably the most clichd song Ive ever heard in my life.

By the way, how awful was that song, though? he said of No Boundaries.

Lets not talk about the song, Ryan. My mom said if you have nothing good to say, dont say anything.

Fellow judge Randy Jackson agreed.

I think that they both won. For me, this was a very interesting year, because you had such different artists. You had the soft side of rock and the hard side of rock, and it really wasnt about winning, its about, whats your preference?

Its a song about dreams and attaining the impossible and what these kids go through to get this far is extraordinary, DioGuardi said, turning the conversation back to the boys.

I think that the Danny vote probably swung the competition, she said. If you were a Danny fan, you probably aligned more with Kris music.

Still, she does think there was a deciding factor to the competition and it had nothing to do with Allen or Lambert.

Asked where she sees the second-place artist fitting into the music scene, DioGuardi believes he has potential to follow in the successful footsteps of another Idol also-ran.

Listen, I wasnt shocked, because I was also thinking Danny and Kris were kind of close in who their voters were. I think thats really what happened.

Jackson, too, sees nothing but big things coming for Lambert, describing him as Robert Pattinson from Twilight meets My Chemical Romance meets Guns N Roses.

You know, when I watched him with KISS, I almost thought, this guy could front a ridiculous rock band la Daughtrywhen you know its Daughtry, but its a band. Hes such an incredible frontman. This is his thing, to be able to reach thousands and thousands of people in an arena-like setting. He has the voice for that. Hes also learned how to pull it back and come from his heart.

Oh, and about Seacrests controversial weigh-in…put on the spot by Cowell (who else?) as to where he would rank Allen in the annals of American Idol winners, the host didnt exactly place him near the top.

I actually think its better for him that he came in second.

Falling below him? Justin, Kelly, he presumably joked, before clarifying, That year, that year. Whos won the show? I cant remember.

Probably in the middle, Seacrest said.

Still craving more Idol? E! Onlines got your coverage covered.

Also falling prey to Seacrests discerning ear: Ruben. Taylor Hicks.

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