Fans stay loyal to DeWyze though performance didn't wow 'Idol' judges

Screams of joy rang out from the sea of neon yellow, pink and blue T-shirted crowd upon the first mention of Lee DeWyze's name during the American Idol Finals competition Tuesday night between him and Crystal Bowersox.

More than 300 people packed the Blues Bar in downtown Mount Prospect to watch the finale on the bar's large TV screens.

"I can't get over how like amazing he is," said 35-year-old Rachel Bruske of Palatine, with the kind of enthusiasm usually displayed by teenagers.

No matter what the judges said, DeWyze couldn't disappoint this crowd.

"He just seems like a really nice kid that got a break and took advantage of it," said Joann Smith of Mount Prospect, who brought her two grandchildren, Rhianna, 3, and Jalyn, 5, along. "I'm going to be texting as much as I can."

Sandy Litardo of Des Plaines said her 8-year-old daughter wants to be an American Idol one day, and just on those nights gets to stay up to watch DeWyze.

"He's captured everybody's heart, not just from Mount Prospect but from neighboring cities," she said.

Yet, some in the crowd began to get nervous after Bowersox concluded her final song.

"I'm a little scared because I think Crystal did bang them out perfectly," said Amy Shirk of Mount Prospect. While Shirk believes Bowersox ruled the finale, she said she will still vote for DeWyze.

Hundreds of fans began staking their territory early this morning at Mount Prospect Village Green near Village Hall, to watch tonight's show when the next American Idol will be crowned.