We are the winners...of Eurovision

Ok the show last night was a riot! it was barely a step above telemundo. the Eurovision Song Contest is broadcast live throughout Europe and there were 24 countries participating (37 got to vote because that is how many were in the semifinals) and there are two hosts for the show but there is also an Englishman commentating as well. we never see him but his commentary talks over the hosts' too. and he is funny! mostly, he is just the guy you would have at your party making all the snide remarks that you are thinking, but then he also knows all the groups and songs so he is informative as well.
I should mention that there were about 6 of us that watched the whole program and we shared a two liter of strongbow while watching. (we drank it in dixie cups) I think our drink of choice and party venue was on par with the quality of the program. (haha, two liter of hard cider, that is even tacky for America)
so the prgram starts and we all pick a country to win it all. I, of course, go with Finland - only because Belgium wasn't participating, mind you - and the first country up is Switzerland with some old American cover song sung by a group called six4one, yeah. cuz there were 6 of them! most countries followed in similar suit. even the countries with only one singer has about four dancers to keep him company.
Moldova was creative and had a horrible a cappella performance. Lithuania was fantastic and had a very catchy song (football chant really) with the main line being "we are the winners...of Eurovision" (if you aren't keeping up, that is the name of the contest. also that song is better when you have heard it and know they pronounce it weiners instead of winners). Germany did a country song. that is right - as in country western. even the english commentator had to laugh and said Germany obviously didn't want to win this year. the Ukraine had a song sung by a Shakira wannabe who apparently only knew the english needed to sing the song and the lyrics were funny too "show me your love/ show me how much you care/ talk to my heart / whisper my name/ show me your love/ touch my butt/ that's why I came" I swear those are the lyrics. even if they aren't that is what everyone heard.
But Finland, my Finland, came out and did the only hard rock song of the night...and each musician was dressed as a star trek-esque alien/monster. yeah, it was pretty impressive, and although Lithuania was catchy, all of us watching got really excited to see Finland win.
so after everyone performs, they give all of Europe a mere 10 minutes to call in their favorite songs, and then they pool the results by country so france has a favorite, the UK has a favorite, and so on and so forth. and the countries cannot vote for themselves, they have to give points to other countries. so in the end, it is all just a big political game. the UK and France don't get very many points. the Ukraine gives most of it's points to Russia, but Russia only gives the Ukraine some points. the Baltic states voted for each other. it was hilarious! and the winner by a landslide??!...Finland!!! (I wish I had put money on it)

also no commercials. very nice.