More than 36 million viewers turned out Wednesday, the final night of the 2005-06 season, to see Taylor Hicks win the fifth incarnation of Fox's "American Idol." The turnout was nearly nine times the population of Hicks' native state of Alabama and the most-watched "Idol" finale yet. The two-hour "Idol" finale rocketed Fox to victory Wednesday and for the season in the key demographic. "Idol" averaged 36.3 million viewers and a 14.0 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic (share data was not immediately available). "Idol" opened up at 8 p.m. with 27.4 million viewers and 10.5/32 in 18-49, climbing steadily to a peak of 42.9 million and an astounding 17.0/38 in its final half-hour. ABC's "Lost" braved the final volcanic hour "Idol" with its two-hour finale from 9-11 p.m. "Lost" pulled in a solid 17.6 million viewers and 7.5/17 in the key demo. Not surprisingly, "Lost" picked up steam in its second hour once "Idol" was out of the way, peaking in the 10:30-11 p.m. half-hour at 19.3 million viewers and 8.1/20 in the demo. NBC and CBS laid down with repeats in the face of finale fever on ABC and Fox. Fox outrated its combined competition, "Lost" included, for the night.