"American Idol" Finalist David Archuleta's Dad Banned From Rehearsals

LOS ANGELES — Backstage meddling has caught up "American Idol" favorite David Archuleta's dad, who's been banned from rehearsals, a person working for the TV talent contest said Friday.

Jeff Archuleta was told this week by producers that he can no longer join 17-year-old son as David as he prepares for the show, the person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The person wasn't authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The show's action was first reported Friday by the online Web site TMZ.

David Archuleta of Murray, Utah, is one of three contestants left as the top-rated Fox show heads toward the Jan. 20-21 finale. The fresh-faced teenager with the big voice has consistently been deemed a front-runner by the judges and been a consistent fan favorite.

Jeff Archuleta's intense backstage involvement had become a source of concern for the series, the person connected with "American Idol" said _ but it was a lyric change on Tuesday's show that pushed producers to act.

Despite a warning, Jeff Archuleta insisted on altering "Stand by Me," one of two songs his son sang on the show Tuesday. By adding a verse from Sean Kingston's "Beautiful Girls," the father incurred additional costs for "American Idol," the person said.

Fox declined comment. Attempts to reach Jeff Archuleta for comment were unsuccessful. A phone number listed under his name in Murray, Utah, was no longer in service, and Fox did not immediately respond to a request Friday evening for help in contacting the family.

Earlier Friday, David Archuleta was honored at a hometown celebration held at his high school in Murray, during which Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman declared "David Archuleta Day."

The singer and his family declined to be interviewed at the event, but David Archuleta did speak with the Salt Lake City Fox affiliate, KSTU-TV. "Wow," he exclaimed as he viewed the cheerleading squad outside his stretch limousine.

The other finalists left in competition for the "Idol" title and a record contract are David Cook and Syesha Mercado. Cook, a native of suburban Blue Springs, Mo., had his own homecoming celebration Friday in Kansas City, while Mercado was feted Bradenton, Fla.

Comments

[Counterglow]

I just love how a zero who isn't even talented enough to get himself on a show like this, except by living through his son, has the audacity to alter the words of an artist talented enough to write a number of hit songs. Talk about an asshat!

This jerk desperately needs to be given the starring role in a really humiliating practical joke.

[CoulterIsASuccubus]

WHY OH WHY OH WHY can't you leave David Archuleta's father alone??? He gives and gives and you take and take. OMIGOD!!! What will happen now? This is outrageous! Has anyone notified the Pope? Call the President!!! Demand some action! What will happen next? How can anyone go on? I'm not sure I can watch this heinous thing. This is worse than the Iraq war. This is just awful! Should the National Guard intervene? Stop the insanity!!!! God help us!!!! Can the last four shows even survive?? Do you think Ryan Seacrest is a gay?? Paula is obviously hopped up on goofballs. The sky is falling!! The sky is falling!! What will David Archuleta's father do next?? Please follow him into a bathroom and see and then report it immediately. Does he have corn in his stools? Oh God help us all!!!!!!!!

[hartkid]

I just read on the Smoking Gun.com that it has been confirmed that there is corn in his stool!! Ayudame! the third of the four horsemen! "he will come as gold enveloped in brown and drop from the sky into the vortex that will swirl below..." It has already been written!!!!

I hope you are ready. All of you. Judgment day has arrived. On the bright side, they have Idol in hell. Where do you think the concept was spawned?

[Felicty]

Good voice on the boy, but even to the untrained eye, one can see his dad abuses him. Repeatedly.

Pity. I hope he runs like hell from that family once he turns 18.

[piquet]

..one word..Utah.

[TheGeeber]

I usually don't like to speculate, but I will...

This kid has an amazing voice, but his body language and posture is disturbing. Every time someone speaks to him--whether it's Seacrest or the judges--he looks like he shrinks, like he's preparing to be struck with a blow of the fist. And when he's given a genuine complement, he seems to be in disbelief, and on the verge of tears, as though he's never heard one before. Something's up here.

Incidentally, my daughter's high school female population is in love with lil David. No doubt he'll sell albums (do we call them "albums" anymore?) if he's named the winner. Not my cup of tea, but certainly the stuff of an "American Idol."

[LeeLoosMultiPass]

Uh-oh. Just think how angry Jeff Archuleta will be when David comes out of the closet in a few years.

I love this kid's voice; hope he can manage at some point to breakaway that from all accounts is a truly bad situation.

[Dehrenstein]

When its's all over Dad will do "Rose's Turn" as this season's Grane Finale.

[theidaexpress]

I'm sure David will be writing a book in a few years time all about his abusive father. He has been doing these types of shows for years now. When David was only 12 he won the revamped Star Search.

I don't care what anybody says, I don't think pushing children to be in the entertainment industry is right, and parents should be considered negligent. The amount of work put into trying to constantly win is stressful and takes away from the energy needed for academics(which are much more important).

http://www.theidaexpress.com

[Fire]

Is there anything else we would like to hear besides Simon and Ryan arguing?

[XCITIZEN]

CRAZY FUCKING PARENTS!!!!

[LeoMarvin]

I thought this was going to be a story about going after Simon for a rude remark, like some crazed football dad.

[GayIthacan]

Even having this in the ENTERTAINMENT section is false advertising.......let alone the NEWS section.......

Much ado about absolutely nothing of value or importance.

[jgalvan]

This is were you get your entertainment? I truly feel sorry for you, may I suggest Seaworld in Orlando or better yet, Magic Mountain.

[lolyla]

Walking around Sea World in Orlando just about killed me. Armchair quarterback for American Idol twice a week is definitely more my speed.

[gore]

Oh, go jump in a gorge.

[mfsomom]

I met Davids dad yesterday at the hometown appearance in Murray. He was most congenial, kind and patient. Appearances can always be deceiving, however, I do believe he has his young sons best interests at heart. Perhaps he has interfered in a distracting way, how would any of us really know beyond tabloid rhetoric, but all in all, having seen this family up close and personal, all of them..siblings, grandmother, mom and dad, they look like a mutually supportive group, who are very proud of their David. I think this young man, although quite shy and not yet comfortable performing, has an ENORMOUS talent. I wish him well. His voice is extraordinary, and if American Idol is a singing competition, he wins hands down.

[JerryTheAngel]

Obviously AI is not a singing competition since Michael Johns and Carly Smithson left the show before Brooke White and Jason Castro.

[robotfog]

The story said the guy had his son sing a verse from another song. If that is true, it cost the show money because they have to pay a fee for its use. Only the producers of a show can determine how money is to be spent. If the story is true, then the guy was way out of line. The show should make *him* pay the royalties for the song.

[InternationalObserver]

Oh pleaase -- you think the show can't afford it??? They make squillions!

If Archuleta wanted to mix it up a little he should be allowed to. The problem is that 'Idol' OWN everyone who signs on to the show. The last thing they want is anyone showing any independant thought. *THAT'S* why the producers are pissed off...

[bitterspinster]

I'm pretty sure Jeff Archuleta is not going to act in public, especially on camera, like he does when it is just he and David. American Idol has never banned a parent before and Naomi Judd confirmed on the TODAY show that Jeff Archuleta was also banned from Star Search when David was on there. If you Goggle it you will see she called him "the worst stage parent" she'd ever seen.

[esquire07]

The sad thing, that is big news to most Americans than the thousand of brave young Americans who have died, and will continue to die for Bush's illegal "war" for Oil and Arms profits.

Impeach. Hang.

[jgalvan]

WTF!

[Apollonavigator]

What is happening in the war is a tragedy. We do need to get out. But that does not mean that we can't comment on other things such as this show, baseball, food, travel you name it.
Life goes on, the war will come to an end and something else will take up your life.

[CheneysACoward]

Someone should also tell the foll NOT to wear a hat indoors.

[Felicty]

He's bald. That would explain the hat. The man looks like warmed over Danny Bonaduce.

[cubalibre]

It so hard to judge these things. Because his
father looks like such a nightmare. It is also
obvious he has horrible taste in music and
everything.Which if he continues to be allowed
to give his input he will most likely hurt David's
career. But an eighteen year old still needs
parental guidance. And being thrust into the
world of show business, where everything
becomes available to you, without someone to
tell you No.Is very destructive. As we've seen
so many times.