David Archuleta's Dad Keeps Meddling In "American Idol" Despite Ban

"Idol" producers have told Jeff Archuleta - an accused control freak who puts the parents of child beauty pageant contestants to shame - that he is not allowed to be backstage during the show anymore because he was observed "over-managing" his son.

But that didn't stop the proud papa from barking orders from a seat in the audience to his 16-year-old son on Wednesday night.

During a segment of the show not seen on TV this week, host Ryan Seacrest held a coin toss to determine who - Archuleta or rival David Cook -would get to sing first in next week's big finale.

The winner of the toss gets to choose.

As most fans know, the contestant who gets to close the show usually has an advantage.

Archuleta won the toss, and as the young singer stood on stage pondering his decision, his father was seen standing on his seat and screaming from the audience, "Second! Second!"

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[SouthJerseySteve]

Coming in 2nd isn't too shabby either... remember Taylor Hicks? Rubein Studdard? Besides, which Idol who DIDN'T come in first place wind up winning an Academy Award in Dreamgirls? Anyone remember Jennifer Hudson? Not to shabby a career for her (oh, and she's a co-star in the Sex and the City movie).

[auramac]

Guess the kid losing wouldn't be justice- it's not his fault. The industry is destructive enough- this kid's gotta deal with his psycho father first... Lindsey and Britney had their dysfunctional parents- feel sorry for the kid.

[beekeeper]

All papa sees is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Another self centered pig

[jozielee]

David is young. If I was his parent I'd rather be accused of over meddling than allow my son to be swallowed up and eaten alive. Back in the day we heard the same concerns about Brooke Shields' mother and Brooke turned out ok. Better to be accused of being too involved than not involved enough like Lindsay Lohan's mom. There is no easy answer to parental protection.

You get one chance at winning American Idol. And I'd vote for an over exuberant parent than one who is blasé.

[Changeling]

If you like David, DO NOT vote for him.

Read these stories. Watch him on the show. It's obvious he's still too young. He's not ready to handle it. The pressure. The demands. Not strong enough to assert his own needs and wants to record execs. Certainly not to his own father.

He's just totally ungrounded and bewildered.

Sure he's adorable and his voice is nice, but if you have any concern for the kid as a human being you'll spare him what we all know he's not ready for.

[nuglet304]

we can only imagine how his dad'll take the news of him not winning...

[macbabe]

Agree he is too young his father worries me.

I Love David Cook, and I think his maturity will take him a lot farther, even if he comes in #2

[Felicty]

He better win or Daddy will beat him senseless.

[jgalvan]

Don't like what I have heard about his father but things will work themselves about David's future management team, till then he only has his family. I do not see a problem with his father shouting to his son to pick second... wouldn't you do the same? In addition to that American Idol producers should not be complicating the issue with all this BS on the last two shows, I am sure it a power struggle for his future earnings between the both of them, with little David stuck in the middle. I hope this kid does good and goes on to win this year.

[WRPrintz]

I agree that the show is boring this year, so I stopped watching. Good luck to all of them...but, personally, I don't care if a suprise guest from Dancing with the Stars tap'd onto the stage and won by acclaim......it is just too dull.

[auramac]

Poor kid. Drugs are frequently the answer when it comes to cutting the umbilical cord. This kid is gonna be really messed up.

[commentguy1234]

In the Faustian bargain of American Idol, someone has to be the Devil. Simon Fuller probably assumed he would be, but say hello to the new Joe Simpson. That kid is screwed. Accept his father's meddling and have it ruin his career, or reject his father and be used and tossed out by Idol's execs. But it's not such a hard decission . . . Suicide.

[SharonB]

Idiot.

[kellygrrrl]

David needs to head to Broadway and get away from his dad.

so sick of all these Parents from Hell so driven to make a kid a star that they can't even see that they've completely missed the boat at letting a kid be a human.

If I was the Idol Machine, I would be real hesitant to invest in any Talent that came attached with a combative controlling idiot parent

[SharonB]

I hope this kid gets a good agent and they are able to tell dad where to shove it.
Wonder how long until he is 18... He needs to go to court and have himself emancipated from this Svengali.

[theidaexpress]

I didn't even watch the show this week. I'm not saying I ever watched because it was quality television, I watched for the mind numbing reality. But even this show has gotten so boring I can't bear to turn it on. Read my article here if you want: http://www.theidaexpress.com/2008/05/no-more-american-idol-for-me-its-too.html

[devilyousay]

This show needs to change the way it does things or the decline in ratings will only continue further. And Archuletta? Even though I can't stand the little cardboard cutout, maybe voting him the winner would be the best thing. If Daughtry is any indication, Cook would be better off not winnning and then the people that brought us this show would be stuck with Daddy A_ _ _ _ _ _ _.

[exmun]

Correction: David Archuleta is 17 years old. The story said 16.