Rickey covered the story this morning–David Archuleta’s vocal coach ran interference for the family on the CBS Early Show Monday morning. I clipped the interview later in the afternoon, and when I went back to check a few hours later, it had over 1000 hits!
This story still has legs! It continues to wind it’s way through the news cycle.
Randy Jackson weighs in in an interview with The Canadian Press. Besides predicting a David and David finale, he downplays Papagate while at the same time admitting that stage parents can make the Idol experience even more stressful for a contestant:
“We’re never backstage and we don’t have that interaction with the contestants at all,” Jackson said from Los Angeles. “I think there’s probably more of a press story there than a reality.”
Still, Jackson admitted that parents can make a tough situation tougher by adding to the anxiety of a youngster already shaken by the prospect of singing live on television.
“It’s hard on the kids, regardless,” he said of the weekly “Idol” broadcast.
“You can put yourself back into high school where your parents are at every show, every stage play, every game, every whatever. I think it’s the added pressure - you want to do good in front of them. … I think the show’s tough on these kids when you imagine that 25 or 30 million people could be watching you that night.”
Indeed, Jeff Archuleta isn’t Idol’s first stage-parent-from-hell according to the stories I’ve heard…
And there is more. Read what MTV, New York Magazine, Idolator, Good Morning America, and Entertainment Weekly have to say. ABC News even has a pictorial review of famous showbiz stage parents!
How will Archie do without Daddy running interference with the Idol staff on his behalf? It’s one more stress for David, probably one he doesn’t need. While there’s always rehearsal time back at the apartment, and cell phone calls that can be made throughout the day, when push comes to shove, it’s going to be Davey vs the Idol staff. I think the Idol staff will win ’cause Davey isn’t use to sticking up for himself. With the Idol staff in a position to exert some influence, David’s performances will likely take on some new dimensions.
It won’t matter, however. I agree with the pundits who think this will be a win-win situation for Archie. If he stinks up the joint, he’ll get a flood of pity votes. If he’s good, there will be much ohhing and ahhing over his ability to succeed without Daddy Dearest.
I’m thinking there is more to this story than is being reported. The whole Sean Kingston/Beautiful Girls kerfuffle may have been a handy excuse to finally get Daddy, who had become a huge pain in the ass, out of the Idol staff’s hair, and also away from the contestants as they prepare for the last push to the Idol crown. If the worst is true–that Daddy has been harassing the contestants–he should have been kicked to the curb weeks ago, not the last two weeks of the competition. It’s going to be an interesting week.
Video after the JUMP…
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The only stage dad part I could comment on would be if he was truly bugging the other contestants. There was a huge difference in DC’s rehearsal of HLTW and his live HLTW. I have read speculations, so I have no idea if he said anything to him or not. Something however did indeed rattle DC and several of us commented on it at the time. We assumed it was something about Adam and Randy told DC to *shake whatever off*. That would be the one thing that would bother me if it did truly happen. (This is just me wondering since news articles brought up the possiblity of JA bugging other contestants, so please don’t fireant me).
I think that it is unfair for the other contestants for DA to have JA arrange his songs & this should have been stopped on DAY ONE. DC & a few others are experienced enough to arrange their own songs, however look at Jason. This was his first year singing. Who went to bat for him in those rehearsals???? Yet DA was allowed to have his Dad arrange every single one of his songs. There are enough interviews out there that I have read that JA was the go between band/vocal coach while DA stood by silent.
Even in this TV Guide issue (I think 3rd paragraph down) it is JA who is doing the arranging, not DA. I don’t suppose it will matter because JA will just arrange it back in the room so DA can go to the coach/band the next day with it all worked out.
Shame on TPTB for letting this happen.
ETA…Just watched the vid. He makes it sound like it was *no biggie* that JA was there arranging the songs. Maybe he should have told the tv viewers exactly what it was JA was doing for DA. Might have been a real eye opener for some.
Interesting supposition on Cook being “not Himself.” I wouldn’t put it past JA to have done something. It was clear in TV guide that JA was running the show and ordering around the staff.
Have any of the other contestants been allowed to have someone else do their selecting and arranging or is the first time? can the others hire someone or ask a family member to come backstage and do what JA did? I have heard of some calling people to bounce ideas off of but that is totally different than having a hands on “assistant.”
Since everyone knows that the judges have been on every talk show on the planet, saying it will be a David/David finale, I have no doubts that JA was tormenting Cook. I think he was trying to psyche Jason out too. Jason was creeping up on DA in the polls and ITunes sales.
Why didn’t TPTB do something about this? Nip it in the bud from the beginning? I’m sure they were aware of it, and, Naomi Judd said it on national tv that he was an interfering stage dad. No one listened. I believed her, and, now the proof is out in the open. Only when it hit AI where it hurt, in the pocketbook, did they decide to do something. How unfair to the other contestants.
I think AI should get all extended frisky and send Daddy A home this week.
Spare the 3!
Imagine the horror.
Little D collapses on stage panting “no, no, NO! - wait, I can’t breathe” .
DC runs to his wittle bro, singing Little Sparrow, and cuddles him in a pink blanket.
Syesha checks her mascara in the camera lens and goes on record — I am the American Idol and will be running for Presidentress in 2020.
Jason, when interviewed by Jay Leno says “I’m sur glad I waddn’t there”.
Michael Johns says “the shit should have gone home long ago — he’s the reason I’m gone and I’m still pissed.”
Carly says — I thank my arm for getting me voted off.
Brooke goes on record stating “I was always lyric challenged” and then starts singing “You’re So Vain”.
Yes Cook was not himself he clearly looked rattled,and the last two weeks Jason was on Idol I thought he didn’t seem like himself either.Especially the last two night he was on.TPTB should of protected the contestants from Jeff if he was infact psyching the others out.But we’ll probably never know if he did harass Cook or Jason and TPTB would never tell.
I remember watching interviews with Jason and David C and both of them said that they were off on Tuesday, they couldn’t, or wouldn’t, explain what it was. Jason and David C. would be gentlemen enough to not point fingers at JA cause that would point them, indirectly, at David A.
I say the story has merit and I agree that JA should have been banned from rehearsals a long time ago. For all it’s everreaching tenticles how come AI didn’t tell JA that he could be David’s guardian, he could be at rehearsals but could NOT have any say over arrangements, etc.? That is what AI should have done from the very beginning, told David A. that his dad could be there but couldn’t have any say,that the arrangements had to come from David himself.
Maybe David needs to go on the show “I know my kids a star” on VHI. There’s nothing but meddling stage parents who like to psychic out other contestants. Sounds like Papa Archie will fit right in there! Seems he’s pretty good at that!
I’m frustrated by the fact that JA has been selecting/arranging songs, because that is so unfair. Thankfully some contestants, DID have a leg to stand on musically, but come one, look at poor Jason, or Brooke, or even any of the other contestants long gone that probably didn’t have the experiences that MJ, Carly, DC had musically. They just had a passion for music and wanted to achieve some success and maybe some guidance too(I bet all of them could have benefited from some guidance from someone during the themes that were difficult to them.) Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone help them select/arrange songs?
So this whole competition seems pretty unfair at this point because it has been nothing but guaranteed to get ARchie to the finale. I’m curious of JA had any musical experience when he was younger, because I can’t decide if he’s smart or stupid with some of the song selections, but all I know is that he’s groomed that poor kid into the type of singer HE wants.
I also love how Randy glazed over the issue in a way that makes it sound like “yes, something is going on, but I’m going to make it sound like nothing is going on”, which in turn just made him sound like an idiot and pretty much solidify that this is indeed a problem. I so hate Randy this season.
Although, while I don’t doubt Archie will make the finale, I’m FULLY expecting he will not win. TPTB don’t want to deal with daddy dearest on an album, who would?
This is … AMERICAN Idol !
He’s a jazz musician.
What bothers me most is how damaged David seems. I’m sorry but if anyone rationalizes his behavior as simply ‘’shy” or ”withdrawn”, they’re kidding themselves. The kid seemingly can hardly communicate let alone speak his mind and I’m sure Dadchulleta is to blame. That utter bastard.
The judges wanted the contestants to make the songs their own and they were kept really busy but Daddy Dearest was allowed to prepare his son’s crib sheet so all DavidA had to do was practise. That was unfair.
Did Awfuletta strike his son and unnerve the others? Dad-from-hell has been allowed to be behind the scenes from day 1 despite his reputation so what happened to change things?
I agree, F_AI_J. And it also can’t only be attributed ONLY to his age and immaturity. There have been other 17 year olds on this show who have handled the pressure and stress of the show far better (Jordin Sparks, Paris Bennett, Lisa Tucker all immediately spring to mind).
Sarah, I agree with your last statement but let’s make it more politically correct, lol. Kevin Covais and Sanjaya (yes even him) seemed better able to handle the stress and pressure. Had to get the male representation in there so it can be proven that even young males can handle the stress and pressure of AI.
This is something that should have been done weeks ago. Again, like I said above, AI should have just told Jeff “you are NOT allowed any musical input other than the same that the other idols get from their parents”.
Sarah, the terrible thing is it’s not even about handling the pressure, it’s about acting friggin’ normal ! Can anyone seriously tell me this is any way shape or form a normal kid? Everything about him screams ”deprived” to me. His stare is vacant. His repsonses are either rehearsed or otherwise no more than a mumble. He has vocal chord paralysis - how in the hell does that happen at 17 !? Boy oh boy daddy must’ve really ”pushed him to realise his gift” [/barf]
I’m a pretty sarcastic bastard and honestly there’s lots I could laugh at with this kid (it’s very easy) but I feel too sorry for him. I hope he can one day tell slavedriver daddy to F off. And hopefully stop singing those horrid ballads.
i suppose what i do not understand is he has the right to a chaperone, but since when did that translate to a right to an arranger/handler/ artistic director. Basically, under the law he should have someone there to make sure he is not taken advantage of, or to make key decisions because he is a minor. now, some may disagree, but i am not sure if inserting a key change into a song is what is meant by a key decision.
ai should have dealt with this long ago.
I have felt this story was true all along. I do think he did something to Jason and David C., and maybe some others. It is not fair for TPTB to do something now when it affects their wallets. Something should have been done at the beginning. I have seen a lot of articles like this one. Tiffany was interviewed recently and said she didn’t remember much about Jeff Archuleta. She’s probably scared of him.
http://www.idolphilippines.com/2008/03/david-archuleta-has-overbearing-stage.html
“He cornered David’s biggest competition, Tiffany Evans, in the green room and intimidated her, telling her she’d lose to David. No one knew about it because Tiffany didn’t tell anyone at that time. It wasn’t until later that night, when Jeff Archuleta started calling all night and harassing her in her room that Tiffany and her parents told producers. It became so intense that the producers of Star Search had a meeting and BANNED him from the lot. The only performance that he was allowed to attend was the finale. (He was sat near security)…. David lost in the end to Tiffany Evans and she got the title!”
i think people are dissing jeff, not archie.
My biggest complaint is that if JA was the reason Jason screwed up last week I am really pissed because now he is gone and I’m going to miss him tonight.
This is really creeping me out.
I know Jason and DC are adults, but considering the fact that they’re tired, run down, and emotionally fragile, it really would not take much to shake them up.
I hope, for goodness sake, that this isn’t true. If it is, the greedy, money-hungry producers deserve exactly what they get should Archie win - HIS DADDY! I mean, last week, Ryan asked Archie if he wanted to be the next American Idol, and he couldn’t even give a straight “Yes!” That didn’t sit well with me.
Considering all the possibilities - suddenly the light’s on - I’m pulling for DC to BRING IT TONIGHT!!!
Former AI Junkie, AMEN! Couldn’t have said it better myself!!
In all honesty, I think it would be best if DA doesn’t win. He’ll have TPTB pulling him their way and daddy pulling him his way…poor kid is going to have an ulcer or worse by the time he’s 20! The ballads thing is not going to be marketable. I sort of wonder if Archie would even still be there if Brooke and Jason hadn’t screwed up so badly.
I second the Amen Junkie. I found this interview of one of DA’s brothers. I’ll refrain from saying what I think. Anyone else?
My Fox Utah
I definitely feel bad for the kid. I have a seventeen-year-old nephew who is way more self-assured and confidant (without such a talent), so I agree that David is definitely affected by his dear-old dad.
Who are the other “stage parents from hell?” Kat’s mom? I know it’s none of my business, but I’m soo curious…
This keeps coming up, but we have absolutely no evidence that this is the reason why those two had a bad night. Lots of contestants have had bad nights over the years, but that doesn’t mean Jeff has been haunting the halls for the past 6 seasons. Bad nights happen. Maybe, just maybe, David C and Jason had a bad day on Tuesday because they got smashing drunk on Monday night. Or maybe they were depressed about how the presidential elections were going. Or maybe they heard the coronation song for the first time on Monday. That would make me feel off for a few days.
Okay, maybe the stories are true. Maybe Jeff, along with being a stage dad from hell, a professional song selector, a professional song arranger, a professional manager and a professional musician, is also a professional psychologist and is able to manipulate anybody he wants into losing the competition. Maybe it is true that he’s the reason that Michael and Carly and Jason went home. Maybe he’s the one who told Luke to sing falsetto and arranged Kristy’s “Eight Days a Week”. Given the guys many legendary talents, he is also probably the one who did Amanda’s hair the day she came out looking like an extra from Cats and is the one who sewed Chikezie’s orange suit.
Whatever. Do we honestly think that Jeff is the only person in the history of AI who has been able to psych out other contestants? You don’t think that there have been other contestants, stage parents, relatives (who do get access to the other Idols in the off time), consultants, producers and judges that have attempted to psych out the competition? You don’t think Mama McPhee was able to condem with a compliment (”Oh, that’s a great outfit. It really makes you look slim for once”).
Professional athletes actually hire psychologists to help them deal with their mental game. Often, that’s what defeats you. So, mental games are all part and parcel of competition. Sure, Jeff may be super talented at it. He may be better at psyching out people than even Simon or Nigel, but really, it’s all part of American Idol. It’s all just words. Words from your competitor’s father. You have to be able, as Randy said, to shake it off.
Jeff A is such an a$$, I can’t stand him getting credit for anything.
I wished if JA was actually being a bully to the other contestants ,they would have stopped him before now .
It certainly seemed to more than ever this year the contestants forgot words and were emotional wrecks .I have never seen so much missed words and crying as I have this year .
If JA is the reason Jason is gone I am mad because I won’t get to hear him .
If JA interfered with the contestants, why didn’t they say something? Maybe they did, but no one did anything about it until now. I’m going to miss Jason.
Kirsten, Thanks for the sanity.
I just watched the clip you put up mandalay and I thougt that Daniel seemed more like a teenager than David .In fact if I did not know I would have thought he was the older brother .Thats just my take on the clip
All this arrangement talk has got me wondering how contestants like Kellie Pickler got across to the band when she didn’t even know what key was.
I wholeheartedly agree with Kirsten.
Kirsten, we need a top ten list of the people Jeff has bullied.
Deleting posts now.
React without anger or lashing out at your fellow posters.
Perhaps shutting off your computer and taking a walk is the thing to do instead.
I agree with Kirsten with regard to Jeff psyching out the other contestants. And, furthermore, neither David C. nor Jason appear to me to be weak enough people to let someone’s stage-daddy get in their heads.
I also wholeheartedly agree with Folk. If the contestants are responsible for coming up with their own arrangements in conjunction with the band, voice coaches, etc. then that’s how it should be for all of them. Just because someone is young - they shouldn’t have their own personal, musical advisor in the room. But, I guess the “unfair advantage” isn’t really that big of a deal, since Jeff A doesn’t appear to be very good at it (at least to my ears anyway).
Kerfuffle … not Kerfluffel.
I doubt how much effect Jeff A could have on DC and I don’t know that he would even bother Syesya. David Cook is a man who is not new to the music scene. He used to have to stand out front passing out CD’s to get people to come and see the band. In his senior year as a pitcher for his high school he was 5 wins 1 loss. He played music all the way through college while getting his degree and did theater to boot. Pressure is not a new thing to him. His hometown visit was handled with grace and maturity. It seems to me that he has enough experience to handle whatever was thrown at him other than the personal family stuff. Maybe he just had a bad sound mix that day because on HLTW all I could hear at home was vocals and hardly hear the band.
At this point it is all speculation, (tho I really do appreciate someone bringing the Tiffany Evans story over.)
And I live for the speculation.
I’ve always thought it was the ‘badgering’ of contestant(s) that forced TBPB to finally act.
Initially I was worried that it was Syesha but there’s Hess, and then when the camera flashes to the audience there’s Syesha’s cousins so i think she is quite well managed and protected.
So if it is Jason and/or DavidC I do not buy in to ‘they should be used to the pressure line’ because throughout the history of Idol there has always been the ethic of contenstants supporting each other. That is part of the attraction of the show.
And good musicians bring a degree of sensitivity to the stage. That is what makes them good muscians. And that is what makes them vulnerable. And that vulnerability is exacting what JeffA is trying to exploit.
The contestants are under enough pressure. They shouldn’t have to put up with bullshit from fellow contestant’s parents.
We know that David’s Dad is banned from the rehearsals, but I would say that the behind the scenes information, as detailed by TMZ is still unsubstantiated. Even if it’s true, I wouldn’t jump to any conclusions about why Cookie or Jason had an off night last week.
Ultimately, it’s the contestant’s responsibility to pull off a performance, no matter what the circumstances.
Who knows, without Daddy’s “skillz” as a producer/arranger–David’s performances may actually improve! I’m with those who think his influence on Archie hasn’t been all that…
Oh, what fun is that? We rarely get anything directly from the horses mouth. Ah, I remember the wonderful speculative weeks when we hotly debated the words of a hotdog vendor at a concert venue. Next time somebody goes to one of those Idol rehearsals, I expect a full report of what the Gum Pages have to say. Maybe then, we will uncover the truth.
Official spokespeople rarely give us the good stuff. We must rely on leaks and speculation.
And, if we really wanted to “Get a Life” none of us would be posting here. So, way to shut down MJs blog. LOL
Top 10 Ways JA has wrecked this season of Idol:
1) Theme Nights - Convinced Nigel that theme nights should be at least 30 years old. Nigel had lots of ideas about “iTunes Top 100 songs”, “Songs Released this Century”, “Songs that You Hear on a Top 40 Station” and “Songs we Have Never Sung On Idol Before”, but Jeff, the master manipulator, convinced Nigel to change his mind to “Songs so Old Your Grandma thinks they’re Square”
2) Mosh Pitt - Jeff is fully responsible for the Evils of the Mosh Pitt. He personally ripped out all the chairs that used to be there and are holding them hostage in a storage locker in Van Nuys. He also teaches the girls how to sway out of synch before each show.
3) Styling - Jeff is a 40 year old man. The contestants all dress like 40 year old men. You do the math.
4) Sound Mixing - In addition to Jeff’s other skills, he is also a sound mixer. He got Fuller to hire him to do all the sound mixing. The only person he does not sound mix for is his son (he sits in the audience for his performances). When David A sings, a monkey does the sound mixing. I leave it up to the viewers to decide who does the better job.
5) Cleaning - In his spare time, Jeff does all the janitorial work. I don’t mean to blame him, but if he’d done a better job of sanitizing door knobs and phone handsets, perhaps all the contestants might not have gotten sick. The ugly rumours about vials of viruses stolen from the CDC and found in the Idol trash has not been confirmed.
6) Hair - One would think that you would not hire a bald, 40 year old man who wears a hat all the time to be a hairdresser, but you would be wrong.
7) Grumpy Pants Simon - Jeff hid all of Simon’s cigarettes. That’s why Simon is so crabby this year.
8) Call in Session - Jeff is also a professional media consultant. he convinced Fox that having people call in ask stupid questions was a goldmine. He even arranged for fake callers to call in and as David Cook for a blind date.
9) Cannon Fodder - Did you notice how much of the Cannon Fodder was male this year? Well, Jeff stole all the film footage for Colton, Luke, Garret and Jason.
10) Scandals - Jeff has created each and every scandal this year. Carly’s album? He caused the first one to tank by hiding all the copies in every store in the country. David H stripping? Not true. Jeff stole all of David’s clothes one day when he just happened to be in a strip club. Danny’s Santa video? Photochopped. Amanda burning down her deck? Nope, all Jeff. Who put Analog Heart on Amazon only to rat it out to TPTB. Jeff again. Arrangergate? Obviously, that was Jeff. He stole all those arrangements and then tricked Cook into thinking that he had done them (using hypnosis). He also got any references to crediting the original arrangers removed from the intro videos. Oh, I could go on and on.
Drat. Another Top 10 list into moderation. LOL
Well, David A bores me as does the Daddy story. SO, I’ll express my observation that I found a tiny bit funny - Randy said “25-30 million viewers”… “They” can’t so confidently say 30-35 million anymore! Why that tickles me, I have no idea…
Kirsten, I pulled your post out of moderation, I’m not sure why it went in. Maybe because you replied to a post that I moderated.
Yes, I’m deleting posts this morning! If you’re angry, go take a walk or work out or something.
Kirsten, thank you for the voice of reason. JA is not a good guy, but he isn’t superman. However, Kirsten may well be superwoman!
*spits coffee* OMG the thought of Jeff snatching David H’s clothes and Simon’s cigs.. I can picture it! *DL*
I did my Pilates today MJ - so I should be pretty well-behaved :)
http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2008/05/nigel-lythgoe-o.html
Didn’t see this listed - I apologize if I missed it.
American Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe (top right) spoke with EW.com today about the recent reports that Jeff Archuleta (bottom left, with David and mother Lupe), the father of 17-year-old Idol contestant David Archuleta, has been barred from participating in his son’s preparations for the show. Here’s what Lythgoe had to say:
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: There have been reports that Jeff Archuleta was banished from backstage, but then David’s vocal coach gave a radio interview in which he said that wasn’t the case. What light can you shed on this?
NIGEL LYTHGOE: “Banished” is a terrible word, isn’t it? It sounds like we’re in some far-off kingdom. He has been asked not to participate in the choice of music with David or be in the room when David is working out his routines that he wants to sing. He’s fine to be in the studio — nothing wrong with that. We just want David to be able to be free like everybody else to get on and do what they want to do….
That’s an interesting way of putting it.