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Saturday, May 10, 2008
5/12: Hometown visits, Archuleta’s dad banned!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I remember when Fox did this for Diana DeGarmo four years ago in Snellville. It’s a highly orchestrated hometown visit for the final three. Here’s a summary of their trips.
-Murray, Utah. greeted David Archuleta at his high school and at a mall, where 2,000 showed up. The governor named it “David Archuleta Day.” He sang the National Anthem at the NBA playoff game though ESPN wasn’t allowed to air it because of some sort of exclusivity deal with Fox. An AT&T rep claims Archuleta drew more than comparable events for Syesha and Cook, though blog commentators in K.C. say Cook didn’t do anything specific for AT&T and brought in 10,000 people at a high school stadium. DJSlim has video of his anthem and Syesha’s, too.
-Syesha Mercado hung out in Bradenton, Fla., doing a concert at the riverfront where she sang “Proud Mary,” visiting her elementary and high school (which is in Sarasota) and singing the anthem at a Rays game. This Tampa blogger captured the scene quite nicely.. She also attended Florida International University. This Miami Herald piece claims she’s the first Floridian to make the top 3, which I’m sure makes Vonzell Solomon (top 3, season four) feel great! The story noted that Randy Jackson wants her to sing Alicia Keys’ “I Ain’t Got You”on Tuesday as the judge’s choice. And yes, Manatee County proclaimed it “Syesha Mercado Day.”
-In Kansas City, David Cook sang “Living on a Prayer” and “Always Be My Baby” at the Power & Light District and later sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” at the Royals. (Thanks Tricia for the info) He leaked to the Fox 4 Morning show that he will be singing Atlanta-based Collective Soul’s “The World I Know” this Tuesday. The judges want him to sing (huh?) “First Time I Ever Saw Your Face” by Roberta Flack. How about that for strange? And yes, of course, he got to have his own “David Cook” day. Of course!
-And how about this for juicy gossip? TMZ and Associated Press both say David Archuleta’s dad Jeff was booted from the show for being a pain in the patootie. Apparently, he had insisted Archuleta add a line from Sean Kingston’s song “Beautiful Girls” into “Stand By Me,” which producers nixed. Archuleta did it anyway. It caused problems with the song’s publisher and cost “Idol” money, TMZ claims. Jeff has been nixed from the backstage although technically Archuleta is a minor and needs a guardian. I wonder how the legalities of this will play out and will Archuleta be better without his dad breathing down his neck while he rehearses with the band and vocal coach? Jeff will be able to sit in the audience, lucky guy. I heard later that Jeff is only technically banned from rehearsals and song consultations.
-For the first time since the beginning of the top 24, David Archuleta is not longer the gamblers’ presumptive favorite. Cook is now slightly ahead.
