Who I want to win American Idol: David Archuleta. I guess it's no secret that I've been a big David Archuleta fan since the very start of the season. And I can honestly admit that no other contestant has captured my interest from start to finish ever since I've been watching the show. I've never understood how people cannot like the kid. I believe that a lot of the criticism from the so-called media experts have been unjust. Either that, or they blame David's downfalls on his father. I'll address that issue a little later in this blog. But David is a sincere, modest, and genuine individual and for those people who still think it's all an act, well I guess there is no hope for them. If you didn't realize what kind of a person Archie is after watching his homecoming video recap on Wednesday's results show, then you're blind. All season long, we've seen David overwhelmed at the praise he's received after stunning performances, deflected comments from others who say he truly is a great singer, and saying he's not worthy to be in the presence of certain recording stars. That's just who David Archuleta is. He has no ego about being a music star and the only reason he's in it is to sing and he hopes others will enjoy his singing. Well let me tell you, he has many, many fans that will follow him along his journey. And if he doesn't win American Idol and ends up being the runner-up, I don't believe that's going to hurt him, either. He's caught the eye of many people, from music executives, recording artists, Hollywood producers, and even movie directors! Heck, the exposure he's gotten from American Idol could allow him to do anything. As Randy says every week, he can sing anything. Well I say, David will be able to anything! I think the results after next week's finale will be extremely close; rivaling those achieved during season two's Clay vs. Rueben final. I really hope it'll be Archie who wins it because I've followed him ever since his audition in San Diego and I've been a fan since that time. I don't need to tell you anymore about the kid because he is who he is. David Archuleta for the win!
Controversy over David's Dad: I don't believe I've really weighed in on the Jeff Archuleta controversy that has hounded David since the "We Can Work it Out" performance. I've mentioned it briefly but never gave my true opinion about it. I've kind of gone back and forth about it ever since the situation surfaced. In the beginning I believed whole heartedly that David's dad was a stage father. It was vindication for David's poor performance during the first Beatles week. Then people close to the Archuleta family were backing up Jeff and saying he's not at all how the media makes him out to be. So I was comforted for a time after hearing that Jeff doesn't yell at his son until he starts crying. But then Naomi Judd made an appearance on the Today Show and told the nation how much of a overbearing stage dad that Jeff really was. She's credible in all of this because she was a judge on Star Search when David competed at the age of 12. She even said Jeff had to be locked up in a security box because he was such a negative influence during the show. I believed the whole stage dad story all over again because of her accounts since it really seemed like she was speaking the truth! But then stories surfaced from the Archuleta camp that said Naomi was hardly ever backstage and never even met David in person! They were supposed to meet after the final episode but she had already been whisked away on a plane. I have good reason to believe that Naomi never really saw Jeff be a stage dad first hand and only heard the rumors that were going around. So five years afterwards, she remembers what she heard and decided to blast Jeff Archuleta and add more fuel to the fire. So then I got to believing that she's not really credible at all and only said what she said about Jeff Archuleta to re-gain attention again. Because really, what has she been up to ever since she's been on Star Search? Not a whole lot. It was probably a publicity stunt for her to get back into the public limelight and what better way to do that than to talk about a front-runner contestant on the top rated TV show in America. So then finally, we have the recent report about David's dad being "banned" from helping David backstage at American Idol. Of course TMZ was the first to uncover the story first and then for whatever reason, the story developed legs and started spreading onto more credible media sites such as the Associated Press and CNN. But at this point, however, I was only half-believing it. It appeared to me that the previous stories about Jeff Archuleta being a stage dad were blown so far out of proportion than they should have that all they did was develop negative press for David and it may have hurt him with the voters for awhile. So again, this time around, the Archuleta camp had to back up daddy Archuleta a third time and eventually, staffers at American Idol were doing the same. He wasn't banned, but asked not to participate with David in song selection and arrangement exercises like he has previously. So even though I've been back and forth on this issue for some time, I've come to the conclusion that Jeff isn't at all a bad guy like he's been made out to be and is only doing what he can for his son and providing a huge amount of support for him. Even David stood up for his dad in a recent TV Guide article. Even though we are nearing the end of this season's American Idol, I just don't think the Jeff Archuleta stage-dad stories will entirely end, although they should diminish some.
American Idol Season Eight: It's hard to believe season seven is almost over. It doesn't seem like we started all that long ago. So after many posts regarding the show in this blog, the American Idol reviews and random postings will be coming to an end. And once this season is over, it will be the last time I write at all about the show in this particular blog. I am washing my hands of it here at Luke's Ponderings. Okay, before you go all crazy, it's all part of a bigger plan for me. Seeing how American Idol has consumed my life during the past four+ months, I have decided that one of the best ways for me to communicate my obsession for the show is in very new blog - with a title still to come. Some of you may have come across specific blogs dedicated to the show or the contestants. Well my new blog will be devoted entirely to American Idol and the news around it. You will see my recaps, my random thoughts, news articles, and many other features there. I will also cover the auditions, the Hollywood Round, the semi-finals, and the finals. There will be more American Idol coverage in that blog more than I've ever done in this one. That doesn't mean I am going to abandon Luke's Ponderings because I am going to continue to do my usual routine with this one. I just feel that all I've mostly talked about during the past few months was this show and that could drive some people away. So be sure to check back in the late fall or early winter when the new American Idol blog by me will be released. Hopefully it will develop a following like some of the other popular Idol blogs that are currently on the web.
You know, there were a couple of other topics I wanted to discuss regarding American Idol, but I think I am going to save those until another opportunity. We still have three days left until the finale performances from David Archuleta and David Cook, so I think I'll be able to sneak in one final random thoughts blog before all is said and done. May the best David win!
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