05.21.2008 10:35 pm
Did a backlash to stage parents impact Idol decision?
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
After reading the blow-by-blow in Tube Talk, I learned that the mom’s favorite (David Archuletta) lost by a landslide. Rumors have been circulating about little David’s father, who was banned from being backstage at rehersals. Reports describe him as quite the stage dad, changing song lyrics and trying to cut side deals for Archie.
From boorish behavior at Little League games to high-pressure pageant moms, I think many of us are fed up with parents who are willing to push their children at any cost. Archie seemed like a parent’s dream kid — polite, conscientious and humble. He acted like a genuine role model for AI’s youngest viewers.
I hope his father doesn’t wreck this promising young man’s career.
Aisha covered education and breaking news for nearly ten years before joining the Lifestyle staff where she writes a "Dirty Laundry" parenting column. She is the home and family editor and wastes too much time on Facebook and political blogs. 
I’m not so sure that Davids day is the ogre here… it’s common knowledge that the idol contract stacks the odds against the eventual winner unless mega-breakout success follows the initial honeymoon period following the season’s end. Maybe his Dad actually knows something we don’t about how to properly protect the rights of a young, sought-after talent caught in the crosshairs of greedy entertainment types.
So he advised his son to change lyrics to a song… we all know Idol execs were only peeved because they had to shell out extra bucks for royalties to a semi-current radio hit. Ohhh the horror!
To me his stage dad was not the issue. I thought he botched Imagine. I disliked the way I thought the judges were pushing him as being so great when he missed the lyrics on more songs than other contestants and what he got right was not that good in my opinion. His stage dad is just one more issue. Idol made it clear from the start that they had chosen Archie to win. I’m glad American rebeled in a very big 12 million vote way.
While David Archuleta is talented, he is young and immature. The constant beaming onstage (a behavior I am certain he mastered for the numerous talent competitions in which he has competed) and constantly on the verge of tears are two indications of that. He has the potential for a very good career, but he might have reached the finals of Idol a year or two too early.
David Cook showed not only great talent, but seasoning and maturity that David Archuleta is still developing.
While they were both worthy, only one could be the winner. I believe America chose the proper one.