Win or lose, life is going to change for David Archuleta.

"After being on a reality show, especially if it's a popular show like 'American Idol,' life is never the same. Every aspect of my life is different," said Carmen Rasmusen, the Utahn who finished sixth on "Idol's" second season. "I will always be Carmen Rasmusen from 'American Idol.' That will always be what people know me as first."

At this point, Utah's "American Idol" finalist has had only a glimpse of how different life will be. Even though he's been performing in front of 20 million to 30 million people a week for months, Archuleta and the other finalists have been leading a life sheltered by the "Idol" machine that restricts and controls public appearances, interviews and just about every other aspect of their lives.

"We've been in a bubble," said Syesha Mercado, who made the top three but was eliminated last week. "I don't think we know what's in store for us."

And they haven't been out of that bubble much.

"We had a taste of it when we went to Las Vegas — hundreds of people pulling on us saying, 'Oh my gosh! I love you!'" Mercado said.

Archuleta got another taste of it when he came home to Utah on May 9. The thousands of screaming fans who turned out at both the Gateway — again, pulling at him — and at Murray High might have been a sign of things to come for the 17-year-old.

It's impossible to remain unchanged when you're the focus of that kind of attention. But that doesn't mean that Archuleta is destined to go down the road that so many young stars infamously continue to travel.

Lynn Latham and Bernard Lechowick, longtime TV producers/writers, have worked with actors such as Alec Baldwin, Jennifer Lopez, Nicollette Sheridan, Halle Berry, George Eads and Kyle Chandler when those stars were young and unknown.

And they've observed that fame affects people, but it doesn't make them into different people.

"I think your inherent personality holds sway," Latham said.

"Young people who are well parented don't lose their minds and values when they become famous," Lechowick said. "Young people who are immature, not well-grounded, or into drugs can and do go a bit crazy when fame hits. You need an overview, or some objectivity to know fame is fleeting ... and that it can distort your perspective of others."

Which is why the criticism that Archuleta is getting from some quarters — that he's too close to his father — may turn out to be exactly what he needs to survive. Because, win or lose, big career or disappointment, the "Idol" fame isn't going to fade anytime soon.