David has begun recording a CD, although any reports you may have seen about a release date are, well, premature.

"Amazon has already created a sku for David's CD. They even have a release date. I don't know where they're getting it," Jeff said with a laugh.

And finishing second to David Cook in the "Idol" finale is far from the worst thing that could happen.

"There's been no downside. Obviously, there are perks when you win that you don't get if you don't win," Jeff Archuleta said. "But David was offered a record deal the same night as the finale."

He signed with 19 Recordings/Jive, owned by "Idol" impresario Simon Fuller, after Fuller "said, 'This year we don't look at it like there was a loser in this finale. You're going to have every opportunity. We're behind you 100 percent. We want you to be very successful,'" Jeff Archuleta said.

"Simon Fuller is about finding talent and helping that talent achieve their dreams. That's his motivation. It's not about money anymore. He's already a billionaire. He's just a very genuine, warm, kind individual. I mean, he looks like he could be an elders quorum president. Just a very nice guy."

And, at this point, TMZ has been reduced to writing silly stories about how — gasp! — David wouldn't be returning to Murray High this fall. Which no one expected he would.

"I don't understand why that's a story. It's not like he's rejecting school — the tour's not even over until the middle of September," Jeff said. "It's just weird.

"I've learned a lot about journalistic integrity these last five months. It's been very much a learning experience for me."

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E-mail: pierce@desnews.com