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'Idol' owes apologies

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Fair | 12:32 a.m. May 26, 2008
Finally someone with a clear mind has spoken. I already saw this the moment the "news" started by saying it was from anonymous source. How lame could that be? I feel that not only apology is warranted, someone must be made to pay in the name of justice and all fairness to the Archuleta family.
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Ryan | 12:32 a.m. May 26, 2008
That was VERY well put. BRAVO Mr. Pierce!
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anti-clueless | 1:19 a.m. May 26, 2008
"When Abdul talked about a song Jason Castro hadn't sung on air yet, it was because she had already seen him perform it during the dress rehearsal. That's standard procedure for the show."

No it's not. The story they told after the fact was that it's standard procedure; before that - no one, including the contestants had any idea. Every contestant that wasn't named David Cook was hung out to dry in one way or the other. And it is reprehensible.
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Meleah | 1:28 a.m. May 26, 2008
I couldn't agree with you more. Archuleta was robbed of the title - and I think Idol knew that would happen. I'm done watching that show.

Meanwhile, Jeff deserves a HUGE apology from a lot of people. Poor man.
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melanie s | 3:15 a.m. May 26, 2008
i completely agree. i'm a big fan of Idol but this season more than any i have been sickened by the stuff they've tried to pull. for instance their "producer's choices" were just so biased -- giving Archie an AWFUL song to peg him as a "ballad" guy & giving Syesha a Happy Feet song that was completely forgettable - while Cook got one of the biggest hits of the last decade... ridiculous.

the theme weeks were awful, and in the finale they urged simon to overpraise archie in order to ensure cook's fans would vote up a storm.

i do like both of the finalists & have nothing against them (my favorite is Archuleta). but the producers (and maybe simon - i'm still trying to decide if he's a total shadester or not) make me want to vomit.
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Robert | 4:22 a.m. May 26, 2008
American Idol has the moral responsibility to the masses to explain everything in a very honest way about Jeff. It was American Idol's plan all along to have a rocker win this year and they have orchestrated a dirty scheme to the expense of the Archuletas just so their plan will come into fruition. The people who run American Idol are crooks. Folks, you should know that by now.
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janet | 5:23 a.m. May 26, 2008
It is not a good enough explanation that Paula had watched rehearsals. Maybe in rehearsals you do a great job and then forget lines in the actual performance or vice versa. Nobody should be given a final judgement on rehearsals. Imagine a gold medal olympic pole vaulter or someone on the parallel bars, slips in rehearsals, but does a perfect round on the day, are you going to take off points for what happened on rehearsals. Insane and unfair
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Anonymous | 5:32 a.m. May 26, 2008
Oh no. Please...not another persecution complex for the people of Utah.

We are soooooo picked on.

Give it a rest and don't be a sore loser.

David A seems to get that.

Why can't the people of Utah?
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Anonymous | 5:49 a.m. May 26, 2008
you are all taking this way too serious, everyone got what they wanted out of it . David and David all the publicity they needed and ever could of hoped for, The show lots of viewers , trust me they all will be ok
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grow up | 5:52 a.m. May 26, 2008
Live by smarmy publicity, die by smarmy publicity.

Fox giveth and Fox taketh away.

Idol is not about talent.

It is a scripted soap opera with "real people" not unlike MTV's Real World.

You love it when your "Idol" gets good press, pout when it is bad.

NEWS FLASH- it is phoney either way!

You are like pro wrestling fans; squealing with delight when your guy bodyslams the villian, horrified when your guy gets smashed over the head with a folding chair.(That isn't real either, or didn't you know.)

You people act like David is some jilted Musical Messiah. Please stay away from koolaid for at least a month, for your on sake!

Idol has been over a week, when are we going to move on?

Seriously.
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Anonymous | 6:58 a.m. May 26, 2008
Good call there Scott. Thanks for pointing it out.

Ive accepted the result, but the damage has been done.

Moving on doesn't mean you cannot analyze what has transpired. You can move on, without turning a blind eye on things.

But some people just think moving on is all about going to "lalala" land. Naive.



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Kathy | 7:05 a.m. May 26, 2008
I doubt that Idol will offer an explanation or an apology, but I believe that they should, and not only to Jeff Archuleta. Their treatment of several contestants was shoddy. To me, it seems that this year I became quite certain about who the producers/Simon were supporting. Great performances were panned, mediocre ones were praised.

Although I am very happy that Idol brought me David Archuleta, I am finished with the show. The only way they could win my viewership would be to have David Archuleta come on as the fourth judge and sing all of his comments. LOL.
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mandy | 8:28 a.m. May 26, 2008
great article. i said it all season they used these terrible rumors to help their ratings at an innocent boys expense. i really hope by some miracle they get cancealed. if people would really open their eyes, david is too normal to have an abusive father. this was my first season to watch and never again. they set it up the whole time for a rocker to win and i don't care how orginal he was he has nothing vocally on archie. america really got it wrong.
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Non-believer | 8:34 a.m. May 26, 2008
Oh please. Poor David, Poor Jeff, Poor church, Poor Utah. Will you people please live in the real world. The weeping and crying that is going on is childish and immature. Pierce you don't know anymore than anyone else. Your facts are just as inaccurate. Could we please just put on big boy pants and big girl pants and just move on. Like they care if "you are finished with the show." Only people without a life watch it anyway.
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Anonymous | 8:40 a.m. May 26, 2008
I happen to know a music producer who refused to work with David Archuletta BECAUSE of Jeff. He said Jeff was extremely rude and unkind, and could see why some people have called him "the stage dad from hell". I wish David A. well in his career, and I certainly hope he finds proper representation. Fortunately for David, he will be turning 18 soon.
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To anti-clueless: | 8:54 a.m. May 26, 2008
Actually, Simon has said repeatedly over the years that the judges all do watch the dress rehearsals and figure out what they're going to say, unless there's a major difference in the performances. They may not sit front and center like they do for the actual live show, but they do watch the rehearsals.
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mrk | 9:06 a.m. May 26, 2008
We have been played...
The producers, the judges and, of course, the source have really sold their souls. If anyone witnessed abusive behavior to a minor, you report to Child Welfare authorities. However, first call went to TMZ. Sure ridicule and embarrassment from millions of public, media, and of course Naomi Judd, is so much more healthy for a child isn't it? I give no credit to this story until an eye-witness can stand up and do the right thing.
Regarding the producers banning Jeff; if he was interfering, then fairness should have started from day one. It was only a problem until it cost the producers money? What about fairness to the other contestants along the way. We don't quite have the whole story.
And then the judges. I'll skip over the whole Paula thing... Simon campaigning on all the talk shows supporting David Cook and then to shove Archie down the viewer's throats during the finale. We have seen how Simon's harsh comments have kept contestants on the show in the past haven't we? Sorry people, Simon the 'honest' judge? Get real!
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Cathy | 9:06 a.m. May 26, 2008
As far as cinnebts regarding Jeff Archulta, I would hardly call Naomi Judd "anonymous" for her recollection of Jeff's behavior when David was on "Star Search."
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ajarizona | 9:08 a.m. May 26, 2008
Slow down folks.

Simon has always said this is a
"Singing Competition".

By any objective standards, including the judges, most experts, general consensus, and even Cook himself, Archuleta has the best pipes.

Simon's backtracking started before the final show, when he found out that Cook received more votes. Therefore, it was time to patch up with the guy he's going to own for the next three years.

This is not Truman over Dewey. This is not the equivalent of winning the Super Bowl or March Madness. Anyone using these analogies sounds silly and stupid.

This is not democracy, unless Chicago style politics is your game. Vote and vote often.

There is no "one man one vote" in this dynamic.

No, there were two competitions in one here.

The "Singing Competition" was won by David Archuleta.

And the "Popularity Vote, (based upon speed dialing, multiple dialing of 11 digits and phone banks with computers dailing numbers)", was won by Cook.

America has not spoken here, at all.

Time will tell.

I'm pulling for both of them.

The humility and brotherly love these guys have for each other is the real achievement here. Two first class guys, who deserve success.

ajarizona
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Owl | 9:12 a.m. May 26, 2008
Remember its only entertainment.
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