David Archuleta: From American Idol to Pals With Vanessa Hudgens & Zac Efron?

Will David Archuleta make an appearance with Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens?  That’s the subject of an item from Mike Walker of the Enquirer and he reports that Disney is driving strong to the hoop to get an cameo of the American idol runner up for the big screen movie High School Musical 3.  It seems like a pretty shrewd move by Disney to try and grad Archuleta for the film but can they pull it off?

David Archuleta: From American Idol to Pals With Vanessa Hudgens & Zac Efron?

Walker writes that David is “up for grabs, and Disney’s grabbing the cute-as-a-button “American Idol” finalist for “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” - if they win the behind-the-scenes battle that’s raging with Fox, which has first dibs on David and an ironclad contract for his “Idol” tour this summer, which is just when Disney needs him for “Musical.”"

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Walker adds that it will be a tough fight because of Archuleta’s tour obligations, plus potential “Idol” recording negotiations with American idol judge Simon Cowell’s company, but insiders say the tricky deal just might be worked out because Disney, Fox and Cowell recognize the fantastic cross-promotion that could generate big revenues as David would bring in a slew of tween fans to the film.

Walker believes it is doable and writes, “Perfect-Disney-type David needs just a couple of weeks leeway to shoot his “Musical” role - basically, a cameo quickie - and the smart money predicts Archuleta fans will be raving for him on tour and on the silver screen.”

David Archuleta’s Take on Risky Business

Cook triumphs over Archuleta on ‘American Idol’

LOS ANGELES - The grown-up rocker triumphed over the smooth-voiced kid as David Cook claimed the “American Idol” title Wednesday, and it wasn’t as much of a surprise as it seemed.

While the judges all but crowned 17-year-old David Archuleta the night before, the voters decided otherwise — and in a huge and unexpected way. Host Ryan Seacrest said before the results that that the margin was 12 million votes, and it turns out they broke in the favor of the 25-year-old from Blue Springs, Mo.

Cook was overcome with emotion, bending toward the stage after his name was announced. When he stood up, his eyes were filled with tears, the second time in as many nights that the scruffy, grainy-voiced belter had broken down.

“This is amazing,” he said. “This is all your fault,” he added, addressing his brother, Andrew. The story goes that Cook was only tagging along with his sibling to the “Idol” auditions to lend support, and wound up getting on the show.

To close out the show’s sevent season, Cook immediately took the microphone and began to sing “Time of my Life,” a midtempo rocker by Nashville singer/songwriter Regie Hamm, winner of the annual “Idol” songwriting competition.

Cook refused to bow to the conventional during his three-song set Tuesday, with Collective Soul’s “The World I Know” as his pick for a closing performance. He also sang U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” and the power ballad “Dream Big,” his choice from the songwriting competition’s non-winning finalists.

“If I had to choose between playing a song that not a whole lot of people know that I could get behind, or the opposite, I’ll choose the lesser-known every time,” Cook told The Associated Press backstage Tuesday.

Judge Simon Cowell declared at the time that the song choices had sunk him, and told Archuleta that he’d scored a “knockout” in the boxing-themed performance finale.

But just before the winner was announced, Cowell uncharacteristically backtracked. He offered Cook an apology and said that the competition “wasn’t quite so clear cut as we called it” — even letting on that, for the first time, he felt either finalist would have been a worthy winner.

While “Idol” ratings were down all season, the final contest turned that tide, with with viewership for Tuesday’s show up 3 percent over last year’s performance finale, the network said Wednesday. That provoked a frenzy with a record 97.5 million audience votes cast by phone and text. Last year’s total vote count was 74 million.

Early in the show, host Ryan Seacrest played it coy, announcing that the split between the two contestants was 56 percent for one David, 44 percent for the other. Of course he left in question who got the lion’s share; that detail wouldn’t come until the closing moments of season seven.

While Archuleta was showered with praise by the judges all season, online bookies and observers kept the faith with Cook. One Web site, which tracks busy signals on the separate phone lines dedicated to each contestant, projected him the winner correctly Wednesday morning.

By strict “Idol” standards, being rebellious turned out to be worth the gamble for Cook, whose hip and scruffy style and ability to work the camera with a soulful gaze also proved to have overwhelming appeal.

Archuleta, of Murray, Utah, was the prodigy who consistently dazzled the show’s judges and thrilled screaming young fans. He would have been the youngest-”Idol” ever if he’d won, beating last year’s winner Jordin Sparks by mere days.

The teenager seemed to find the attention the show brought him overwhelming, often appearing to be speechless in the face of praise, but he was consistently professional onstage, with dulcet tones and poise that belied his shyness and tender age. He also became the focus of controversy when his father, Jeff, was reportedly getting too heavily involved in his son’s rehearsals and asked by the show’s producers to back off.

Archuleta made the most of his smooth voice Tuesday with Elton John’s “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” the inspirational ballad “In This Moment” and a reprise from earlier in the season of John Lennon’s “Imagine.”

Judge Randy Jackson exclaimed to Archuleta, “Dude, you are so good tonight. You are exactly what this show is about.” And Cowell told the teenager: “You came out here tonight to win, and what we have witnessed is a knockout.”

“I felt I had a disadvantage getting so much attention in the beginning. But winning isn’t the big concern. It’s always doing your best. … That’s what’s important,” he told The Associated Press backstage Tuesday.

During the show, viewers got songs from runners-up including Syesha Mercado, who dueted with Seal on his song “Waiting for You,” and a solo on “Hallelujah” by dreadlocked Jason Castro.

Other “Idol” contestant and name-brand pairings: Cook with ZZ Top, Archuleta with OneRepublic, Bryan Adams with the top six male singers and Brooke White with Graham Nash.

“Brooke looks so much better than Crosby,” Nash quipped backstage, referring to bandmate David Crosby.

The Jonas Brothers got the stage to themselves for a performance.

“American Idol” also celebrated the awfulness that is part of the show, usually confined to the early auditions, with a performance by failed contestant Reynaldo Lapuz that threw in University of Southern California cheerleaders and marching band members.

In Utah, Archuleta fans gathered to watch the finale took the loss like a collective kick. Mouths dropped, eyes widened and several teenage girls hugged and cried at a live viewing party at EnergySolutions arena in Salt Lake City.

“Did you feel that?” said Skippy Jessop, 30, his homemade sign now headed for the trash bin. “It felt like a punch in the gut. We all just stood there with our mouths hanging open.”

But fans say this won’t be the last note from Utah’s newest favorite son.

“He’s still a winner for sure,” said Cecily Estrada, 19, who attended Murray High School with Archuleta. “He’s gonna be big no matter what.”

He’s already scored one big endorsement: Toward the end of the live, two-hour broadcast, Archuleta was featured in a “Guitar Hero” commercial in which he reprised Tom Cruise’s lip-sync routine from the movie “Risky Business.” Instead of an air guitar, Archuleta played the small, plastic replica instrument from the popular video game.

But on Wednesday, it was the real guitarist who struck the biggest power chord.

source

Disney set to launch mobile ‘tween’ social network

TORONTO — Walt Disney Co. wants to take “tween” social networking mobile.

When Disney launches its new Prince Caspian video game for the Nintendo DS today, it will also unveil DGamer, a kid-friendly mobile social network that will allow users to create avatars, chat and share high scores with friends over a WiFi connection.

‘American Idol’ Producer Explains Ban On David Archuleta’s Dad: ‘Let’s Take Some Pressure Away Here’

Fantasia VS Charice - I Believe

Archuleta’s Dad Banished from “Idol”

TMZ has learned David Archuleta’s dad, Jeff, has been officially banned from “American Idol.”

Here’s how it went down. “Idol” sources tell TMZ Jeff has been a complete pain in the ass, interfering with the entire production. He has badgered producers, the band, vocal coaches and even other contestants. The final straw came this week, when Jeff wanted to change the lyrics to David’s first song, “Stand By Me.” Jeff insisted on adding a verse from Sean Kingston’s hit, “Beautiful Girls.” Producers sent him an e-mail telling him the lyrics could not be changed. They were beyond pissed when David sang the song with Kingston’s lyrics during the live show.

We’re told by changing the lyrics, it created problems with the song’s publisher and cost “A.I.” a lot of money.

Jeff was ordered to sit with “A.I.” lawyers on Wednesday, who told him he was “banned from being in the rooms where David was learning or rehearsing his songs.” It’s “Idol’s” position, since David is 17, he does not need a guardian — just a teacher. Jeff will be allowed to sit in the audience during the live show but he’s 86′d from anything backstage.

Sources say the other contestants were fed up with Jeff and didn’t want him near them. Now they have their wish.

All in all, sources say Jeff is the stage dad from hell. BTW, he was banned on the set when David did “Star Search” a few years back.

Source

Relieved Castro blames ‘Idol’ exit on inexperience

LOS ANGELES  - A relieved Jason Castro on Thursday attributed his exit from “American Idol” to inexperience and the pressure of trying to learn two new songs every week for the hit television talent show.

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Jason Castro Admits He ‘Felt Relieved’ After Being Kicked Off ‘American Idol’

Jason Castro

Photo: Fox

There are always a few contestants we don’t hear a peep from during the audition rounds or Hollywood week, and then they disappear before the top 12. But Jason Castro was different. He did his cheesy top-24 dance, dreads flailing about, and we knew “Idol” would never be the same.

And it won’t be. The 20-year-old from Rockwall, Texas, brought a new audience of “dread-heads” to the show with his goofy demeanor and offbeat song choices. But his unexpectedly long journey on the show came to an end after his forgotten lyrics and odd arrangements during Rock and Roll Hall of Fame night.

We caught up with the unique castoff to see how bad he really wanted to win, what he thought of Paula Abdul’s misstep last week and why he was relieved to be going home.

Q: Simon suggested after the results show Wednesday that you had messed up your lyrics in Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” on purpose. Was that the case?

A: [Laughs.] I definitely did not do that on purpose. I couldn’t believe I forgot such a popular line, something that’s, like, written on your soul. Somehow it slipped my mind, but I definitely didn’t do it on purpose.

Q: So you still wanted to win?

A: Yesterday I wanted to win, and the day before that. I think what it came down to was just my inexperience. Once we doubled up on songs, I wasn’t really able to focus. … My mind was split, and I just couldn’t deliver either/or.

Q: When you say you were inexperienced, what was your musical history before the show?

A: I started playing guitar my freshman year of college and singing shortly thereafter. While I was learning, I was teaching myself. I would learn songs, but I would never learn them all the way through. [Laughs.] I’d never even learned a song all the way through, so learning two in a week has just been tough.

Q: Since you had less experience than most of the other contestants, what do you think the judges saw in you to put you through to the top 24?

A: I think it was the potential, you know? Just because I was so new at it and what I had done so far, I think it showed enough potential that I could be something. … I’m very much what the show was originally about. I am kind of as raw as it gets. I haven’t done much of anything, singing-wise.

Q: Why do you think you stuck around till the final four after having virtually no exposure prior to the top 24?

A: I think a lot of it just has to do with my uniqueness, just being different from the usual thing. I at least catch the eye and the ear a little faster than anybody else. I was disadvantaged coming in, but I guess just [being] me was an advantage. [Laughs.]

Q: Were you concerned about that lack of exposure?

A: I would see how people were getting excited about other people, and I was like, “Uh-oh.” [Laughs.] I knew why they weren’t airing my stuff — it didn’t clear — so I was OK with it, but it still wasn’t fun.

Q: What songs didn’t get cleared in those early rounds?

A: In the auditions, for the first two auditions, I sang “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley, but in the style of Ray LaMontagne, one of my favorite singer/songwriters ever. He just did a really cool version of that. That never cleared. Another song I love to do is “Santeria” by Sublime. I tried to do that in Hollywood week for my second day, and they said it cleared, but then they changed their mind. And then I tried again while we were out here — it never cleared.

Q: How did you feel when Simon said you weren’t performing like the Jason they voted into the competition?

A: I was feeling the same thing. I was feeling me losing that power, just because I couldn’t connect with the songs in the given time. I really had a hard time when we picked it up to two songs. I wasn’t committing to either one, and I just couldn’t connect with them. I couldn’t fall in love with them. You need time.

Q: Your interview packages always made you seem a bit goofy. Do you think that portrays you accurately?

A: I think it very much does. [Laughs.] I am a goofy person. I am kind of an awkward conversationalist — I’m doing my best right now! — but all my friends, they love it, because what you see is what you get. I didn’t change at all coming out here. That’s me!

Q: Some conspiracy theorists are suggesting that you mouthed the words “Don’t vote” during Tuesday’s show. Is that what you said?

A: I was saying, “Vote,” and then I said it again. I was kind of trying to emphasize that, but nobody heard me. And I remember going and sitting down and thinking about it, and they kind of have the same syllables, and it’s gonna look like “Don’t vote.” That went through my mind, and I was like, “Dang it.” Consciously, the second time, I only said, “Vote,” once when they were showing the phone numbers, because I thought of that.

Q: Why did you seem so relieved after being eliminated?

A: I was as happy last night as I was when I found out I made the top 24. This whole time, I had a blast. And I was trying. But it’s just really been hard. And that night, I remember before we found out about the results, I was really starting to fear the week ahead. If I had made it, [I thought,] “How am I going to do three songs? I can’t even do two right!” With the hometown visit, it was just going to be a lot of work, even though it would’ve been so much fun. I was just freaking out about it. That was all building up. I was ready for it to go either way. [When I was eliminated,] I just really felt relieved. The pressure was off. I loved my time on there, and I would’ve liked to go farther, but I don’t think I could handle it. I’m content.

Q: What is the biggest misconception about you?

A: There was an interview this last week [with Entertainment Weekly], and I said I had wanted to go home or something. I think this week, everyone kind of had the idea that I was ready to go. And that wasn’t my mindset at all going in. But every week has its ups and downs, and that morning, when I had that interview, I was kind of frustrated with a lot of things. … There was a lot going on that morning, and that sort of came across wrong. The way I was on the show, people were kinda thinking that I didn’t want to be there, which was never my mindset.

Q: What did you make of Paula Abdul’s blunder last week? Did it mess with your second performance?

A: That was kind of funny. [Laughs.] I was confused, like, “What’s going on? Does the second song mean David [Cook's]? What does that mean?” But it was an honest mistake. I don’t think it really affected my next performance.

Q: Why do you think you didn’t really get worked up about Simon’s criticism?

A: [On Tuesday] night, I was having fun with my songs. He could say whatever he wanted, but I was confident in what I was doing. I had nothing to be ashamed of. If he didn’t like it, fine. If it wasn’t what we needed for the competition, OK. If I wasn’t prepared for a song, and I’m going onstage feeling like it’s not the best it could be, and then they say that too, it’s kind of reaffirming my thoughts. It’s just another day. It’s just a song. People see past that, and I see past it.

Q: At the beginning of the competition, you kind of looked like the guy who just wandered in by mistake, but were you really interested in winning?

A: I did come in with that attitude. And I made it farther than I had ever imagined. I didn’t really consider it a real possibility that I could win until these last few weeks. I did kind of just wander in! [Laughs.] I was like, “Well, all right, I’m here. Might as well be in it to win it!” I was giving it my best. I never necessarily had the mindset of winning first place; it was more of the mindset of every week, I want to give it my best. And that leads to winning.

Q: What did you think of Jeff Buckley’s “Hallelujah” going to #1 on iTunes after you performed it?

A: That was awesome. I couldn’t believe it. When I saw that, I realized the amount of power that “American Idol” has. … It was just such an honor. How cool. If people hadn’t heard that song, they should’ve. I’m glad now they have.

Q: What did you learn from your experience on “Idol”?

A: I’ve learned I can do a lot more than I thought. Before I did this, I wasn’t really confident as a performer, and I wasn’t doing it a whole lot. Now I did it for a few months straight — on TV! [Laughs.] I just gained a lot of confidence, and learned that I can do it.

Q: Have you heard from any famous fans or other musicians who want to work with you?

A: ["American Idol" season-five finalist] Chris Sligh called me the other day. He was apparently hanging out with one of my friends — it’s a guitarist, who’s doing some studio work in Nashville — and they were hanging out, and I came up in conversation. He gave him my number, and he was just extending his friendship, and I haven’t called him back yet. [Laughs.] I haven’t had time, that’s how busy this thing is. I can’t even call back a celebrity!

Q: What do you hope to do next?

A: The tour, I’m looking forward to that. That’s just gonna be a blast. After that, wherever music leads me. I wanna play some music somewhere.

original article mtv

“American Idol” banter: Jason Castro rides off with the fun parade

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