Thread: Top 3 Homecoming Info

Murray's Archuleta advances to 'Idol' top 3
By Scott D. Pierce
Deseret News

It's official. David Archuleta is coming home on Friday. The Murray teen will be greeted by classmates, politicians and, oh, maybe 20,000 of his new best friends. He'll sing the national anthem at the Utah Jazz game.
And "American Idol" cameras will be following him the whole time, capturing footage for next week's episodes of the top-rated Fox show.

Because, as expected, Archuleta advanced to the "Idol" top three after almost 51 million votes were cast by viewers.

Which means it's homecoming at Murray High for Archuleta on Friday. He'll be greeted by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon and Murray Mayor Dan Snarr at an elaborate pep rally that begins at 4:15 p.m. in the school's football stadium. He'll sing two or three songs.

He's also planning to sing when he appears at 7 a.m. on local Fox station KSTU-Channel 13's "Good Day Utah," and maybe when he goes from there to radio station KZHT-FM 97.1.

Now that Fox, "Idol" producers and the NBA have worked out issues over rights, Archuleta will indeed be singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" before the Jazz take on the Los Angeles Lakers in Game No. 3 of their playoff series at EnergySolutions Arena.

If you just can't get enough of Archuleta, KSTU's myfoxutah.com will be streaming hourly updates. And both the Web site and Channel 13 will cover the pep rally from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
It's not exactly a surprise that Archuleta was in the top three of the voting this week. After all, "Idol" judge Simon Cowell told the Murray teen that he'd "crushed" the competition on Tuesday night.

But strange things have happened on "American Idol" before. And there's a bit of a curse associated with the week the final four perform — finalists thought to be safe went home instead of less-talented competitors.

The pattern was set in Season 1 when Tamyra Gray made a shocking exit. That was followed by Josh Gracin in Season 2, LaToya London in Season 3 and Anthony Federov in Season 4, all thought to be at least relatively safe until they were sent home.

Then there was Chris Daughtry's absolutely astonishing elimination in Season 5. And Lakisha Jones' exit last season was at least mildly surprising.

Archuleta admitted on Wednesday night that he felt "nervous."

"No matter how well you do, there's always a chance" of being voted out," he told "Idol" host Ryan Seacrest.

"American Idol" doesn't reveal vote totals and, until it is just a two-person competition, doesn't reveal who finishes first. But Seacrest said this week's top three — Archuleta, David Cook and Syesha Mercado — were all within 1 million votes of each other.

After a pair of horrible performances on Tuesday — including one in which he forgot the lyrics — Jason Castro was sent home — only without the big celebration that awaits Archuleta, Cook and Mercado in their hometowns.

After the quick trip back to Utah, Archuleta returns to Los Angeles when he, Cook and Mercado will sing on Tuesday and await the votes on Wednesday.

"American Idol" will declare a winner on May 21.

Deseret News | Murray's Archuleta advances to 'Idol' top 3

Syesha makes top 3; homecoming next

American Idol contestant Syesha Mercado, 21, of Sarasota.By JANUARY HOLMES
Cue the fans and the paparazzi.

Syesha is coming to town.

After securing a final-three spot Wednesday on "American Idol," Syesha Mercado will travel to her hometowns of Bradenton and Sarasota on Friday, after more than three months of competing in Hollywood.

"Idol" crews will capture moments of her Florida visit, which will air at 8 p.m. Tuesday. It's a customary "Idol" rite for the last three finalists' hometowns to be featured on the show. Tuesday's program will also include clips from "Idol" finalists David Archuleta's and David Cook's hometowns.

The cities of Bradenton and Sarasota are busy putting the final touches on celebration plans for Mercado's visit. Though most of the fanfare will be in Sarasota, the soulful 21-year-old talent will be in the arms of the city of Bradenton for at least half an hour - tentatively from 10:30 to 11 a.m., said Tim McCann, public information officer for the city.

"I think it will be awesome for Bradenton and awesome for her fans to see her," he said.

A stage will be set up on Barcarrota Boulevard in downtown Bradenton, where Mercado will be given the key to the city by Mayor Wayne Poston. Members of the Manatee County Commission will issue a proclamation in Mercado's honor. The city hopes to get the former Daughtrey Elementary and Manatee School for the Arts student to serenade them with a song or two, McCann said.

Sarasota is planning a similar community event at the John and Mable Ringling Museum's Ca d'Zan. There, the city will also give a proclamation in Mercado's honor for an official Syesha Mercado Day, said Jan Thornburg, public information officer for the city of Sarasota. The event is set tentatively for 3 p.m. and will last a half-hour.

Mercado will perform a mini-concert at the museum, said Erin Duggan, public relations director of the Sarasota Convention and Visitor's Bureau.

The star also will visit her alma mater, Booker High School in Sarasota, prior to the Ringling visit. The high school appearance, which may include a parade upon Mercado's arrival, will be closed to the public, Duggan said.

Earlier this week, local fans of the Miami-based singing sensation rallied Bradenton and Sarasota residents to vote as much as they could for Mercado after her Tuesday night performance. Fans voted multiple times in hopes of bringing Mercado home for an appearance.

Duggan said the "Idol" contestant's visit would be a big tourism boost for the area because more than 30 million "Idol" viewers watch the show. They will get to see the area's picturesque settings featured next week.

"We couldn't be more excited about it," she said.

McCann said he believes Bradenton's Mercado event, on the banks of the Manatee River, will be special, too.

"I just think that will be sweet," he said.

Bradenton.com | 05/08/2008 | Syesha makes top 3; homecoming next

Cook to do mini-concert downtown

David Cook will play here Friday. Assuming he made the “American Idol” cut Wednesday night, David Cook, the Blue Springs native, will give a free mini-concert at 11:30 a.m. Friday at the Kansas City Live stage in the Power & Light District.

The appearance precedes a parade and concert in Blue Springs Friday afternoon that Fox cameras will follow for the show. The parade will start at Moreland School Road and Adams Dairy Parkway at 3:30 p.m. and should conclude around 4 p.m. at the rear entrance of the stadium at Blue Springs South High School, 1200 S.E. Adams Dairy Parkway.

Cook’s concert is scheduled for the school stadium right after the parade. All 10,000 tickets have been claimed, even though there’s seating for just 6,000.

Cook is also scheduled to appear on the “Fox 4 Morning Show” and at the Royals’ game Friday before returning to Los Angeles. For more information, see www.blue springsgov.com.

The Kansas City Star
www.kansascity.com | 05/07/2008 | Cook to do mini-concert downtown