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2/14/2008 7:11 PM PST BY TMZ STAFF
"Idol" Contestant a Giant Phony?

Last night, 16-year-old "Idol" contestant David Archuleta said he "doubted" his talent. We're calling his bluff!


This kid's been a pro for years. TMZ tracked down one of his earlier (and chubbier) performances from the"Jenny Jones" show. Jennifer Hudson eat your heart out -- the kid killed it with a version of "And I Am Telling You ..."

"Jones" wasn't his only pre-"Idol" TV appearance and he may have even had a record deal! For the record, FOX tells us that contestants cannot currently have a management or recording contract.

Watch TMZ TV tonight for everything else we uncovered. Check local listings.

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Reader Comments

(Page 1 of 18) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments
1.

Evan Knudsen:  1459 days ago

FIRST

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2.

Evan Knudsen:  1459 days ago

FIRST

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3.

KO:  1459 days ago

Jail this kid! Cheater!

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4.

April Fouels:  1459 days ago

WHO ???

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5.

Lizard:  1459 days ago

OK


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6.

KO:  1459 days ago

1st

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7.

Concerned:  1459 days ago

I think Ai has lost its touch - all of the contestants are very polished/experienced. It's not the diamond in the rough finding. They have the fake teeth and hair and years of singing experience under their belt! w/e.

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8.

mommab:  1459 days ago

If this is true, doesn't that break idol rules? If he already had a contract?

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9.

Dan R.:  1459 days ago

Yet, TMZ doesn't post on here that several years ago he lost the use of one of his vocal chords and has struggled to get back to where he is now. The kid has come over a lot and his previous experience should have nothing to do with where he is right now.

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10.

Kate:  1459 days ago

.


Dump this brat and bring back Josiah as an alternate / wild card...


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11.

jema:  1459 days ago

Did he already have a contract? Playing the undiscovered kid who just sings to his pets...shame shame of course who but TMZ would unearth some mummified jenny jones show?

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12.

April Fouels:  1459 days ago

JENNY JONES, THAT EXPLAINS EVERYTHING.......!!!!!

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13.

PJ:  1459 days ago

And your point is???????????????????????

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14.

Heather W:  1459 days ago

He won Star Search in the kids category when he was 12. They said that on the show when he auditioned. You just can't have an active record deal right now. Kristy Lee Cook had one too and hers was much more recent.

Also - there was another girl who was on the Kids Idol Debacle they had a few years ago when she was 12 and now at 16 she sucked - horribly!

He got better in those 4 years - don't fault him...

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15.

Starr:  1459 days ago

Who cares? If he had a contract at one point, it didn't pan out now did it? The Irish chick put out a record on a major label. As Simon put it when asked about all the "ringers" if they had not failed at their earlier efforts and made it they wouldn't be on idol now would they?

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| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments