For the Latest ‘American Idol’ Finalists, Another 15 Minutes of Fame

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Syesha Mercado, a k a No. 3, was working herself flush performing “Listen,” from “Dreamgirls,” to an almost sold-out Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Tuesday night, pretending that she was not killing time. It was the third song of a three-song set, her not-quite-15 minutes of stage time on the American Idols Live Tour 2008, and she intended to milk it, even as Jeff Archuleta, father of David (No. 2), was making his way through the crowd to the sound board at the back of the arena, preparing to watch his son steal her thunder.

For this concert, which featured the top 10 finalists from the seventh season of “American Idol” in the country’s largest covers revue, the singers were announced by their names and numbers — what place they came in on the show — on screens hanging high above the stage. They performed in order of elimination, leading up to the two Davids: Archuleta and Cook (No. 1).

continue...