This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2008, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

In David Archuleta, we have a Utah "American Idol" contestant who I bet money will make the final 12. He's an whole-package crooner more vocally attractive than Utah's season-two contestant Carmen Rasmusen ever was during her run (and whose vibrato is still ringing my ears).

But this pint-sized 17-year-old from Murray, who is now among the 24 semifinalists, has the tools and the talent. He appears to be a charming kid, self-effacing but confident, with a voice that has power and control. He's also got the looks that will make every teen girl get teary-eyed. As his vocal coach, Dean Kaelin told me, Archuleta goes straight for that "High School Musical" crowd.

You'll be able to hear his first live performance Tuesday on KSTU Channel 13 at 7 p.m. when the 12 male vocalists sing. The dozen females sing Wednesday, and Thursday is a one-hour live show where two men and two women will be booted.

Archuleta has another big leg up on the rest of the contestants - he's done this before.

He was only 13 when he appeared on CBS' "Star Search," an "Idol" clone that also was a singing competition where viewers voted for the winner.

Archuleta, who wowed the judges and the audience with big vocals packed into such a tiny kid body, won the juniors category. He took home $100,000 and a lot of experience.

That means he knows the feeling and effect of getting on stage in front of a crowd and belting it out when it counts.

It also means he has the experience of singing in front of a national television audience, knowing that millions of viewers are watching him on their sets. That will make him more comfortable and confident on stage.

But he's also humble, and his modesty and charm will make him a favorite with viewers.

The most interesting factor, though, will be his age.

Archuleta is just a teen, and looks even younger. For "American Idol's" biggest viewing demographic - young girls - his age is a plus. In fact, he and two other 17-year-olds are the youngest of the semifinalists.

Some of his strongest competition includes much older singers, including Florida's Robbie Carrico, a 26-year-old rocker, and especially 29-year-old Michael Johns, whose smoky vocals impressed the judges.

An age gap between the oldest and youngest singers just might develop over the competition.

But Archuleta has the best chance a Utah singer has ever had on television's biggest show (it's been rated No. 1 and No. 2 every week since it started last month).

I'm sure there's not an "Idol" fan in Utah who won't be rooting for him week after week.

---

* VINCE HORIUCHI'S column appears Mondays and Fridays. He can be reached at vince@sltrib.com or 801-257-8607. For more television insights, visit Horiuchi's blog, "The Village Vidiot," at blogs.sltrib.com/tv/. Send comments about this column to livingeditor@sltrib.com.