Who says American Idol is too mean?

Producers of the show recently came up with a way to help an Oklahoma Navy officer who faced a missed tryout because his wife gave birth to their second child.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Phil Stacey of Shawnee persuaded producers in Memphis to let him audition early so he could return to Jacksonville and be with his wife, Kendra, and their new daughter.

In return, American Idol did ask for Stacey had to arrange to videotape their reunion.

Stacey's father-in-law - Mark McIntosh of Shawnee - says the producers like the taped reunion enough that they plan to use it on the show. Look for it this evening.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.