Sanjaya Malakar: Record Label Already Waiting?

"America Online members have spoken and the votes are in. 75% of 177,000 plus people who voted say Sanjaya Malakar is the worst singer who has ever appeared on American Idol. But that hasn't stopped record labels from lining up to sign Malakar once he's off the show.
BodogMusic, which enjoys close ties to everyone's favorite American Idol betting odds monitoring website, Gambling911.com, will reportedly offer Mr. Malakar a recording contract once he is voted off the show (assuming he ever gets voted off the show).
Sources have told Gambling911.com that 'higher ups' at BodogMusic would like to team Malakar up with their marquee star, singing sensation Bif Naked.
Our source, who wishes to remain anonymous, said:"

Ozzy Idol

Idol from Ozzie

ABC News: For Iraqis, an Idol to Rival Sanjaya

It was a contest that captivated a nation.

In Iraq, it was a reason to celebrate and escape the daily grind of violence and car-bombs as Shada Hassoon, the Iraqi contestant in this year's Star Academy competition, won first prize in an emotional finale on the Middle East's version of "American Idol."

As the announcement was made, Hassoon burst into joyful tears and proudly draped herself in the Iraqi flag as the presenters adorned her with flowers and fans besieged the stage to worship their star.

The 26-year-old singer, nicknamed the "Daughter of Mesopotamia," was born in Casablanca, Morocco, and was educated in Paris. Hassoon is only half Iraqi — her mother is Moroccan and her father is from Hilla, a town 60 miles south of Baghdad, and is a member of a mixed Sunni-Shiite tribe. In the Middle East, nationality is determined by the father.

'Idol' curiosity Sanjaya builds following :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Television

"Flowing hair and a precious smile have their rewards.
Especially if you're Sanjaya Malakar, who is considered one of the weakest performers on ''American Idol'' but has a fan base that has helped him survive multiple rounds of viewer elimination.
In the online community and in Malakar's home state of Washington, the croaking crooner seems to have a loyal following of friends, family and fanatics who would like nothing better than to see him achieve the ultimate ''Idol'' success and be the last singer standing in May.
''I think he has a career ahead of him, whether he wins or not,'' said Pat Wright, a gospel choir director in Seattle who has known Malakar for five years.
Wright, who calls in weekly to vote for Malakar, acknowledges that much of his support likely comes from an online community of young fans enthralled with his chameleon hairdos and flashing grin.
''He's very handsome. That's most of it,'' she said. ''He's a teenager, and young girls and guys really like him.''"

Sanjaya's American Idol run - is it credible? | Reuters.com

"He's the weakest singer with the best hair and the cutest smile. He is mocked on late night chat shows and the target of anti-'American Idol' forces.
But Sanjaya Malakar has lived to see another round of 'American Idol', prompting a passionate debate over whether America's most watched TV show has lost its credibility or unwittingly created another media superstar.
'Will Sanjaya kill 'American Idol'?' asked one fan in a posting on the www.idol-mania.com Web site on Thursday.
Malakar, 17, was easily voted through by the public to the final 9 of the 6th season of the singing competition on Wednesday after becoming one of the most-talked about people on U.S. television."

Vietnam gets its own American Idol spin-off

Television producers in this karaoke-crazy country are hoping to have a smash with ``Vietnam Idol,'' the newest version of the singing contest that is a major hit in the West.

A Vietnamese advertising company purchased the rights to ``American Idol'' for an undisclosed sum from FremantleMedia, which produced the first ``Idol'' show in Britain, according to Nguyen Chi Tan, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Television network, or HTV.

The show, to be produced by HTV, will be broadcast on eight channels nationwide.

Following the same format as the U.S. show, a parade of would-be pop stars will audition before a three-judge panel and try to win the votes of television viewers across this nation of 84 million people.

YouTube - Melinda Doolittle - I'm A Woman

American Idol Odds: Sanjaya Malakar haters bet on his elimination

"Sanjaya Malakar odds to be eliminated next from American Idol are (once again) being pounded by the Indian singer haters, odds makers report.
Sanjaya Malakar is rapidly turning into a match between his supporters and his haters. Odd makers report growing betting volume on his odds to be voted out of American Idol next.
Sanjaya can count on the unconditional support of the anti-Idol site votefortheworst.com and Howard Stern; he can also rely on the votes from thousands of girls who think he's hot, too hot to be voted out.
Sanjaya's fans could consider betting on his odds to become the next American Idol. His current odds to win the competition are +4500*. This means that a $50 bet on Sanjaya would eventually pay out $2,250 should he win the competition.
Meanwhile his haters are betting on his elimination. Odds makers report unexpectedly high betting volumes on Sanjaya's odds to be eliminated next. His current odds are set at +165*."

Indian shines in 'American Idol', critics slam him-The United States-World-NEWS-The Times of India

"One of the theories floating around is that of the support he is getting from radio jockey Howard Stern. Stern has been advising his fans to vote in jest for the first contestant of Indian descent to make it into the show's top 11.

He is getting a boost from all of the employees in India whose jobs were outsourced by US phone companies, Stern claims. Simon Cowell, one of the judges in the competition, has even threatened to resign if Malakar is the winner. "

American Idol: Sanjaya Malakar, Haley Scarnato Could Stick Around

"If search traffic is any indication, Sanjaya Malakar and Haley Scarnato probably won't be going home any time soon from American Idol. Both are favorites to be eliminated in the coming week at Bookmaker.com (see website here) yet a review of search engine traffic reveals a different story. The two were among the most searched for American Idols this week.
Malakar has been listed with +165 odds of being eliminated this coming week on American Idol. This bet would pay out $1.65 for every $1.00 bet. Scarnato is listed with odds of +265, paying out $2.65 on a $1.00 bet.
Both are seen as the least talented in the vocal department, yet Scarnato managed to wow judges and the public with a sexy performance this past week, probably the most talked about. Malakar is gaining momentum as VoteForTheWorst.com and Howard Stern have been prompting their minions to vote for Malakar each week. Seeing a young fan in the audience cry helped to thrust Malakar's popularity even further. "

American Idol: Separated at Birth | Wild Bluff Media : Entertainment Examined

"We know that our fans are fascinated with the private lives and even more private secrets of the latest batch of American Idol contenders. Here at Wild Bluff Media, we have had our crack team of investigators scouring the archives, pulling medical records, bribing family friends, and diving in trash cans to bring you this breaking story (OK we spent about 20 minutes on the internet). We have dredged up all of those disturbing family secrets that these contestants would rather you didn’t see:"

Edwards Cut From 'American Idol' - Forbes.com

"Is 'American Idol' for real?
In a surprise, Stephanie Edwards - one of this season's best singers - was voted off the top-rated talent contest on Wednesday, while weak and sometimes unwatchable performers Sanjaya Malakar and Haley Scarnato were allowed to stay.
The untimely departure of Edwards, 19, of Savannah, Ga., narrowed the number of 'Idol' contestants to 10. The winner will be chosen in May.
Simon Cowell said on Tuesday's show that Edwards' rendition of Dusty Springfield's 'You Don't Have to Say You Love Me' lacked the edginess and youthful energy that she brought to her previous performances.
Paula Abdul echoed that sentiment, telling Edwards she should have 'more fun' onstage."

BuddyTV - American Idol - What are Sanjaya's Odds for Another Week?

"In assessing Sanjaya’s odds of hanging in for another week on American Idol we decided to consult the experts: the bookies of the internet gambling world. So far, they have not failed to at least entertain us with their American Idol predictions, which is more than Sanjaya can say. If what they say is true this week, Sanjaya fans (all six of them) can look forward to Sanjaya hanging in for at least three more weeks of American Idol competition. Why? Read on to find out. The ‘Sanjaya situation’ has become a multi-faceted conundrum as of late. How can the worst, arguably (if your tone deaf), singer on American Idol be hanging in for so long? People have made assertions as wild as an Indian conspiracy, to that old standby of American Idol foiler ‘Vote for the Worst’. Now, however, we have another angle to the Sanjaya mystery: Howard Stern. If each of these conspiracy theories were true, even to a minor degree – which is entirely likely – the combination might be enough to keep Sanjaya crooning for another week, or possibly even more. "

YouTube - The Chad Invades American Idol - PART 2

Reality TV Magazine: Former Americal Idol Contestant Can't Say Idol Anymore

"A little over a week ago, Reality TV Magazine reported on eliminated top forty American Idol 6 contestant Matt Buckstein’s clever idea to continue to be part of the American Idol competition. In a concept that he originally called “Lost Idol,” he planned to upload doggy fun videos of himself singing every week to his MySpace and allow fans to vote and offer feedback. However, American Idol legal folks issued a cease and desist to the bar where Matt Buckstein was performing. "

Idol Finals Soon

"American Idol" held its first finalist elimination Wednesday night, and the bottom three singers were really no surprise. Or were they?
If you'd just watched Tuesday's performance show and then shut yourself in a lead-sealed capsule until the elimination was announced, you wouldn't be shocked at all that Sanjaya Malakar, Phil Stacey, and Brandon Rogers were the three lowest vote-getters. They just didn't sound that great. The six men in the contest have been almost universally decried as being much less talented than the women, so it's no surprise that half the men ended up in the bottom three."

Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell

"Paula Abdul says she and Simon Cowell, who torments her on the set of 'American Idol,' are chummy in real life.
'Simon and I actually get along great,' the 44-year-old 'Idol' judge says in an interview in TV Guide magazine's March 19 issue. 'We have cultivated a fun relationship...He's actually become a really good friend.' Were they at first attracted to one another, as Cowell has suggested?
'Oh, puh-leez! He makes this stuff up,' Abdul says.
'He said: 'Paula, people want us to hook up so bad.''
'I said: 'That's disgusting.' He goes: 'Paula, I know you want me' and I go: 'Like a cold sore.'
'We have fun playing up the chemistry but there's also times when I would cross the other side of the street so I wouldn't have to look at him.' "

Another 'American Idol' Constestant Axed - Forbes.com

"Brandon Rogers, who forgot the words to his song on Tuesday's 'American Idol,' had a feeling he wouldn't last. He got confirmation Wednesday.
Rogers, a former backup singer from Los Angeles, became the first of the final dozen to be voted off the top-rated Fox network sing-off.
'I have no hard feelings,' Rogers, 28, said before leaving the stage. 'I kind of expected it.'
Rogers said he committed a 'cardinal sin' by stumbling with some of the lyrics of the Motown classic 'You Can't Hurry Love.' Judge Simon Cowell, who has routinely criticized Rogers for a lack of charisma, said his performance was dull and uninspired."

American Idol: U-T Judging Panel: The Top 16

Men Singing Badly « Idol On My Mind

"Here’s hoping we lose Sanjaya Malakar this week! Anyway, on to the contestants:
Blake Lewis - Ummm…hmmm…I’m not really sure what to say about Blake tonight. That whole Jimmy Walker Blue bit in the intro…well, that was bizarre. As for his song selection…well, it was definitely original. I’m pretty sure that no one else has ever sang a 311 song on American Idol before. I just don’t know that I really liked the performance all that much. Still, I think as far as the guys go, it will be between Blake and Chris Sligh…as long as “America” doesn’t kick one of them off this week."

Fox tops with 'Idol,' 'Smarter' - Los Angeles Times

"The three-night premiere of the game show 'Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?' and three 'American Idol' broadcasts gave Fox the week's six most-watched shows and a wide victory in the weekly ratings race, figures from Nielsen Media Research showed Tuesday.

The premiere of 'Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?' last Tuesday drew 26.48 million viewers, the most for a series premiere since Sept. 24, 1998, when 27 million tuned into the NBC comedy 'Jesse.'

The premiere of the NBC drama 'The Black Donnellys' was third in its Monday 10 to 11 p.m. time slot among total viewers, with 7.93 million, and viewers ages 18 to 49, but first among men 18 to 34.

For the third time in four weeks, ABC's 'World News With Charles Gibson' was the most-watched network nightly newscast, averaging 9.57 million viewers. NBC was second."

YouTube - American Idol Jared Cotter

Sanjaya Malakar

Sanjaya Malakar: "Sanjaya Malakar was an American Idol Season 6 final 24 contender from February 14, 2007.

Sanjaya Malakar is 17 years old. He auditioned in Seattle with his sister Shyamali, singing 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered'. He is from Federal Way, Washington, the same town as Amy Krebs. After Malakar's audition, Simon commented that he had a better voice than his sister. Both made it to Hollywood, but Sanjaya was shown tearfully embracing his sister when he made it to the top 40 in Hollywood and she was cut."

Antonella Barba Links for American Idol

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Charlotte Church Pregnant!

Charlotte Church: "Charlotte has asked us to bring you the news exclusively today via CharlotteChurch.com that she is pregnant. For reasons of privacy, Charlotte has chosen not to comment on this matter, other than to confirm that she and her boyfriend, Gavin Henson, are delighted. "