Sanjaya's star continues to rise-Arts & Entertainment-TV & Radio-TimesOnline

"He may have been voted off American Idol but Sanjaya Malakar’s time in the spotlight has yet to end.

Against the odds, Malakar, 17, made it to the top seven in the US competition.

His singing talent was questionable, but his ever-changing hairdos and unfailing positivity in the face of cutting remarks from the judges, earned him a surprising following."

Sanjaya: Simon ‘taught me - MSNBC.com

"Sanjaya Malakar was nowhere close to being the best singer on “American Idol,” but give credit where credit is due. The audience favorite with the wide smile and zany hairdos knows how to make an entrance — and his exit from the hit show was as gracious as any in the program's six seasons."

Goog Bye Sanjaya, But Not The Drama

"Possibly more shocking than the inevitable ouster of Sanjaya Malakar on 'American Idol' last week was seeing powerhouse LaKisha Jones and the best male candidate, Blake Lewis, alongside him in the bottom three.

Sanjaya, the household name who flaunted his own ability to stir controversy with his hula and hairstyles (had anybody really seen a faux-hawk before?), retooled the losing song in his farewell by singing, 'Let's give them something to talk about ... other than hair!'"

TMZ: Video of Sanjaya

Sanjaya on Ellen interview

Shyamali Malakar - She is the Hot sister of Sanjaya

Bye Bye Sayonara Sanjaya! - Los Angeles Times

"Let's give 'em something to talk about, indeed.



Sanjaya Malakar -- and his many, many hairstyles -- were sent packing from 'American Idol' Wednesday night, capping a wild run fueled in part by shrieking young girls who just couldn't get enough of that silky mane, and an evil-minded Howard Stern who was bent on destroying a national phenomenon."

YouTube - Howard Stern / shock jocks helping Sanjaya stay on the show

"Finally, a pretense for writing about American Idol. O'Reilly had on a lawyer who argued that Fox may have had a cause of action against Howard Stern and VoteForTheWorse.com, because they suggest that people vote for Sanjaya precisely because he is bad. Stern allegedly is doing so to undermine Idol's credibility. (pause). So the lawyer argues that Fox can use Stern for, I don't know, I think she said 'intentional interference with malicious intent.' She also sugested that the jilted contestants might have an action for Stern for, I don't know, contributory unjust enrichment, because Sanjaya received the spot that was rightfully their's."

Sanjaya's secrets? Conspiracy, kids, confusion, and a love for William Hung? MSNBC.com

The phone rang, loud. I could tell from my editor’s tough tone that something big was afoot.

What’s going on with that kid, he asked. The one with the hair. What’s the real story? Is someone gonna end up in the slammer? The boss didn’t have to drop any more clues.

He was talking about Sanjaya.

Sanjaya is Gay? Stuff.co.nz

"American Idol contestant Sanjaya Malakar is, by all accounts, not the most talented performer on the show.
But research firm Nielsen BuzzMetrics says the blogosphere has played a large part in making him the most visible.
According to a BuzzMetrics report, Sanjaya - now referred to by only his first name on many sites - has seen blog references increase 338 per cent from February 18, when he first reached critical mass, to April 8.
Reality TV Magazine is the top blog in Sanjaya traffic, with 40 other blogs linking to its posts on the subject from January 1-April 8.
Many blog conversations about Sanjaya in late March center on the fact that he 'lacks talent' and doesn't deserve to win. Conversations also focus on Howard Stern and VoteForTheWorst.com, two sources that encourage people to skew the votes, suggesting that both have played a large part in keeping him on the air. "

Secret of Sanjaya's survival?

"Everyone is puzzled as to why India-American contestant Sanjaya Malakar has stayed this long on American Idol since he can't carry a tune in a bucket except that one time when he gave a rendition of Jennifer Lopez' Besasme mucho.

Sanjaya's rendition had Lopez gushing and judge Simon Cowell choking on his acid tongue while he had to admit that he had done a good job."

WCFcourier.com | Some say the vote-fiddling Sanjaya has inspired could be fatal to 'Idol'

"Can a vocally challenged 17-year-old string bean with a smile brighter than the xenon headlights on Ludacris' Lexus bring down America's pop-culture behemoth?

Backed by organized efforts to distort the voting --- most notably a campaign by satellite radio star Howard Stern --- and generating an unprecedented public fascination, Sanjaya Malakar has become the focal point of this season's "American Idol."

And, according to one media analyst who has done extensive research on the show, that's not good.

"It's already starting to cause trouble," says Stacey Lynn Schulman, who has examined how "Idol" connects with its fans. "People gravitated toward the show because it was a true contest, providing real people with real talent with real opportunity. Sanjaya degrades that. ..."




Will Sanjaya Malakar have a KFC Famous Bowl Cut?

"As we anxiously await the 8 PM EST start time for American Idol, people are wondering if Sanjaya will take KFC up on their offer and sport the bowl cut this evening. Sanjaya seems to change his hairstyle every week. Last week he chose a straight, slicked back look and the week prior he sported a crazy mohawk.

In an open letter to Sanjaya Malakar, KFC president, Greg Dedrick offered the Idol contestant a free lifetime supply of KFC Famous Bowls and a charitable donation in his name. Plus, $5000 in cash and his very own starring role in the next KFC Famous Bowl advertisement. "

American Idol Recap: Haley out, Sanjay in. 7 to go

"Haley Scarnato, the long-legged pop-singing specialist from San Antonio, got the ax Wednesday night on “American Idol.”

Sanjaya Malakar, the maligned I’m-a-lover-not-a-fighter ballad specialist from Federal Way, Washington, moves on with full momentum."

Sanjaya's long lost brother

There are plenty of reasons to defend Sanjaya - American Idol - MSNBC.com

"To hear critics talk, Sanjaya Malakar’s ascendancy to the final eight on “American Idol” is a travesty, threatening the success of the show’s brand name and the credibility of the musical competition. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Sanjaya is not the best singer in the history of the competition. He’s not even the best of this season’s finalists. "

Sanjaya's 'Idol' Run Not India's Fault

"So much for the Indian Call Center Theory: Under-talented singer Sanjaya Malakar's unlikely wave of 'American Idol' support apparently isn't coming from his father's homeland.
Indians are usually attuned to the successes of their compatriots abroad. But apart from a few brief newspaper articles, at least one short TV news segment and a few blog mentions, the reedy 17-year-old with the unsteady voice is a virtual unknown here.
One reason is that the show is broadcast a day late in India, and on an English-language channel that attracts relatively few viewers in this country of 1.1 billion.
'He's also an object of ridicule,' said Amit Varma, who runs the popular India Uncut blog."

Gina Glocksen Eliminated from 'American Idol'

"Gina Glocksen got her walking papers on April 4, as fans voted her off American Idol.
The 22-year-old's exit narrows the field of hopefuls to eight. A dental assistant from the midwestern state of Illinois, Gina presented herself as the most rock-oriented of the female contestants. Her final song on the contest, however, was 'Smile,' co-written by movie comic Charlie Chaplin.
Idol's most visible contestant, Sanjaya Malakar, didn't receive the highest number of votes, but survived to compete in next week's Latin-themed segment.
Now in its sixth season, American Idol is the highest-ranked program on U.S. television, drawing between 26 and 37 million viewers per telecast. "

Send In the Clowns. Don't Bother, Sanjaya's Here. - washingtonpost.com

"Panic seized 'American Idol' last night as judges searched desperately for things to say about Sanjaya Malakar's performance that would not mobilize little girls and older women to get out the vote to save him.
Sanjaya, if you've missed the show to date, is the Heather Mills of 'American Idol.' Instead of dancing without a leg, he's singing without a vocal cord. A talent amputee."

American Chronicle: Sanjaya Malakar: The Perfect American Idol For A Nation Obsessed With Fame

"There's Cher, Oprah, Madonna, and now you can add 'Sanjaya' to the list of celebrities known only by their first name.
But you argue those are real celebrities with discernible talents! Really, Britney wouldn't be able to carry a tune if it was stapled to her bald head and Cher owes her success to her risque outfits, and not to a genuine singing talent.
Sanjaya, who has the vocal talent of a cat in heat, made it through another week Wednesday. After more than 30 million votes were cast, fellow 'Idol' performer Gina Glocksen was kicked to the curb, reducing the field to the elite eight.
Welcome to the parallel universe of Sanjaya Malakar, it's a scary place populated by snide judges, crying pubescent girls, Howard Stern fans and witless grandmothers. "

Why Sanjaya is 'Idol'-ized by millions - Television - NY Daily News

"Let's not overcomplicate the reason Sanjaya Malakar will sing again on 'American Idol' this week while better voices are back home watching on their flat screens.
He's there because the most critical character in any drama is its bad guy.
Sanjaya is to 'American Idol' what Hannibal Lecter was to 'The Silence of the Lambs,' which is not to suggest Sanjaya secretly wants to enjoy his fellow contestants at dinner with a 2003 Bordeaux. He's just the guy we love to hate, or at least ridicule. Whether or not our own favorite wins, we want Sanjaya to lose.
Unlike other contestants, he elevates our adrenalin simply by showing up. 'What's he still doing here?' we holler at the TV, before we mutter a few unkind observations about his hair. That's the lure of bad guys. They keep us watching so we can see them get their just desserts.
Now some might scoff at the notion we would watch a talent show to see the least-skilled contestant. But in case you hadn't noticed, finding a winner is only one part of what 'Idol' is about. "