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. "