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. "