Posted on 03/28/2007 6:18:56 AM PDT by Dirtysnowbank
Public Supports Unlikely 'Idol' Wannabe
Mar 28, 6:53 AM (ET)
By MELANTHIA MITCHELL
SEATTLE (AP) - Flowing hair and a precious smile have their rewards. Especially if you're Sanjaya Malakar, who is considered to be 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 Pastor 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."
In recent weeks, the lanky teen from Federal Way - a city of about 84,000, 20 miles south of Seattle - has taken some hard hits from the public and all three judges on the Fox Television show.
Simon Cowell went so far as to say if Malakar wins, he'll quit.
One YouTube contributor in New York has launched a hunger strike and vows not to eat until the 17-year-old is ousted from the show.
Identifying herself only as "J," the woman says she believes "other talented contestants" are being eliminated by those who think it "funny to try and sabotage American Idol by voting for a lesser contestant."
But in Seattle, where Malakar sang with the Total Experience Gospel Choir, Wright and Malakar's family say the young man is holding back.
"He sings from the heart, and people who hear him can feel that heart and they become, many times, very emotional," said Wright, who has directed Malakar in her choir for at least three years.
She can't explain the change in her young pupil, but says he "sounded down" during a recent telephone conversation she had with him.
"He has not shown America what he can do. That's what I said to him a couple days ago. 'I want you to give them the showmanship. I want you to give them Sanjaya's heart,'" she said.
Despite the criticism and pressure, Malakar has held up remarkably well for someone "as young and as inexperienced as he is," says his aunt, Christi Recchi of Seattle.
Recchi introduced Malakar to Wright's choir, where she says his musical personality blossomed. But she agrees that her nephew hasn't been performing his best.
Some of the show's followers expected Malakar to be voted off quickly. But for now his success continues with assistance from fans, as well as backhanded help from the likes of Howard Stern and groups like votefortheworst.com, which since 2004 has vowed to support any contestant who producers would like to see cut from the show.
Malakar's singing talents may pale in comparison to other finalists, but his ability to work the crowd may pull him through.
"I think at this point in his career, he's the sort of classic case of desire for fame outstripping ability," said Jasen Emmons, director of curatorial affairs at Seattle's Experience Music Project museum.
Malakar's most recent performance of "You Really Got Me" showed the teen's strong stage presence, said Emmons, who has 10- and 13-year-old daughters who watch the show.
"At age 17, he's not going to be able to stand there and belt out a ballad," Emmons says. "But his charm might keep him in the fight."
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All those little girls that like him are in for a shock.
Psst...
He doesn't like you ladies.
He wouldn't be the first pop idol in history that couldn't sing well. Simon says it's a singing contest.... yet it's called American IDOL.
There are significantly worse vocalists churning out top-selling ablums.
Sanjaya is rotten. He is what happens when people let 9 year olds use the phone. He is such a chick, I have taken to calling him Sangina.
yep
This show ceased being a singing contest several seasons ago.
I'm trying to find a screencap of why Sanjaya is getting so many votes. There was a sign in the audience last night that said it all.
Is this the next American Idol?
Stern says YES!
Everyone calls him Sangina.
LOL!!!
That hairdo works!
......and by "works", I mean it looks really gay.
Its not 9 year old girls. Its internet voting from India.
This is what Drudge reports on these days? Sad....
There's no internet voting, ace.
Sorry Simon. The flaw in your great show is the voting system. Democracy = mob rule.
I read that far, but had to stop when I realized this would not be a thread about that Rock in China, with growing hair.
Looks like Doogie Howser fell asleep in a tanning bed..........
There is a rumor, whether it's true or not, I don't know, that there is a website dedicated to voting for the worse of American Idol because they dislike the show so much that they are trying to sabotage it. People on the site call in multiple times and try to influence the vote towards the talentless losers.
Like I said. Don't know if it's true or not.
We call him Sangaya.
2nd, 3rd, 4th, ..... 1000000000000000000000000000000000th that.
There is a rumor that if you had read the article, you would know exactly what website that is!
votefortheworst.com
I never watch it myself, but it seems there is a concerted effort to destroy the show.
"Is Howard Stern Behind Sanjaya Malakar's Staying Power On 'Idol'?Shock jock, VotefortheWorst.com support this season's underdog."
" after calling Malakar his "favorite contestant" recently, Stern confessed he'd like to see Sanjaya win because he's the least talented of this year's finalists."
"Likewise, Malakar is the "Idol" aspirant of choice on the Web site VotefortheWorst.com, which encourages its visitors to vote for the show's least talented contestants in hopes of ultimately swaying the final vote and derailing the reality-TV franchise altogether."
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1555113/20070320/index.jhtml
:-)
Charging people 50cents to vote would solve this problem!
I read enough on this page.
Reading the rest of the article would mean getting more involved with American Idol than I want to be.
While you are looking, if you see one of him doing the hula, please let me know. That says more than words.
Even then I didn't read anymore than necessary.
I hope the little weird guy wins, I'm tired of all the hype, it was ok in the beginning but the only two decent singers I've seen come out of that show as winners were Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks.
Personally I find it hilarious that Howard Stern is basically rigging the contest and there is nothing anybody can do about it. I don't like Howard that much, but this IS hilarious.
According to Dialidol.com, Sangina is safe again tonight.
Idol isn't a singing competition, it's a voting competition. It is more like a political primary than anything else. The singers with the least support continue to get picked off one by one. The question each week is; who did the person voted off last week strengthen?
Stephanie Edwards support would likely split between Melinda and Lakisha. If Chris Sligh goes tonite, his support would likely go to Blake Edwards and/or Chris Richardson. If one of the females goes tonight, the advantage to win it all may go to the males.
I've enjoyed the show more as a study of human nature than as a singing competition.
From the very article on this thread:
Some of the show's followers expected Malakar to be voted off quickly. But for now his success continues with assistance from fans, as well as backhanded help from the likes of Howard Stern and groups like votefortheworst.com, which since 2004 has vowed to support any contestant who producers would like to see cut from the show. >>>
Reading is a great attribute.
Anyways it's kind of sad that they would string this kid along just to make a point, he will be very dissapointed when this is all over that he wasn't voted on for talent.
Many US companies outsource to India.
Many US companies setup VOIP connections to the US where the Indian folks can dial toll-free US numbers.
While Troy was wrong about internet voting, he's not entirely wrong.
dialIdol.com has stats on busy signals for each "idol." Sanjaya has been in the top-4 for a while.
Sad...
Ok. Maybe I can make this a little clearer.
I didn't read the whole article because I DON'T CARE!
"Reading is a great attribute. "
Only if you're interested. And I'm NOT!
I he is to win, his votes will have to be out front from the start of each session. The producers can stop the voting at any point once they see a result they like.
Then why make any post on this if you don't care? Seems to me to be a waste of time.
You know. Andys'mom was nice enough to point out the web site without making FEDERAL CASE out of the fact that I didn't read the whole article.
But for some reason you and sol just can't seem let it go.
What's the problem? Superiority complex?
As far as I'm concerned the Mods can yank my membership to this website because I'm sick and tired of dealing with CHILDREN on here.
You have a nice day now.
Psst... Howard doesn't have that many listeners any more...
I'm sure that there will be infinite discussions by those who care about such things as to why Sanjaya was "voted in" rather than some more talented contestant all building the hype for another round of American Idol. I fail to understand why anyone would watch this drivel.
Dude what's your problem? I pointed out the website in the article yet you cannot accept correction, and then you go crying to a moderator? Please for the love of everything holy grow up.
Never mind. Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W05rbtNwFY
That guy makes Michael Jackson look manly.
What makes AI interesting is the weekly conflict between popularity and talent. However, the most talented ultimately end up in the top three.
This season, it is pretty clear that Melinda will win. However, without the Sanjaya-type contestants, the show would be far less-interesting.
:) The judges are experiencing jury nullification?
As in.......the tyranny of the majority!
Exactly.
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