There are plenty of reasons to defend Sanjaya

[Brian Damage]

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. But he’s not a disaster either. In fact, those who are looking to tear him down or use him as an example of the show’s weakness need to keep a few things in mind before ranting away.

Sanjaya’s not the one who put himself into the semifinals
Every time the judges rip on Sanjaya, or insinuate that he shouldn’t be on the show, keep in mind that it wasn’t the show’s viewers who made him a candidate in the first place. That honor belongs to none other than the three judges; Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell.

Those are the three who pick the show’s 24 semifinalists, and the viewers have no say in the process until that stage of the game. Moreover, the producers, editors and judges set Malakar up in a great position to succeed by giving him a ton of airtime on the audition episodes, then making him the only teenager among the 12 male finalists. In a crowded semifinal field, he stood out for his youth, giving him an early voting bloc at a time when some rivals were struggling to get their names out there.


So if the viewers are being dumb and short-sighted by continuing to vote for Sanjaya, what does that make the people who put his candidacy forward in the first place?

His success is not the result of an Internet conspiracy
Don’t overestimate the effects of the Howard Stern show, much less Web sites like votefortheworst.com . Their effect on the results is likely negligible, because the producers make it difficult for that sort of effort to succeed.

The phone numbers for each contestant change every week. That means that someone who hates the show enough to want to see it fail has to watch it anyway on Tuesday nights in order to get the phone number to call. They then have to wait until 9 p.m. in their time zone to call in, and probably will have to keep trying for at least several minutes in order to get through. How many people who don’t even like the show are putting in that kind of effort each week?


Also keep in mind that the naysayer Web sites simply pick a new candidate once the old one is voted off. Sanjaya wasn’t the first to be targeted by the Web sites this season; that was Antonella Barba. And if Web sites can’t keep a contestant who has risqué pictures (some apparently real, some not) added to the Internet by the day, what are the odds that they can lead someone like Malakar to glory?

There’s always a worst-case option to vote for; when Sanjaya goes it will simply be Phil Stacey, or Haley Scarnato, or one of the other finalists. So the explanation for Sanjaya’s success isn’t the Internet. It’s more likely that:

In popularity contests, nice guys finish first
Love his singing or hate it, there’s no way Sanjaya comes across as anything but likeable. He’s a 17-year-old kid in an adult competition, hearing every week that he isn’t good enough to be there. How many teenagers could handle that strain without attacking the judges with a music stand?

Yet Malakar doesn’t react as though he’s bothered by the criticism. He knows the judges don’t like him, but he reacts with a smile and an occasional half-hearted barb to their comments. He has nothing but good cheer for everyone each week, and indeed tends to come across as one of the calmer, more self-assured competitors.


In addition, Sanjaya’s strategy has been more than a little brilliant. The Mohawk haircut he sported a couple of weeks ago got him a ton of extra attention, to the point where Ryan Seacrest sported a faux-hawk while hosting the next day’s show. Sure, he looked ridiculous. But he got people interested in him, to the point where some watch the show now to see what Sanjaya will do next. That’s not something many of his rivals can say.

Even when he dresses normally, he looks and acts like a nice kid that the big mean adults are picking on, and that’s always going to win some sympathy votes. That’s why the judges have gone easier on him in recent weeks, knowing that their vitriol is counterproductive. Alas, for the judges, there’s one more problem.

Sanjaya’s not a bad singer
Sanjaya Malakar has a melodious voice that legitimately has captured a fan base. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, and it’s not the best in the field, but nor does he sound like a karaoke king who got lost on his way to the bar and wound up onstage.

[EmoJoe]

anyone who thinks Sanjaya is actually worthy of being in the top 8 based on vocal and performance skill alone, and that he'd still be there if it wasn't for VFTW/Howard Stern...is fooling themselves. he wasn't even originally supposed to be in the top 24 but one guy was disqualified for an arrest record or something so they put him in as a last-minute replacement, and now they feel like idiots.

oh, and the sanjaya joke is getting old, too...it was funny at first, but now he's getting cocky and it's annoying.

[Karen*]

I feel bad for the guy because of all the negative attention he's getting, but I would never vote for him out of pity.

[PrettyinPink55]

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

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. But he’s not a disaster either. In fact, those who are looking to tear him down or use him as an example of the show’s weakness need to keep a few things in mind before ranting away.

Sanjaya’s not the one who put himself into the semifinals
Every time the judges rip on Sanjaya, or insinuate that he shouldn’t be on the show, keep in mind that it wasn’t the show’s viewers who made him a candidate in the first place. That honor belongs to none other than the three judges; Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell.

Those are the three who pick the show’s 24 semifinalists, and the viewers have no say in the process until that stage of the game. Moreover, the producers, editors and judges set Malakar up in a great position to succeed by giving him a ton of airtime on the audition episodes, then making him the only teenager among the 12 male finalists. In a crowded semifinal field, he stood out for his youth, giving him an early voting bloc at a time when some rivals were struggling to get their names out there.


So if the viewers are being dumb and short-sighted by continuing to vote for Sanjaya, what does that make the people who put his candidacy forward in the first place?

His success is not the result of an Internet conspiracy
Don’t overestimate the effects of the Howard Stern show, much less Web sites like votefortheworst.com . Their effect on the results is likely negligible, because the producers make it difficult for that sort of effort to succeed.

The phone numbers for each contestant change every week. That means that someone who hates the show enough to want to see it fail has to watch it anyway on Tuesday nights in order to get the phone number to call. They then have to wait until 9 p.m. in their time zone to call in, and probably will have to keep trying for at least several minutes in order to get through. How many people who don’t even like the show are putting in that kind of effort each week?


Also keep in mind that the naysayer Web sites simply pick a new candidate once the old one is voted off. Sanjaya wasn’t the first to be targeted by the Web sites this season; that was Antonella Barba. And if Web sites can’t keep a contestant who has risqué pictures (some apparently real, some not) added to the Internet by the day, what are the odds that they can lead someone like Malakar to glory?

There’s always a worst-case option to vote for; when Sanjaya goes it will simply be Phil Stacey, or Haley Scarnato, or one of the other finalists. So the explanation for Sanjaya’s success isn’t the Internet. It’s more likely that:

In popularity contests, nice guys finish first
Love his singing or hate it, there’s no way Sanjaya comes across as anything but likeable. He’s a 17-year-old kid in an adult competition, hearing every week that he isn’t good enough to be there. How many teenagers could handle that strain without attacking the judges with a music stand?

Yet Malakar doesn’t react as though he’s bothered by the criticism. He knows the judges don’t like him, but he reacts with a smile and an occasional half-hearted barb to their comments. He has nothing but good cheer for everyone each week, and indeed tends to come across as one of the calmer, more self-assured competitors.


In addition, Sanjaya’s strategy has been more than a little brilliant. The Mohawk haircut he sported a couple of weeks ago got him a ton of extra attention, to the point where Ryan Seacrest sported a faux-hawk while hosting the next day’s show. Sure, he looked ridiculous. But he got people interested in him, to the point where some watch the show now to see what Sanjaya will do next. That’s not something many of his rivals can say.

Even when he dresses normally, he looks and acts like a nice kid that the big mean adults are picking on, and that’s always going to win some sympathy votes. That’s why the judges have gone easier on him in recent weeks, knowing that their vitriol is counterproductive. Alas, for the judges, there’s one more problem.

Sanjaya’s not a bad singer
Sanjaya Malakar has a melodious voice that legitimately has captured a fan base. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, and it’s not the best in the field, but nor does he sound like a karaoke king who got lost on his way to the bar and wound up onstage.

Very good article!!! Where did you find that Brian? I pretty much agree with most of the author's points on this...very well said!

[An 80s Guy]

I'm pissed at Howard Stern for promoting Sanjaya's talentless ass every two seconds.There's no reason for it whatsoever.

[Chocoholic]

I do feel bad for the kid. He really does seem like a nice guy and a good sport. I just don't find his singing pleasant to listen to at all.

[Ireneparalegal]

If the judges were given the ability to score and combine that score with the phone calls coming in, it would most likely be a different outcome.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

If the judges were given the ability to score and combine that score with the phone calls coming in, it would most likely be a different outcome.

If Sanjaya wins they will defintely have the judges playing a part like they do on Dancing with the stars.

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

If Sanjaya wins they will defintely have the judges playing a part like they do on Dancing with the stars.

I think they should no matter what, whether Sanjaya wins or loses. I mean, it is really a popularity contest, bottom line. So, no one should be upset with how the voting system is. I believe AI doesn't want to give to much creedence to Howard Stern and what his listeners are doing, so they may not want to admit that they goofed in allowing phone votes be the way to decide a winner.

Like you said, Dancing with the Stars has phone votes, BUT they have the judges score as well, which helps to weed out the bad dancers.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

I think they should no matter what, whether Sanjaya wins or loses. I mean, it is really a popularity contest, bottom line. So, no one should be upset with how the voting system is. I believe AI doesn't want to give to much creedence to Howard Stern and what his listeners are doing, so they may not want to admit that they goofed in allowing phone votes be the way to decide a winner.

Like you said, Dancing with the Stars has phone votes, BUT they have the judges score as well, which helps to weed out the bad dancers.

I know like bad dancing Clyde Drexeler-lol

[Ireneparalegal]

Originally Posted by TVResearcher

I know like bad dancing Clyde Drexeler-lol

That poor guy doesn't dance, he WALKS across the floor. He can't dance. His partner is too short, he is too tall, when she takes 8 steps forward, it only takes him 2 steps.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

That poor guy doesn't dance, he WALKS across the floor. He can't dance. His partner is too short, he is too tall, when she takes 8 steps forward, it only takes him 2 steps.

I know, He was just WALKING across the Floor-LOL