Sanjaya Made Me Care About Idol
Published April 21, 2007
Let’s make one thing abundantly clear right off the bat — I hate reality shows. I hate them to the point of blocking channels on my TV so there isn’t even the remote possibility of me watching one. I will walk out of the room at the mere suggestion of watching Survivor or any of the inane, non-music related offerings from MTV.
But then he came into my life. A sweet, innocent 17-year-old in tight jeans with ridiculous hair who is proud of the fact that he can dance the hula. A young man with an absolutely horrible voice who, despite the infinitely more deserving talent around him, managed to avoid elimination week after week after week. And as I was cheering upon his elimination this past Wednesday, I came to a grim realization: this kid has done what my friends and colleagues have been trying to do for years. He made me give a damn about American Idol. I had Sanjaya Fever, and I had it bad.
It all started a little over a month ago. Instead of spending my spring break reveling in various forms of debauchery like many of the collegiate persuasion, I stayed behind to do some work on the office of the campus news station. One night my friends and I knocked off early and I stayed behind to catch a nap in the adjacent sports department office before leaving. I’d brought a movie with me and went to pop it in the VTR machine when disaster struck: the tape slipped out of my hand and fell five feet, 8 inches to the floor... and its demise. With no movie, I began to flip through the channels, landing on the local FOX affiliate. Idol was on, and I figured if I couldn’t laugh at the movie, I’ll laugh at these idiots until I drift off to sleep.
I can’t quite remember the song he sang that night, but I do remember thinking that Sanjaya Malakar had no place in this competition. Naturally I had to tune in again to see his elimination. I know what you’re thinking at this point — I’m just another asshole with a keyboard who takes delight in the downfall and shortcomings of others. And you’d be right on the money. Anyway, back to the story. It’s elimination night, Seacrest is out on the stage, microphones clipped to both the lapels of his suit coat (by the way, why is that? Do we really need two mics to capture the full range of his voice?), and Sanjaya survived.
Robert Leu is a former small town radio DJ who realized there's no money in it and went to college instead. He can be seen flinging crap onto his own site, Purple Funky Dishwasher, and doing serious journalist stuff for BG24 News. Any and all complaints can be sent to 
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- Sanjaya Made Me Care About Idol
- Published: April 21, 2007
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Culture: Celebrity, Culture: Media, Video: Reality TV, Video: Television
- Writer: Robert Leu
- Robert Leu's BC Writer page
- Robert Leu's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
nice, funny stuff man.
dude, great article! very funny! it won't make me change my boycott of "reality" shows, but it will inspire me to read more of yr stuff!!!
Maybe you were never truly interested in American Idol. You did get hooked, but only on the fact that you didn't want Sanjaya to win. Now you are bored again. Actually I'll admit that this is probably the most boring season ever now that he's gone. Other seasons were better and didn't need someone like Sanjaya to spice it up.
JJ, I think you've nailed it right on the head.
Everyone else: thanks for the positives. It's my first piece for BC, and it sure as hell won't be the last.
Let us not forget one thing...
Sanjaya, although most likely not directly responsible, made it week after week by cheating.
It came to the attention of the producers several weeks ago that someone or someones had created a "Sanjaya War Dialer". Basically, a piece of software that voted for the ridiculous child thousands of times an hour.
Those more deserving, in my opinion, lost out due to a simple case of cheating.
I for one am glad he's gone so we can see the true talent shine now.
Of course, that's just my opinion....
Sanjaya was the only interesting thing about this show. That dude was hilarious. He's the only reason I watch. Everyone else on that show is so freaking boring. Yup, I cried some man tears when he left. All the joy sucked from this show.
hhhmmm...you know, the thing with Sanjaya is that the guy can actually sing to some degree. He got his experience here in the Seattle area with our local Total Experience Gospel Chorus group. It isn't like he just came out on nowhere to try singing.
If the dude actually found the song that his voice could work with, he actually would have had a chance to hang in there based on vocal ability. Add the hair and you have a smash hit....
Anyway, funny how all this pop culture stuff works. I just wish it had substance. Remember substance?
best,
DM
Although I don't think he's the best singer, nearly everyone in America has been a raging douche-monger towards him, especially the people in the place that cheered when he got voted off. It's terrible when we can ridicule someone like that.
Sanjaya actually can sing. He has a Michael Jackson feel to him. STOP THINKING WHAT YOU'RE THINKING RIGHT NOW! :)
But what makes me so angry is that the judges are the ones that put him through in the first place. And they criticized him, especially Simon, more than anyone.
That kid has a promising future ahead of him.
I loved you on american idol you rocked my socks off You are the best can i marry you
It's simply not true that Sanjaya has a 'horrible' voice. He has a lovely, melodious voice. You're not listening. Aside from his solos, in the finale, when he sang with the group, he had one of the nicest voices there. I just don't get the bashing. I really don't. He's a handsome, talented boy and he's going to go the distance with a long and stellar career ahead of him.
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You are not alone! I always was wandering how many people started to watch him. And by the way you are wrong about reincarnation. He is actually "avatara", one who came from his Universe to capture our souls. I'm not kidding!