So long, Sanjaya

(This was the last post in my college newspaper blog, "Why I Laugh at Celebrities and Sad Clowns.")

For the past few years, I’ve had the same ritual. I would watch the audition episodes of “American Idol” and keep up with the rest of the season by watching entertainment shows. The most interesting and well-known contestant this season was Sanjaya Malakar, or Sanjaya.

This guy had very limited singing ability but used distractions like his changing hair styles and his mildly good looks to keep himself on the show. Sanjaya’s luck finally ran out on Wednesday, April 18, when he was voted off.

Sanjaya remained on “American Idol” for several weeks while other better singers were eliminated. One of these singers was the Jack Osbourne look-alike Chris Sligh. I remember watching Sligh in his audition, and he was awesome. Many people began to form theories about why Sanjaya survived week after week.

Sanjaya is Indian-American, and one theory was that a call center in India kept voting for him over and over again. Another theory was that a website called VotefortheWorst.com was the cause of Sanjaya’s success. This website was created by radio shock-jock Howard Stern to undermine the credibility of “American Idol.”

One theory was showcased vividly on an episode of “American Idol.” While Sanjaya was singing his heart out to “Girl You Really Got Me Now,” a little girl in pigtails was sobbing in the audience. A lot of girls really love Sanjaya, and I guess that you could consider the 17-year-old singer to be a teen heartthrob.

Several different types of shows were talking about the Sanjaya phenomenon. Even “NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams” did a special report on him. Obviously, Sanjaya must have been a pretty good singer to begin with because the judges made him one of the top 12 contestants, but it was clear to me that he was not “Idol” material.

I couldn't help but laugh at Sanjaya.

He is the one person who could sing out of tune and forget the lyrics of his songs and still become a superstar. Since his elimination, Sanjaya has appeared on several different talk shows. He went on the “Late Show with David Letterman” on Monday, April 23, and presented the “Top Ten Things I Learned from ‘American Idol’.” This weekend, Sanjaya attended the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner along with Chris Sligh.

Sanjaya does not need very much talent to become a successful music star. Look at Britney Spears, Ashley Simpson and William Hung. As painful as it may be, I might actually buy tickets for the “American Idol” tour this summer so that I can see Sanjaya in action. I guarantee you that I would not be the only one there to see him.