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It is time again for our mandatory Sanjaya post and although I was simply going to post couple of pictures I found circulating over the web, I read an awesome dissection of the Malakar phenomenon in today’s Houston Chronicle. The article rightly goes beyond Sanjaya and attributes his success on the television’s most popular show to America’s disgruntled public. Just before this season started, American Idol was gloating from the success of Carrie Underwood’s win at the Grammy’s and Jennifer Hudson’s almost-certain win at the Oscars. An article in the NY Times even suggested that Idol was different from all reality TV shows due to the high success rates of its contestants post-season. If you looked at the past year, you also might be inclined to believe so but we forget the failed singing careers of Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Burrino, and last-year’s winner, Taylor Hicks, who probably was a better version of Sanjaya (according to the Chron).
I always believed that American Idol was reality television at its pompous best (or worst). The show’s producers arrogantly suggested that it was probably the only way America was going to discover talent. The Chron article puts it better:
Malakar has become the most concrete example that Americans have come to understand the joke and American Idol’s bubble is deflating. Until Malakar came around, voters have faithfully given the talented, most marketable singers their support, and most importantly, they’ve played by judges’ and producers’ rules. American Idol has existed in an alternate universe, one that demands a 24-like suspension of disbelief.For six seasons, viewers have taken advice from the strangest arbiters of good talent: Randy Jackson, who touts his stint with Journey far more than his stint with Aretha Franklin, and Paula Abdul, a long-forgotten ’80s singer who danced with an animated cat in her best-known hit, Opposites Attract. And viewers have let themselves sink into a world where real-life lounge singers such as Celine Dion become luminaries.
The number of people that believe that Sanjaya Malakar is squashing the dreams of many talented singers is astounding. They forget that it is the American public that keeps voting him in and the only way to counter that is to vote in larger numbers for others. The cell phone company (AT&/ Cingular) and the show wins either ways, thanks to the ’standard text messaging charges apply.’
The Chron article then hammers the final nail in American Idol coffin:
It all flies in the face of what has made AI a success — the idea that the American public can use its free will. So when the winners aren’t really winning and producers fill casts with the same types of people — row after row of attractive girls who can wail like Mariah Carey — viewers feel manipulated, and that’s when the likes of Malakar become the perfect revenge.
However, American Idol will still continue to attract viewers albeit in declining numbers until it loses its base to the next stupid reality show. Anyway, since most of the visitors to this blog aren’t interested in any cultural or social dissection of a television show and come down here only for Sanjaya’s pictures, I cannot help but oblige [from People]. Here enjoy:
by Patrix | on Tuesday, April 10th, 2007 at 7:15 pm | 
Music, Television, United States . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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April 10th, 2007 at 8:03 pm reply
How dare you!
I was actually interested in the cultural and social dissection part!
:)
April 10th, 2007 at 8:30 pm reply
Piker, I know but the other thousand aren’t :)
April 11th, 2007 at 1:23 am reply
You’re ignorant. How can a a debut album selling nearling TWO million copies and receiving FOUR grammy nominations plus being critically acclaimed = failed music career? How can a sophomore album selling nearling 400k on only 400K shipped being even more critically acclaimed then the first equal failed music career?
Well, that’s Fantasia buddy and her music career is hardly “failed”, last I check she and Ruben still had record deals. Ruben isn’t doing too badly either, just the last album did poorly. But the first and his gospel album did very well. Gold for the gospel and nearly double platinum for his debut. I think a lot of singers would like to have “failed” music careers like that.
April 11th, 2007 at 1:27 am reply
Oops that should be “nearly”. ALso, I forgot the most important thing. THEY CAN SING and that’s what it is a SINGING competition anyway.
April 11th, 2007 at 7:46 am reply
I think I am going to vote to keep him on for another week just to see another post. I am addicted :)
It is so funny how people make this into a ’singing’ competition and take it all so seriously! And here I thought there were more important things in life to protest or get angry over.. sigh ! the things one learns!
April 11th, 2007 at 9:56 am reply
Salamar, the verdict of a failed music career was passed on by the music industry. Grammy nominations do not mean anything for success unless the nominated artistes’ career improves. Barrinos’ did not. We haven’t heard from Ruben at all after the second season. In an industry which thrives on buzz and excitement, these two haven’t generated any after their AI win. Of course, they are good singers but then by record sale numbers, so is Britney.
Sakshi, you are hooked now? I admit that I keep watching just to see what will Sanjaya do next. And I bet the judges and the audience feel the same.
April 11th, 2007 at 10:11 am reply
Amen to that!!
The only show worth watching on broadcast channels now in America was Heros cant wait for the next season.
April 11th, 2007 at 10:26 am reply
Dang it Patrix. Where are the Shyamali pics? :-)
April 11th, 2007 at 11:02 am reply
Kuttan, their success with the TV ratings have merely upped their arrogance and suck-quotient. This year’s 12 are clearly not as good as previous years.
Santosh, I thought you would have them. I bet you spotted her yesterday with a clearly possessive boyfriend.
April 11th, 2007 at 11:10 am reply
LOL! Sanjaya Malakar posts = More traffic ;)
April 11th, 2007 at 3:16 pm reply
BD, well that too :) but the first two posts still get 95% of the traffic through Malakar-related searches.
April 11th, 2007 at 5:00 pm reply
Patrix, that is YOUR opinion. Apparently their record company’s believe differently then you as they are still signed major label recording artists. People who truly have FAILED music careers are usually dropped from the roster of a major recording label. The only true failed musicians are the one’s who’ve been dropped and Fantasia and Ruben aren’t on that list. So you can speak your ignorance all you want, afterall this is america. Furthermore, there were more the grammy nominations, CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED music also means something and that is something that Fantasia has. Read the reviews and you’ll find that her music is the most critically acclaimed of all idol music. It may not be the best selling but it is according to the “critics” great music.
I don’t know why I’m even wasting time on the ignorant. Fantasia is bringing in millions of dollars on broadway and getting rave reviews. Forget the ignorant on a silly blog.
April 11th, 2007 at 6:21 pm reply
Salamar, of course it is my opinion coz it is my blog. Anyway, I see you trying to depict Fantasia as critically acclaimed and/or popular. I just disagree that she is either. Trust me, I loved it when she won. If she is winning millions, then good for her.
April 11th, 2007 at 6:28 pm reply
Sakshi, you are hooked now?
Not really. I don’t think I ever will be :)
April 11th, 2007 at 6:32 pm reply
Sakhi, LOL! you better not be. Currently, there is no AI patch available to wean you off.
April 12th, 2007 at 7:39 am reply
Oh, I see a good venture.. I can act like a kook and pass of these patches.. where did I put my craft kit? need those sticky thingies…
Patrix, I have a cure for your Sanjaya addiction :)