Sanjaya Malakar: A Jew With Tattoos?

The St. Petersburg Times interviewed that most curious of characters, Sanjaya Malakar. Although he never says too much, what he does say can (but is not always) be amusing or intriguing, including that he'd like to get a tattoo for his 18th birthday and that he once practiced Judaism:

For all the energy he exuded on the "American Idol" stage, Sanjaya Malakar sure sounded sleepy during our early-morning phone conversation. ... During our chat with the media-jaded Malakar, we tried to cover new ground. But we couldn't resist throwing in one question about those lionized locks.

What are you tired of talking about?
I'm kind of tired of talking about my hair, but I figure it's inevitable. It's gonna happen, so it doesn't really bother me. But it's just kind of an old subject.

I'll ask you the one obligatory hair question, and then we can move on. What's the one hair-care product that you can't live without?
Water.

Really?
I use hair products if I'm going somewhere nice or something, but for the most part I kind of wet it and let it air-dry. My hair's really low-maintenance. I'm lucky like that.

You're turning 18 on Sept. 10. How will you celebrate?
I kind of want to get a tattoo, but I don't want to get it while I'm on the road because I want to get it from somewhere that's clean, and I want to be sure that it's clean, 'cause I'm not about to have some nasty rash on my body.

What would you get it of, and where would you get it?
I was thinking of on my arm, and my Chinese astrology (sign) is a snake and I love snakes, so I'd get a snake and somehow incorporate a treble clef or some kind of musical symbol and possibly somehow incorporate a Virgo, but I don't know. I haven't really thought about it enough to get it yet.

What was the strangest thing that a fan has sent you?
I think the strangeness comes with what they say in their letters, 'cause there's a lot of people that don't necessarily censor themselves in their letters, and it's kind of interesting to read.

Can you give me an example?
Someone said that when I sing, it's like hot chocolate with a lot of mini marshmallows.

What do you think that means? Is that a compliment that you are a warm beverage?
(Laughs) I don't know. Hot chocolate's yummy, and little mini marshmallows never hurt.

So is the tattoo an effort to get rid of the mini marshmallow image and move to something a little more mature?
No, I think it's, I wouldn't get it somewhere that's really obvious. I'd get it somewhere that I can hide it very easily. It would be more for myself.

If you were a superhero, what would you want your superpower to be?
Psychic abilities.

Why's that?
I think that everyone's psychic, but they just don't listen, and I've kind of gotten to a point where sometimes I can listen to my instinct and be right, and so I like to call myself psychic. … I think it's a cool concept, and so I think it would be really cool to genuinely, actually be psychic.

If someone wrote a biography of you, what would the title be?
"Back When I Was Rich and Jewish."

Are you Jewish?
I was once. My mom was married to a Jewish man, and we celebrated all the holidays and all that. And he was rich.

Did you have a bar mitzvah?
No. They broke up before I turned 13.

A PEEK AT FUTURE IDOLS?

Today travelled up to Massachusetts to take a look at the first day of Idol camp, which featured classes and performances with former finalists Jon Peter Lewis, Carmen Rasmusen and Ace Young, as well as professionals from Idol and the business world. This weekend the kids get a visit from singer Macy Gray. Any future stars there? Could be. Listen to the kid singing with Ace at the end. Watch out Taylor.

Watch video of Day 1 at Idol Camp.

FORGET PARIS

Just how important was Paris Bennett to the Idols Return tour? Apparently not as important as she thinks she is.

The Columbian reports that Bennett announced in June she was leaving the group, which includes former "American Idol" finalists Justin Guarini, Kimberly Caldwell and Anthony Fedorov to pursue a solo career. Because the group was booked at the Clark County Fair in August, Clark County Fair officials offered refunds to anyone who had purchased a ticket for the Aug. 4 show.

"I don't know of anyone who requested a refund," fair director Tom Musser said. "Hey, this is just a fun show and I think people just want to come out and see former Idol contestants. Perhaps if we had lost Justin, things may have been a little different."

*Ahem* Paris.

KIMBERLY CALDWELL BACK TO HER ROOTS?

And speaking of Kimberly Caldwell, Top40-charts.com reports that the Season 2 Idol finalist, who has spent the majority of her post-Idol career on-camera in Hollywood on reality TV shows and as the entertainment correspondent and host for the TV Guide Channel, is in contract negotiations with Nashville Records, Inc.

Pre-Idol, Caldwell was a featured vocalist at the Country Tonite Theater in Branson from 1994 to 1996. She also performed on Ed McMahon's "Star Search" and still holds the record for most wins by a junior vocalist.

The Company's early plans are to have her produced by independent producers Teddy Gentry & Michael Curtis and released this fall or early winter. Larry Pareigis, the man responsible for breaking such acts as Gretchen Wilson, Montgomery Gentry, the Dixie Chicks, and Tracy Lawrence, is anxious to make Kimberly Caldwell another household name.

VIDEO OF THE DAY

Watch video of Blake Lewis goofing around in the studio with Ryan Tedder from One Republic and Steph Jones.



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A Further Look at the Elimination Show

We posted a story about the most important happenings on the first elimination show last night. If you didn't get to read it, check the posting right after this one. Here are some other details, plus some thoughts.

Ryan Seacrest told us nearly 32 million votes were cast over the two nights, yet Sundance Head and Antonella Barba were left standing. Were you surprised? If you were, you haven't been reading this blog. If we had any doubt about the role that VotefortheWorst.com might have played in Idol's first Season 6 voter-elimination round, it dissipated after we read the following, posted on Thursday on the VFTW home page:

"There won't be a False Idols this week for the females, and we apologize for the down time on the site! We couldn't anticipate the over three million hits to the entire site we received in just two days, and now we're on a much bigger server to handle the ever growing popularity. Thanks to all who voted for Sundance and Antonella, hope that they're safe tonight!"

If that site received over 3 million hits in the two days of voting and only some of the people who visited voted multiple times, it definitely could have had an effect on the outcome. Now, while we realize that a lot of people probably visited VFTW to oogle Antonella's bare breasts or see her sitting on her porcelain throne, we can't discount that these same people might have called in votes. The site also said: "Thank you SO much to everyone who voted, but don't rest on your laurels. We must vote even harder next week because America will be that much more pissed off. So vote twice as hard for both next week, let's get them to the top 12!"

We say its time to take back our program! This might have seemed amusing at first, but enough is enough! Vote early and vote often next week. Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote for anyone except Sundance and Antonella. Let's put VFTW to shame and eliminate those two. Power to the People!

Meanwhile, another site, IDontLikeYouInThatWay.com, has now posted much larger versions of some of the pix that appeared on VFTW, plus a couple of new ones, including their piece de resistance, one we'll call "American Booty." But the Antonella Barba photo mother lode is located at PhillyBurbs.com. Click on any of the photos there and it'll bring up the entire photo album, which you can then scroll through by using the "previous" or "next" buttons on the top right.

And has anyone else noticed that Antonella's BFF Amanda Collucio is nowhere to be found in these now dozens of pictures? So we couldn't help but wonder: Did she take the photos? Or was she perhaps instrumental in their appearance on the Internet? Just asking.

But back to the show ... Randy told us this was now a girl's race to lose, though Simon said he had seen two of three guys with potential. We suffered through the first first group number, Tears for Fears' "Sowing the Seeds." Perhaps it didn't sound as bad as others from the past (we seem to recall Season 4 as a particularly egregious dog-howling-at-the-moon one for group sings). But can't the executive producers find anything better to fill the unneeded and unbearable 50 extra minutes of each results show they force us to sit through so they can collect an ungodly amount of commercial revenue? We bring them that money and we deserve better.

And speaking of deserving better, here's another pet gripe: Why must we be tormented by a repeat performance by the week's worst instead of the week's best? CBS' "Rock Star" understands that concept. On that show, the singer whom the judges deemed the best each week (this could be done on Idol by the contestant with the highest vote total) performed an encore. Wouldn't you have rather seen LaKisha Jones or Melinda Doolittle again, rather than Paul Kim or Amy Krebs? Isn't it humiliating enough to be told in front of the nation that you sucked the most last night? Must you then have to tearfully repeat your sucky performance (we actually felt pretty bad for Paul Kim. Geez this show is now even bringing the guys to tears).

And one of our faves, Chris "Dead Man Walking" Sligh was forced to eat a little humbe pie when Ryan asked him if he was worried about the results. The usually cocky Sligh admitted he was a bit nervous because he feared that what he called his "banter" with Simon Cowell Tuesday night, had been misunderstood by America -- he was afraid it got taken as disrespect (duh, really?). Sligh said he really loved Simon and Ryan told him to tell America that. So he addressed the viewers with "America, I love Simon!" Uh-huh. And Chris, Simon loves, you, too. And readers, if you believe that, we have a bridge we'd like to sell you. Though Simon's voice could be faintly heard in the background saying, "I like this guy." Guess we'll see whether Simon treats him more like Taylor Hicks or Katharine McPhee in the future. Then we'll know for sure.

We also noted that Ryan was extremely rude to Quincy Jones, who was introduced in the audience as the producer of "The Color Purple" during the Fantasia segment. Ryan inquired whether Fantasia was ready to bring it to the show, and Quincy answered certainly, then began to say something about the show but was immediately cut off by Ryan as the camera was pulled from Jones' face. Hey, could Quincy plugging the show have been any worse than the group sing? Why ask him a question if you really didn't want him to talk? Or was putting him on part of the deal to get Fantasia on the show?

CAMP IDOL

Well, it might not be as much fun as "Meatballs," but FremantleMedia (co-producer and licensor of American Idol) in conjunction with show creator 19 Entertainment has announced the inception of Idol Camp, a noncompetitive performing arts summer camp for kids between the ages of 12-15 based on "American Idol."

Idol Camp will include master classes from surprise celebrity performing artists, former "American Idol" contestants and other top industry professionals. There will be daily instruction in a variety of classes, from singing, dancing and acting to songwriting and audition techniques, as well as traditional camp activities such as swimming and field sports. Idol Camp is located in Northfield, Mass.

FremantleMedia and 19 Entertainment will reward a certain percentage of students with fully paid scholarships, based on financial need, in an effort to reach a wide range of the country’s most eager performers. Scholarships are available to students from households with a gross income of $50,000 or less.

Submission of an application does not guarantee acceptance to Idol Camp, which will be based on limited enrollment of applicants demonstrating enthusiasm, dedication, a desire to perform and a passion for the arts. It is not audition-based. Applications must be received no later than April 18, but application acceptance may be stopped prior to that date if all places at Idol Camp have been filled. Enrollment does not guarantee admission into the "American Idol" TV series competition, nor will it provide inside information or any other advantage in the "American Idol" audition process.

There is a nonrefundable $35 application fee and tuition is $2,900 per session. The tuition fee includes camp registration, all programs of instruction, accommodation and meals, T-shirt and cap and transportation to and from Bradley International Airport.

Click here to learn more about Idol Camp.

WHO DRIVES CLAY AIKEN

Here are a couple of videos of Season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken's appearance on "The Morning Show With Mike and Juliet" yesterday (thanks Peggy L). Click here for the first clip, in which Clay visits a local bar to judge karaoke with M&J, and then meets his fan Diane “Cookie” Knappenberger, who shows her favorite American Idol her Clay-decorated Saturn. In clip 2, here, Clay and “Cookie” go head-to-head in a (lame) Clay Aiken trivia contest.

And Season 5 finalist Paris Bennett was a guest on Wednesday's show, where she discussed the men's performances from the previous night. You can catch a video clip of her opinions here.

IDOL RATINGS DROP

TV Week reports that “American Idol” hit a season-low on Tuesday night (the night of the sucky guys' show), but still dominated keeping competitors on the defensive. “Idol” (11.7) was down 10 percent from last week and at its lowest all season. Overall the current season is still tracking higher than last year's.

... If you have a question for Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe, you could pose it in person on TVWeek.com's Backlot Talk. Email your question to chuckross@tvweek.com and if it's selected, you will be contacted with the date and time of the recording. Visit the Web site for all the information you need to include in your e-mail. And check the site on Fridays at 4:30 p.m. EST for the week's new podcast when they'll discuss this week's Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Idol broadcasts. There are also transcript and audio archives on the site of previous interviews with Lythgoe.

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