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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Simon Cowell's Fitness Factor

The UK's Sun reports that superfit Simon Cowell does 300 press-ups a day — even when he's flying, according to his girlfriend Terri Seymour, who revealed that the 47-year-old is obsessed with exercising.

"Nothing will stop him doing his 300 press-ups. Even if he is flying he will do them on the plane. He just can’t not do them," Seymour said, adding "We're polar opposites — that's the secret of our happy relationship."

Cowell has previously admitted that he wants to age gracefully and would never go under the surgeon's knife -- saying that cosmetic surgery looks unattractive on men."I wouldn't have plastic surgery, it looks ridiculous on guys," he said. "I'd never dye my hair either. Everyone thinks I do, but I never have. "I do 100 press-ups before I get in the bath in the morning, then at work after a meeting, I'll shut the door and do more."

IDOLS NOMINATED FOR TEEN CHOICE AWARDS

Fox has announced the nominees for the 2007 Teen Choice Awards, to be broadcast on Aug. 26 at 8-10 p.m., and, not surprisingly, the list includes "American Idol" finalists (well, it is, after all, a Fox show).

Among the nominees are:

CHOICE TV: REALITY/VARIETY SHOW
American Idol
America's Next Top Model
Dancing with the Stars
The Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll
The Hills

CHOICE TV: PERSONALITY
Nick Cannon - Wild N Out
Ryan Seacrest - American Idol, E!
Simon Cowell - American Idol
Tyra Banks - America's Next Top Model
Bruno Tonioli - Dancing with the Stars


CHOICE TV: MALE REALITY/VARIETY STAR
Apolo Anton Ohno - Dancing with the Stars
Flavor Flav- Flavor of Love
Jojo, Diggy, Russy (Run's sons) - Run's House
Sanjaya - American Idol
Three 6 Mafia - Adventures in Hollyhood

CHOICE TV: FEMALE REALITY/VARIETY STAR
Jaslene Gonzalez - America's Next Top Model
Jordin Sparks - American Idol
Lauren Conrad - The Hills
New York - I Love New York
Paris Hilton - The Simple Life

CHOICE MUSIC: FEMALE ARTIST
Gwen Stefani
Fergie
Carrie Underwood
Nelly Furtado
Rihanna



CHOICE MUSIC: BREAKOUT ARTIST - FEMALE
Amy Winehouse
Corinne Bailey Rae
Katharine McPhee
Lily Allen
Vanessa Hudgens

CHOICE MUSIC: BREAKOUT GROUP
Daughtry
Gym Class Heroes
Hinder
Shop Boyz
The Fray

CHOICE MUSIC: ROCK TRACK
Better Than Me - Hinder
It's Not Over - Daughtry
Makes Me Wonder - Maroon 5
Thanks for the Memories - Fall Out Boy
What I've Done - Linkin Park

CHOICE MUSIC: PAYBACK TRACK
What Goes Around - Justin Timberlake
Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood
Never Again - Kelly Clarkson
Irreplaceable - Beyonce
U + Ur Hand - Pink

CHOICE OMG! MOMENT
Paris Hilton goes to jail, gets out of jail, then goes to jail again!
Britney Spears shaves her head!
Lindsay Lohan goes to rehab, gets out of rehab, goes to rehab again!
Larry Birkhead is Dannielynn's father!
Sanjaya Malakar sports a faux-hawk on American Idol!

For a full list of nominees, click here.

SANJAYA MALAKAR: TAKING HIS PILLOW ON TOUR

ETonline interviewed Sanjaya Malakar as he rehearsed for the Idols Live 2007 tour which kicks off today in Sunrise, Fla.:

How has your life changed since "Idol"?
It is completely different. People recognize me and say my name correctly without ever having met me! That is really weird. I am having a lot of fun with it. I am experiencing things I never would have been able to experience; I am learning things I never would have been able to learn. I am happy.

Has anybody talked to you about plans after the tour?
I am in limbo. We are still with "American Idol," so we are still focusing on that right now, but I think once the tour is over we will be able to focus on our individual careers.

What are you looking forward to the most on the tour?
I am looking forward to being with my nine new best friends. Honestly, this is the closest I have ever gotten to this many people in this short amount of time. It is going to be really cool to spend time with them.

Are you taking anything special with you?
I am taking my Tempur-Pedic Pillow. Also, I have a rock that says "breathe" on it. To me, my weakness is my breathing technique, and so I have a rock that says "breathe" to remind me to focus on that.

Are you going to do different hairdos for different cities?
I am not going to say because I want it to be a surprise.

PAULA ABDUL: I'M TREATED LIKE DOG S**T

That's what American Idol's diva judge, with tears in her eyes, tells her publicists as she pleads with them to help change her image on episode 3 of "Hey Paula." Honey, if it looks like it, smells like it, and your maids have to clean it -- and you -- up, well .... you know.

But life isn't as easy as you might think for Paula Abdul. She explains at the beginning of the following video that she has two "big events" she's attending that weekend, the first of which is to go to a "gifting suite" to pick out freebies, after which she has to fly to Las Vegas to be presented with a "Woman of the Year Award." Jeez all in the same weekend? Wow, her life really is rough. A little pity here please. Check it out:



JUSTIN GUARINI DOES CHARITY FOR CHILDREN

The Japan Times reports that taking place this weekend in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, International Heart Expo 2007 is a charity event that aims to take "direct action" to support children in developing countries. Volunteers from Japan and abroad will participate.

The expo will host a charity market and a fashion show featuring performances by singer Justin Guarini (runnerup on season one of "American Idol"), contemporary dancer Ayako Kurakake and many more.

Clothes made with silk from Cambodia and Ishikawa Prefecture's Komatsu City and designed by Japanese fashion designers will be on view. Children from Myanmar, Cambodia and Sri Lanka will model for the show.

"Direct action" is an approach advocated by Japanese Buddhist monk Gayuna Cealo, whose charity work includes the setting up of orphanages in countries such as Myanmar and Cambodia.

Cealo's charity work aims to directly affect the lives of people in need, giving them food, blankets, medical supplies, clothes and, most importantly, educates them on becoming self-reliant.

AMY ADAMS PERFORMS AT 'RED, WHITE AND BOOM'

WGET-TV reports that instead of holding their own celebrations, lots of folks decided to head out to northeast Bakersfield to enjoy the professional fireworks display at Bakersfield College.

The 53rd annual "Red, White and Boom" fireworks show started with a concert featuring Bakersfield-native and "American Idol" Season 3 finalist Amy Adams.

Watch video clip of Amy Adams performing at Red, White and Boom.

MORE STUFF ON KATHARINE McPHEE

Stuff magazine finally posted their interview with Katharine McPhee along with some pretty hot photos:

Katharine McPhee is tough to label. The American Idol finalist was squeaky–clean during her run on the show, singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and flashing her pearly whites. But on her self–titled hit debut, she shows her devilish side, trashing the guys she's "over" and wowing the world with a sexy album cover. So which is the real Kat? To find out, we chilled with her at a café in her hometown of Sherman Oaks, California. Katharine was all girl–next–doorish in her summer dress and no makeup—hell, she even introduced us to her mom. Then she sat down for an interview about her zany college days, Meat Loaf and pregnant nuns. Turns out the real Katharine is actually just really frickin' cool.

Are you more McNaughty or McNice?
There are different sides of me. On American Idol, people saw the side that is very professional and put together. But there's this other side of me that’s outgoing, energetic and wild—and did really stupid things in college.

Please discuss.
This one time we were walking down the street in Boston, and I was wearing this little skirt. There was this grate with air coming from underneath it. I remember standing above the grate with the air blowing up, and I was holding my skirt down. Another time, we went down to Coyote Ugly. We had so much fun dancing on the bar; the girls were taking their bras off. But I didn't do that.

Your album cover is pretty racy. Did you do it to shock people?
People made a big deal out of that. They said, "She's a slut, blah blah blah." But I'm really not showing that much skin. It's all suggested.

What was the worst thing about being on Idol?
Sometimes we couldn't go out after midnight, and for a 21–year–old, that's pretty crazy. And security went everywhere with me. For me, that was like, OK, this is weird. We're just kids on a reality show!

You had the rare honor of performing with Meat Loaf. What was that like?
I really liked the guy, but no one warned me that he was going to be so energetic. The first time we sang together, he told me, "Just so you know, I like to go full–out." I said OK, but he was, like, full–on performing it, and I was so caught off guard. All my fellow Idols were sitting in the audience laughing. I looked at him and just started laughing—no disrespect to him.

Have you always been popular with the fellas?
I was prematurely developed. As a freshman, I looked like a junior; I had boobs. Some of the older kids saw me in the yearbook and said I was cute.

So you probably didn't have a problem finding a guy.
I came from an all–girl school, so I was determined to get a boyfriend!

Your current boyfriend is almost 20 years your senior. Do you usually go for older dudes?
When I turned 21, I thought it was a good age to explore. You're no longer a teenager, so it's OK [to date older guys]. I gravitated toward them, and I love them. They're just wiser, and they're less about themselves and more about you.

What do younger men need to know about the opposite sex?
Women sometimes act out, and men get frustrated. They don't get that all we want is, for a few seconds, for you to be all about the girl—to snuggle her and give her kisses and tell her, "Your lips are so pretty today. I love your lips." For me, with men, I will fixate on something. I'll say, "I'm obsessed with your chin." I'll kiss his chin and munch on it, and I think that makes people feel good.

Do you see yourself settling down?
Oh, yeah. I want to have, like, 15 babies. I've always wanted to be pregnant. One year for Halloween, I decided to be pregnant, so I got this nun costume, and I put a big belly under it. I showed my parents and said I want to go to school as a pregnant nun. My dad sat me down and said, "Katharine, you can't!"

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Sanjaya Looking to Change It Up

Sanjaya appears on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" today. Ellen chats with Sanjaya about the media scrutiny, Howard Stern and what his future plans are for his hair. Here are some excerpts:

Ellen: You're 17 years old and you're getting so much attention. You have so many people deciding about you, if they like you, if they don't like you ... Simon. How do you handle that?

Sanjaya: I just try to take everything and turn it into a positive if I can. I try to learn from everything that I can. I mean there are some very creative haters out there. They make up some really, really good stuff.

Ellen: Did it get to you?

Sanjaya: No, I mean if you let it get to you then you'll fail and you'll go crazy.

Ellen: It's a tough business. Now, when you heard about this Howard Stern thing where he was getting people to vote for you for the wrong reasons. How long ago did you learn about that?

Sanjaya: Pretty much when I first started.

Ellen: And how did that feel?

Sanjaya: I was fine with it because honestly anyone who's going to vote for me because Howard Stern told them to isn't going to vote more than twice maybe … so that's not going to make a dent in the system.

Ellen: So you felt confident in your fans and the viewers.

Sanjaya: Yeah, I was definitely where I was because of my fans.

Ellen: So your hair … did you always before you got into this did you love playing with it and changing it? Did you go through lots of hairstyles before you were on TV or did this just kind of bring it out in you?

Sanjaya: Actually, I never did anything to my hair.

Ellen: Really?

Sanjaya: I didn't care what my hair looked like before I came on ["American Idol"]

Ellen: And, then you just started having fun playing with it.

Sanjaya: I had people to do it for me ... it made it a lot easier.

Ellen: What do you think you'll do now? Do you think you'll keep changing it up like you did before or you're going to leave it like it is?

Sanjaya: I think I'll definitely change it up because it's fun …

Ellen: The Mohawk was really crazy ... but you're not going to do anything drastic to it?

Sanjaya: I don't know maybe I'll get some crazy ideas.

Ellen: Would you shave it? That would be huge.

Sanjaya: If I shaved it I would make a wig for Phil Stacey.

Ellen: That's very funny.

NOSPHILATU

After seriously funny deliberation, VotefortheWorst.com has crowned a successor to Sanjaya Malakar, and we couldn't be happier with their choice ... Phil Stacey! Yes, yes, we do like Phil, but at this point, we'll accept anything that will get him more votes, even if it is VFTW and Howard Stern. We figure it probably won't help him more than a week, but we would love to see him make it into the Top 5 instead of Chris Richardson, the other person likely to be in the most danger this week during IdolGivesBackPalooza and its theme, inspirational songs. Nicknaming him NosPhilAtu, the site's slogan for Phil is, "We love you even if you can't be exposed to direct sunlight" and they say, "Can Phil even make it past next week? We're brave enough to give it a shot. It's a tough call, but let's try to support our undead friend, because he's the least marketable of the remaining 6. Go Phil, we love you, man!" We love you, too. Go Phil!

Meanwhile VFTW also posted this segment from "The Soup," call SanJemima:



but this earlier one from "The Soup" is even funnier:



SANJAYA MIND GAMES

Freakonomics.com reports that Nielsen BuzzMetrics wanted to know what people really think when they think about Sanjaya, so they took a sample of all the blog posts about "American Idol" over a week, then focused on keyword sanjaya, then mapped out all the most closely associated words and phrases, based on proximity, frequency, and contextual relevance.

Here’s what the Sanjaya mind-map looks like (click on the graphic to enlarge it):

DRESSED INTHEIR SUNDAY BEST











According to The Washington Post Sanjaya Malakar wasn't the only "American Idol" contestant from this season at last night's White House Correspondents' Association dinner. Mop-topped crooner Chris Sligh also attended as the guest of the Christian Broadcasting Network. Sanjaya was a guest of People magazine.

You can also catch clips of the two arriving at the event here and here. Note how the reporter in the first clip mispronounces the Idol contestants' names (The Washington Post misspelled Chris' last name). Guess Idolmania doesn't always extend to D.C.

CLARKSON DEFENDS COWELL

After Kelly Clarkson kicked off the ASCAP Music Week at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards in Hollywood Wednesday night, rocking a sexy new do, she sat down with "Extra's" Terri Seymour for a short chat.

Simon Cowell's girlfriend asked Clarkson to weigh in on the Cowell "eyebrow raising" incident last week after Chris Richardson's shoutout to Virginia Tech. Clarkson stood up for the "American Idol" judge 100 percent. "Simon's blunt, but he's not disrespectful,"” she said. "He's blunt and he'll say what he wants, but he would never do anything like that."

Kelly also dished about her rumors of romance, telling Seymour that, despite reports, she is not dating race car driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. "I've met him once and it was, like, for five minutes at a race. He's really nice but we don't know each other that well!"

Instead, Clarkson revealed that she stays too busy to make time for a budding new relationship. "I guess if you find someone to make time for, you would; but so far, no one's worth taking the time for," she said with a laugh.

IDOLS' LEGAL EAGLE

He had the job during Season 2 and now, according to Hollywood Reporter Esq., Howard Siegel is back, providing legal representation for all 24 Idol finalists in deal negotiations. And Siegel says his efforts make a difference for the aspiring "Idols."

Like most reality programs, "Idol" requires everyone featured on the show to sign a broad release and rights grant before auditioning. If chosen as a finalist, contestants must sign additional contracts with producer Simon Fuller's 19 Recordings Ltd., 19 Merchandising Ltd. and 19 Management Ltd. Producers get management and merchandising rights and also have an option to sign the winner and others to a recording contract with Sony BMG, though that option is not always picked up.

During the show's first season, portions of a 14-page agreement that contestants signed were leaked on a popular music listserv. In the contract, contestants granted broad exclusive rights to Fuller, including the "unconditional right throughout the universe in perpetuity to use, simulate, or portray ... my name, likeness (whether photographic or otherwise), voice, singing voice, personality, personal identification or personal experiences, my life story, biographical data, incidents, situations and events which heretofore occurred or hereafter occur ..."

Besides putting their publicity rights in 19's hands, the finalists' long-term management contracts gave the company a huge cut of any future fortunes derived from record royalties.

But Siegel says that contracts have been improving in finalists' favor since the first season and that contestants now sign "much more generous" term sheets than the typical new act with a major label. And the collective bargaining power of a single lawyer who negotiates with 19 quickly after the finalists are announced is "leverage in and of itself," he says.

Siegel's participation in the show actually dates back to its first season, when he was contacted by runner-up Justin Guarini to take a look at the agreements he was being asked to sign.

Afterward, in Season 2, Siegel says, 19 thought it would be a good idea to continue giving its finalists representation before handing them contracts. Siegel stresses that he was hired by the "Idol" contestants -- not by 19 -- after pitching his 35 years' in the music industry and experience repping Guarini. (Contestants also are free to hire additional lawyers.)

While most contestants sign their deals and perform without complaint, the show has not always stayed on good terms with its participants. After being named runner-up in the voting but becoming the breakout star of the show's second season, Clay Aiken hired Atlanta entertainment lawyer Jess Rosen and was able to extricate himself from his management contract. Other contestants, such as Season 4 finalist Mario Vazquez, have followed suit, leaving lawyers to debate whether contestants are getting a fair deal.

Gary Fine of Kleinberg Lopez Lange Cuddy & Edel in Los Angeles says he doubts much has changed since the show's first-season contract was circulated."While I'm sure having a lawyer like Howard may help some, Simon Fuller is in a unique position of leverage, and the deal terms are probably what they are," Fine says. " 'American Idol' can tout that contestants are represented and that representation may in fact otherwise improve material terms of the contestants' agreement, but I doubt that any one particular lawyer is going to achieve substantially more favorable results for one season's 'Idol' contestants than for another season's contestants."

Owen Sloane, a partner at Berger Kahn who has negotiated major recording contracts for Barry Manilow, Elton John and "Idol" Season 5 fourth-place finisher Chris Daughtry, says that the company is unlikely to mess with a winning formula and grant more favorable terms to contestants. And Sloane questions whether 19's procedure for lawyer selection for "Idol" contestants is a good thing. "Selecting someone who is cooperative with (19) and not going to rock the boat isn't a great idea," he says.

On the other hand, Sloane believes that contestants become stars only because of the show and as such are getting a fair deal. "(The show's producers) are creating value, and they want to participate in the value they are creating," Sloane says.

Siegel has participated in some of that post-"Idol" success as well. He says he continues to represent many contestants after their time on the show. Most fade into obscurity, but several, like Ruben Studdard, have found success and stuck by their "Idol" lawyer. Siegel says he enjoys the benefits of representing obscure up-and-comers on their way to stardom. "You have these young, relatively inexperienced individuals who are thrust with suddenness into the public eye at an incredible level," he says, "and it is absolutely the best reward I can experience as a lawyer to watch them adapt to new status and help them deal with pressures associated with the development."

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