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April 18, 2007
So long, Sanjaya
Fox/Frank Micelotta
Well, I was never really sure, never really certain this would be the week Sanjaya Malakar (shown above), master of disguise, would be eliminated from Season 6.
But, it happened tonight.
With a record-setting 38 million votes cast for a Top 7 elimination round, Sanjaya, 17, of Federal Way, Wash., is right about now probably packing his flat iron, his hot rollers, his mousse and his memories.
And guess what? When I saw him tear up at the announcement, I told my "Idol"-watching buddies, "Hey, I think I'm gonna miss this guy." You, too? Shoot me an e-mail.
And, stay glued to this space, where I'll be posting a Q&A with Sanjaya on Thursday.
Heck, even my 14-year-old son, who doesn't even watch the show, lamented, "That's the only person I knew on the show!"
Sanjaya used every trick in the book to stick around. He smiled when the three judges chastised him, he changed his look from week to week, and I have to admit this, he was getting somewhat better vocally - not enough to win, certainly. But his rendition of Bonnie Raitt's "Something To Talk About" on Tuesday night just didn't give fans - even the teeny-boppers - something to vote for.
Surprisingly, he was joined in the bottom three by Blake Lewis, who I thought did a nice job Tuesday. Yes, country music is not necessarily his strongest genre, but I thought Chris Richardson would be there. And, not surprisingly, Lakisha Jones filled out the trio. She seemed stunned. But come on, taking on Carrie Underwood's "Jesus Take the Wheel?" Too soon. Waaay too soon.
One moment will be burned in my "Idol" analogs for a long, long time. At the very onset of the show, host Ryan Seacrest mentioned an incident that happened on Tuesday night's show that caused quite a bit of controversy and confusion. The outcry was over judge Simon Cowell seemingly rolling his eyes as contestant (and Virginia native) Chris made a closing remark about the tragedy at Virginia Tech. Ryan allowed Simon to clear the air. Here's what he had to say:
"I usually don't comment on a press story, but there was a heated debate between myself and Chris about him singing through his nose. After the exchange, Chris mentioned the people in Virginia. I need to set the record straight. I didn't hear what Chris was saying. The implication was that I was disrespecting the victims. Now, I might not be the nicest person in the world, but I would never do something like that. I was talking to Paula (Abdul) about Chris' comments on intentionally singing in a nasal voice."
Ryan retorted that there's "always another show happening at this table every week."
Anyway, in my opinion: Yes, he might be a cuss sometimes, but even Simon Cowell could never be that cruel.
Moving on: The hourlong results show was filled with, uh, filler, including:
* Another Ryan on-the-street Q&A with random "Idol" fans. He always seems to find some weirdo oddball who rambles aimlessly. One woman said she didn't think the guys had it this year. Another was "worried about Lakisha."
* The Top 7 singing Sugarland's "I'm All Right." It was just all right. I mean, together, they still sound like a really good high school musical ensemble.
* A brief glimpse of Season 5's Bucky Covington in the audience. His CD came out this week but, hey, no shout-out from Ryan.
* Ryan asking the burning question: What do the Top 7 listen to in their spare time?
Answers: Melinda Doolittle: "Fred Hammond. I need a Jesus song during the day."
Blake: "The new Incubus album."
Jordin Sparks: "Fergie. I like her new single, 'Glamorous.' "
Phil Stacey: "Willie Nelson."
Chris: "Maroon 5, Jason Mraz. My favorite is Peter Noone (Herman's Hermits and a British Invasion mentor).
Lakisha: "Yolanda Adams."
Most of this was shot as the contestants were either eating (out of styrofoam boxes) or having their hair and makeup done.
* The weekly Ford commercial, which was some sort of heist thing with the contestants singing "I Ran" and Sanjaya looking amazingly like actor Steven Segal.
* A tease to "Idol Gives Back," which continues to grow and grow - and grow. The list of corporations and celebrities participating is mindboggling. Underwood, Gwen Stefani, Pink, Earth, Wind & Fire, Kelly Clarkson, Josh Groban, and on and on.
Ryan mentioned there would be a "duet you'll have to see to believe." The performers weren't revealed, but on a subsequent Coke commercial, Celine Dion's name came up.
* And a filler/promotional moment that I could have done without. The Top 7 take a ride over to DreamWorks, meet CEO/movie honcho Jeffrey Katzenberg, take turns dubbing some of the characters' voices for the new movie "Shrek the Third," meet Antonio Banderas (voice of Puss in Boots), see the movie, gloat over the movie, and - at last! - go back to their "Idol" chores.
But then, as if it couldn't get more pluggish, Antonio is in the audience, with wife Melanie ("I haven't made a movie in years") Griffith, daughter Stella and Jeffrey who, mercifully, introduces this week's musical mentor, Martina McBride.
Martina's performance seemed choreographed for such a difficult week. We knew she was going to sing her new single, "Anyway," but who knew the words would take on such meaning:
"God is great, but sometimes life ain't good
And when I pray, it doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway, I do it anyway."
Her daughter, Emma, joins her on the stage and pretty much takes over, complimenting her mom's album, the Top 7 contestants, and pulling a Paula-esque, "Everybody is great!"
Martina gets a word in, saying she couldn't make the decision on who goes home. "America makes that decision. And we'll find out after the break." Hmmm... very Ryan-esque.
Speaking of which: Much to the contestants' angst/delight, Ryan had broken them into groups - the top three and the bottom three but, as with every season, we don't know which is which. I could guess, though. Did you?
Group 1: Phil, Jordin and Chris.
Group 2: Sanjaya, Lakisha and Blake
Melinda is the contestant first declared safe, and then she's put in that ridiculously awkward position of picking which of the two groups is worst/best. My girl Melinda folds up and sits cross-legged in the center of the stage. No comment.
"That is fair and fitting," Ryan says. "Slide to your left. This group (Phil, Jordin and Chris) are safe."
Then, the judges weighed in:
Randy: "Dawg, I think it's crazy that Blake's up there!"
Paula: "Blake's grandmother is here, and I hope she's not getting too upset. I understand why two of you are up there."
Simon: "I'm beginning to sense something here."
As usual, because the clock is ticking, Ryan pulls out the safety net for my boy Blake, who appears genuinely grateful.
And now, it's between Sanjaya and Lakisha - and it's quick and painless: "Sanjaya goes home tonight."
He says: "It's been an amazing experience."
Ryan says: "We won't soon forget you."
Note to you: Here's where I hope you "Idol" fans were paying close attention to Sanjaya's farewell version of "Something To Talk About." Did you catch him changing the lyrics to "Let's give 'em something to talk about, other than hair?" Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. He should do that on the tour this summer.
Posted by Leigh Grogan at April 18, 2007 11:14 PM
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