Why is Sanjaya Still on American Idol? Isn't it Obvious??

Yeah -- it's a bit odd.

I mean, there isn't a person on the show with less talent, right now. (Though, some of them aren't all that great, really.)

But, each week -- all of them have to have something on their mind:

"Is this the week that I get voted off before Sanjaya?"

American Idol isn't a "singing competition" -- no matter what Simon says.

If it were, a panel of competent judges would decide who was going home every night, or America would vote for two people and then the judges would get to choose one to go home.

As it stands, it's a popularity contest that has (somewhat fortunately) resulted in decent picks. I don't think Sanjaya will win -- but it seems as though he "could" and that's pretty scary.

I don't watch American Idol but unfortunately I know more about it than I care to. That said I agree Sanjaya is still there because of Howard Stern. Vote for the Worst (or whatever the name of the site) was an amusing annoyance that probably allowed someone to advance further than they might have but in the end doesn't have enough force to push anyone through. Howard Stern on the other hand does have the audience to sufficiently influence the vote.

Ah well, hopefully the furor will attract enough AI faithful to rally and resist the outside influence. If not I wonder if AI has grounds for a lawsuit.

Baba boowie..

To look at it from the other side, the reason he's still on is that people who don't like him aren't voting for anyone else. I don't have statistics, but I would imagine it's a fairly safe statement to say that of most of the Idol-viewing public, a very small percentage actually votes. That very small percentage votes multiple times.

Take me, for example. I'm a casual viewer. I'm not going to get out my phone, but I enjoy seeing the spectacle. Do I think Sanjaya belongs? No. Do I care enough to vote? Also no. If the veritable butt-load of people who complain about him actually voted, he may be gone by now. Instead, we just sit there watching while preteen girls with nothing better to do before bedtime vote again and again for the bishounen.

If he wins, I truly believe that will be the case - as the show will lost creditibility as a talent based competition.

You can't lose what you didn't have in the first place.

I think it is sad to think Howard Stern could be the possible reason for American Idols demise or for that matter a victory for the boy with "NO TALENT". I know I will never watch another Idol if Sanjaya wins.

Well I have always tuned in while my wife watched American Idol. Well the lst 2 weeks has even angered me. No Hailey would never of won the show but overall she is a much better singer than he was. He should of been gone week 1! As soon as I heard last night that again he was not in the bottom 3 I went out of the room and did not finish the show. It is pretty bad that she even turned off the television out of anger. No offense to him at all but at this point he should feel bad that this has happened. The America that keeps vting for him is only giving him false hopes of a future in the music world and that world will not buy his CD. It is only sitting him up for failure and that is not even fair to him. No matter who wins, Melinda Dolittle is out next American Idol. The first few weeks she sang everyone in that competition should of just said"GIVE IT TO HER". She is the real winner no matterwho This America votes for.

If he wins this will be the last year that I watch American Idol. It is a talent contest not popularity. Perhaps they should make the judges vote count for 50% like dancing with the stars.

If Sanjaya should win the American Idol, does the person or persons who gives the singing contract have to follow through with that contract. Sanjaya does not deserve to be the American Idol as everyone else of the top 8 was better than he was. This is not right to put someone through when they are not that good and something needs to be done. I love the show, but I feel if Howard Stern can have this kind of impact on the voters (to vote for the worst singer) then American Idol is going to lose a lot of viewers.

Sanjaya does not deserve to win.

I totally agree with Mary...if they want to have judges their vote should count for 50% of the vote. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! HE can't sing! Hailey we'll be seeing you in the future...I would bet anything on that!!!

What a shame, this is a great show,with some great talent. To have it ruined by some guy called Howard Stern, who is he anyway, I honestly don't know who he is. It is a wonder that our world is heading in the direction it is, with the Howard Stearn's in it. First of all, you are giving that boy false hope, a sense that he is good, and he really is not good. What do you think is going to happen to him, if he does win, do you think anybody is going to let him actually make a record. I mean this could be a devastating blow for him. Thinking that he is so good that he won the Idol, in reality, half of America is laughing at him, and maybe all the Howard Stern Fans too.
Why is that there always has to be someone out there, that does not like something, and has to ruin it for the rest of us. I don't understand this. It is a fun show, it gives this kids a sense to work hard to succeed and then you have an idiot out there who does not like the show and wants to let the world know. Just think of what you are doing to him. He is not good. Simple. Maybe you don't care, maybe it is just a game to you, just remember these are real live people, with feelings and emotion. Don't play with their lives, just because you want to have fun. A real American Idol Fan in Wisconsin

The whole situation is sad.

Well---- it wasnt America that put him through in the first place. It was those 3 judges who sit there every week, and critique him like he came out of nowhere?! So if he is in this competition, it is basically their own grave they dug up. Now about him not getting voted out.... its an Indian call center conspiracy.... Believe me.... Well another American institution torn down.... ingeniously by foreign terror.... get SANJAYA out of that show, if you love this country!!!!

GUESS: Shyamali Malakar (his sister) is a gorgeous, wearing a hooter t shirt, sex doll and that puts votes up on her brother's tally

My husband and I have been American Idol fans since the beginning. We have watched it grow and
have allowed this midweek entertainment to bring entertainment to our home. This whole Sanjaya
"thing" is ridiculous. Every week we ask each other "how is this happening? who is voting for this
so-so singer?" Now, we come to understand that it appears some guy named H. Stern is behind it.
I sincerely hope the powers to be at American Idol will be able to implement something that will
protect the show in the future. I hate to say it, but this will definitely affect the good reputation of AI.

First off Howard Stern is probably one of the biggest AI fans. He has done more promoting for that show than anyone. Since it has been on the air from the first season he has talked about it every Wednesday and Tuesday. They people on AI don't have that much talent and really haven't worked for it. So if "our world is heading in the direction it is" the real problem isn't Howard Stern its the people that watch this much TV and let in run there lives

I agree with everyone else, I'm a diehard fan of AI, have watched every season thus far....This one is a joke......a lot of good talent has lost their chance so that Sinjaya could move on.....they say it's not fare to him......I say its not fare to the one's who were voted off......that were a whole lot better than he'll ever be. I wish they would let the judges vote.....then we wouldn't have people like howard stern interfering in something important to a large majority of people in the world who enjoy the show.

I am an AI fan and I would like to see a real singer win! Although Sanjaya has a great personality, AI is not about a personality or hair contest it is about finding someone who has character, personality AND most of all the best SINGER!!!

If this persists, AI will lose its purpose and a lot more viewers. I do believe that the judges may need to step in if he is not voted off next week because he is out of his league now.

www.athomebusinesscareer.com

It is really sad that American Idol can't be a honest contest.With Howard Stern sticking his nose in and helping Sanjaya get votes.....he's giving false hope to a loser......better singers are getting voted off...and he's still there....I no longer have interest in watching a once interesting and good show....I'm afraid American Idol will lose a lot of viewers over this......

My husband and I have been American Idol fans from the beginning. It has always been an awesome midweek break from all the mundane aspects of life!! This entire season has been frustrating because we both honestly can't understand how Sanjaya is still going strong. I am sure he is a nice young man and he is definitely talented...but certainly not quite as magnificent as the other contestants. Can Howard Stern (and his mean little game) really impact this much of the outcome on AI? If so, I hope that steps can be implemented in the future to alleviate this type of bashing of what has up to this point been an incredible TV show. It is just too bad that a 17 y.o. can evoke such discontent in the majority of AI viewers (myself included). He needs to be taken off the show before it is too late. COME ON AMERICA...VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't think this situation with Sanjaya is a shame at all! In fact, from the point of view of American Idol Producers, I bet Sanjaya is the best thing that has happened to the show in a LONG time! Think about it . . . all of this controversy and hype over the fact that this young man is still in the competition has got EVERYONE talking about it. And for those thousands of people who never really watched the show before and are hearing about this "Sanjaya thing"; well many of them are probably thinking, "Gee, I gotta check this thing out for myself!" And just like that, thousands and thousands more viewers for the show! I would know . . . I'm one of the newbies to give "Idol" a look because of all the Sanjaya drama I was hearing.

From my perspective, it's easy to see why he is still there. Although his voice may not be as eloquent as some of the other contestants, he has pretty much EVERYTHING else going for him. He is good looking, sweet, likable, and he has this strange way of grasping his audience; making them think, "Gee, I wonder what he's gonna do next?" That "wonder for more" is why he survives.

And comments that I've seen about him never getting a record contract? Well, that couldn't be further from incorrect! Gosh, how many multi-million-dollar-dare-I-call-them-SINGERS do we have out there that can't hold a tune to save their lives! The last so-called "musical" celebrity that was just recently seen on the show is a perfect example of this (*cough,*cough -- J-LO -- *cough, *cough). And what about Akon who was also a guest "singer" on the show. Are you kidding me?? If he was just some Jo-Shmo off the street that sang that tune for the AI judges he'd have been laughed off the stage a LONG time ago. So YES, it IS possible for no talent "singers" to get record contracts and actually make big money doing it, too!! It's all about their style, their likability, and the interest they strike with the public. Singing then comes second!

Simply put Sanjaya will not win. Those who have been voted off before him would have lasted only 1 week longer on the show so what is the big deal. The viewers of AI will vote in the finale for who they think is the most talented singer as the winner.

Although I still believe Bo Bice out sang Kerry Underwood on Season 4's Finale.

You people who are all upset about the integrity of AI, get over it. It's a silly talent show. Howard Stern can't force people to dial their phones 100 times. If AI is so big and powerful how come its fans can't nullify the Howard Stern votes. If the people are voting for Sanjaya, then he should win. Why isn't anyone campaigning for the "more talented" singers? And if they are, whose fault is it that they aren't as powerful or as good at drumming up votes as Stern is?? This isn't the first time a less talented candidate won a vote he shouldn't have...anyone remember Al Gore winning the popular vote but losing the presidency? In the end, aren't there more important matters in the world than who wins AI??? Isn't there a war going on somewhere?

I agree with #39, Suzanne78. I don't know why so many people are so upset over Sanjaya continuing 2 be on the show. They act like he's the 1st "not that great singer" on American Idol! Each season contains "singers" that u look at, and scratch your head like, "How the hell did THEY get thru?" And, as far as the judges complaining, they put Sanjaya thru, as well as all the other NON-singers on there (Hailey Scarnato, who thankfully just got the "boot", and others)! The bottom line is that American Idol has NEVER been JUST a singing competition! That's why it's called American IDOL, NOT American SINGER! If it were just about the voice, then we really don't need 2 c the singers at all! Just have them stand behind a curtain, and we can simply judge the sound we hear coming from the speakers! Plus, if it's JUST about singing, then why do the judges, even Simon, always comment on someone's lack of charisma, passion, or their wardrobe? Everyone knows that being a successful musical artist has ALWAYS been about way more than just a good voice! And like Suzanne78 said, look at J.Lo, Akon, and even Gwen Stefani, and even more, the legendary Diana Ross, all of whom have been coaches 4 the contestants, and all of whom are NOT good singers, yet they're all extremely successful artists! Some of my favorite artists over the years don't sing well! Bobby Brown, TLC, and Janet Jackson, just 2 name a few! And look how successful Paula Abdul was back in the late 80's and early 90's! So, the bottom line is that Sanjaya is GOOD 4 the show, because he's got EVERYBODY talkin', which only keeps the ratings sky high, which is the ultimate goal of ANY TV show! And 1st and 4-most, that's what American Idol is! NOT a singing competition, nor even a "competition" at all, but a TV show, and the network, and producers' main goal is 2 keep us glued 2 our TV sets every week, 'cuz ratings=MONEY, which is what show business, and ANY business is all about at the end of the day! That's why they show all of those horrendous "acts" during the audition process: 4 RATINGS! People seem 2 lose sight of this! So, I say do your "thang", Sanjaya! Obviously, u've got the rest of the "package" that endears u 2 millions! And, as boring as all the other contestants are (whether they can sing or not), Sanjaya is now my MAIN reason 4 watching!