Welcome back to "AI Aftermath," where we explore Idol's past. Each week, as one more American Idol hopeful is eliminated from the competition, we take a look back at contestants past who were eliminated in the same week. We'll examine how they did on the show and what they've been up to since their eliminations. In honor of Kristy Lee Cook's elimination last week we'll be looking at other seventh place finishers.
This week: 7th place finishers, featuring featuring Ryan Starr (Season One), Kimberly Caldwell (Season Two), Jennifer Hudson (Season Three), Anwar Robinson (Season Four), Ace Young (Season Five) and Sanjaya Malakar (Season Six).
I know this is going back to last year's American Idol, but in a recent radio interview, runner-up Blake Lewis blasted Sanjaya Malakar, saying the singer more famous for his hair than his voice should have never been on the show. In fact, he went on to say, "He had already gotten cut. [The judges were] like, 'You suck. You shouldn't be on the show. Then the producer [Nigel Lythgoe] put him back on." In fact, Lewis said he only made it to Hollywood because his sister did; Shyamali Malakar got cut there. If this is true, does this speak to the integrity of the selection process? I realize it's a reality show as well as a competition so personalities are cast as well as talent, but wouldn't you still want the best singers represented? I guess not.
Every year there is criticism when certain contestants advance ahead of others, but as far as I can tell this is the first time a former contestant has come out and said much the same. "I got pissed every week because my buddies that are super-talented are going home and he's [still there]," he said about Sanjaya's improbable run to seventh place. Of course, once they hit the stage it's our choice, and our fault, how long they stay. But are the showrunners intentionally putting in sub-par performers to try and drum up press and controversy like they had last year with Sanjaya?
If you're scratching your head and asking "Sanjaya Who?" then you probably don't own a TV, or a computer for that matter. For two months, Sanjaya-hysteria ruled our television airwaves (sometimes three times a week). Thanks to a little show called American Idol, Sanjaya became one of the breakout reality TV stars of 2007.
Like many breakout reality TV stars, Sanjaya Malakar was able to successfully steal the spotlight from his more worthy opponents, gliding by on personality and charisma. He's living proof that a winning grin and luscious locks can sometimes take you a lot farther than actual talent.
Hey, Brigitte here with TV Squad Daily. I'll be covering the TV stories I find interesting each day, Monday through Friday, in this video blog.
Today on TV Squad Daily:
Bill Rancic (the original Apprentice winner) got married this past weekend to an E! News anchor.
Fox will be bringing us a new reality program. It's like Smile You're on Candid Camera only probably without the smiling, since people are getting arrested.
Sanjaya's family is putting their house up for sale and "going Hollywood" which seems like a really really bad idea.
American Idol's season six winner Jordin Sparks and first runner-up Blake Lewis are hitting the studios to record their individual debut albums. With possible release dates as early as Thanksgiving, America will learn soon enough if the latest batch of Idols are "turkeys" or not.
Jordin said, "I'm trying to mix everything together. I'm loving all the songs I'm recording, so hopefully that will come off the album when you listen to it and you'll be able to feel the emotion."
I used to love watching Ozzy on The Osbournes, even if he did make about as much sense as Paula Abdul. But I guess Ozzy isn't as "out of it" as I thought. According the New York Post, Ozzy was scheduled to perform during the American Idol May 23rd finale, but canceled at the last minute when he found out he'd be singing a duet with Sanjaya Malakar.
Ozzy reportedly called Sanjaya "a hairstyle-challenged idiot" and refused "be on stage with that idiot." Aerosmith's Joe Perry apparently had no problem appearing on stage with the infamous Sanjaya.
With 70 million votes pouring in after last week's American Idol, it's pretty safe to say that hardcore fans of the show do exist.
Luckily, the American Idols Live tour dates were released yesterday and should help to alleviate the fan depression that comes along with the shows looming finale.
The tour is slated to occur between July 6th and September 22nd and lands at 50 different locations across the country and includes a stint in Canada.
Weeks ago, Simon declared that he'd quit if Sanjaya won American Idol. But now that Sanjaya is gone, it looks like even Simon has a soft spot for this season's most controversial contestant.
Simon reportedly said, "I do miss Sanjaya in a way. Even though I had problems with his vocals, I always looked forward to him coming on each week. I never knew what he'd wear or what he'd do."
I have to agree with Simon. I never cared for the kid's singing. But he did give us "something to talk about." And without controversy, isn't Idol just Star Search with phenomenal ratings?
Phil gave one of his best performances during last week's country week. But other than that, his singing has been consistently uneven. He's also hampered by his pale looks, and is often compared to Nosferatu or Bat Boy. Phil, no stranger to the bottom three, might just hang on a bit longer with VFTW's support.
Simon Cowell's London home was ransacked, with thieves making off with jewelry, silver, and electronic equipment. Simon left his house keys with building contractors who were working on his home, which the police called "unwise." Apparently, someone copied the keys and gained access to the house.
It was a little eerie to hear all the shouts for joy when Sanjaya's name was announced as the one to leave Idol this week -- even though I felt just as glad as the audience sounded.
And, while I was happy to see him go, I ran into him backstage on Wednesday, and that stripped away all the dehumanizing effects TV watching had on me. I felt a little guilty about being so happy and felt empathetic for the media blast he's got to face.
It's easy to look at the characters we see on TV and pick them apart, and sometimes we forget that that person is real. Well, in reality TV anyway. I'd forgotten until the other night when I saw the on-staff psychologist. Directly after you get the boot, you have an immediate counseling session. Poor guy -- he's gonna carry some scars around for a while.
On American Idol, Paula is the "sweet one." However, she wasn't so "sweet" on a recent Southwest Airlines flight from San Jose to Burbank, California. "She pulled a major diva trip," according to someone on the plane.
Paula annoyed her fellow passengers by demanding first-class treatment on a sold-out flight that didn't even have a first-class section. She tried to get special boarding treatment (reserved for those flying with young children, people with disabilities, and the elderly), declaring, "I'm famous! I need to go on first!"
Laughter erupted from fellow passengers after one of them shouted at her: "You're no Sanjaya! You have to board like everyone else."
After she finally boarded the plane, Paula reportedly kept her head down, and appeared to be "twitchy."
(S06E31) Tonight's episode starts with Simon Cowell setting the record straight about that unfortunate eyerolling V-Tech incident from last night. A sincere and apologetic Simon says, "I may not be the nicest person in the world, but I would never ever ever disrespect those families or those victims."
And then, to verify that Simon was talking to Paula about Chris' nasally singing and didn't hear what Chris said, they show us footage we didn't see on air last night. And the defense rests their case in the courtroom of public opinion. Ryan echoes what I said in my post earlier, that there would be less confusion, if Simon chatted less, and listened more during the show.
But enough about all that unpleasant business. Is Sanjaya going home or what?
I know this is going back to last year's 
If you're scratching your head and asking "Sanjaya Who?" then you probably don't own a TV, or a computer for that matter. For two months, Sanjaya-hysteria ruled our television airwaves (sometimes three times a week). Thanks to a little show called 
American Idol
I used to love watching Ozzy on 
With 70 million votes pouring in after last week's American Idol, it's pretty safe to say that hardcore fans of the show do exist. 
Weeks ago, Simon declared that 
Vote for the Worst 
It was a little eerie to hear all the shouts for joy when Sanjaya's name was announced as the one to leave Idol this week -- even though I felt just as glad as the audience sounded. 
On American Idol, Paula is the "sweet one." However, .jpg)
(S06E31) Tonight's episode starts with Simon Cowell setting the record straight about that 
Giveaways reminder: Office, Eli Stone, Supernatural, South Park
Giveaway Thursday: Tickets to the New York Television Festival ... all of it!
I miss the media-friendly John McCain - VIDEOS
