American Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe says a win on his top-rated contest isn't all that important-- and with those words, he just might be preparing us all for a Sanjaya Malakar victory.
"What do you mean by 'winning?'" he posed to TV Week. "Taylor (Hicks) won the competition, but he isn't the one selling albums at the moment. So what is the win at the end of the day?"
Lythgoe also said he'd be "shocked" if Sanjaya won, but confirmed that the "entertainer" has a solid fan base because of his "dare to be different" attitude.
"I do understand why people vote for him; I really do. I think Sanjaya is going to win in the sense that he's going to have a very interesting career. He's certainly going to have food for the rest of his life, isn't he?"
Sanjaya, who was roundly criticized in the earlier rounds of Idol has lived up to the hype in recent weeks, standing out as the most entertaining, laugh-getting and memorable performer on the show. And in fact, the easily-turned tide of media opinion is shifting in his favor.
The only surprise is that Sanjaya finished in the middle of the pack in last night's voting, with Lakisha Jones, Melinda Doolittle and Jordin Sparks in the Top 3. Gina Glocksen was sent back to the bratwurst festival circuit in Chicago, and despite Lythgoe's caveat we don't see her doing Daughtry business.
But as for Sanjaya-- just wait til next week!
The theme is Latin music! And Sanjaya could very well show up with a Carmen Miranda fruit basket on his head-- that is, if Ryan Seacrest doesn't beat him to it.
Jennifer Lopez-- a Sanjaya-ish pop star-- meaning one who gets by on performance, style and charisma-- and whose less-than-Aquilerian voice is plumped and caressed by pop music producers--will be the mentor. You can bet she won't pull a Tony Bennett and skip the results show. Her latest album is doing Taylor Hicks numbers. (And will anyone be offended if we say she has a big butt???)
Comments (8)
I take offense to the bratwurst festival circuit comment you made about Gina. She was definitely one of the better singers there -- way better than Sanjaya can ever think of being. What's wrong with bratwurst?
1 of 8 | Posted by Sowhat'swrongwithChicago | Posted on April 5, 2007 10:24 AM
I like Sangina!!!
2 of 8 | Posted by sanfan | Posted on April 5, 2007 12:09 PM
Oh, its not a singing or a talent competition. Its a popularity contest and everybody knows it.
Every week, Ryan says, "call in and vote for the person you'd like to see return next week."
He doesn't say to vote for the best singer. He doesn't say to vote for the most talented. He says vote for the one YOU like best.
For me, its Sanjaya all the way. Love the smile, love that he keeps on keepin on, and especially love the fact that it inexplicably sends so many into a serious lather, proclaiming him the "worst ever" and other such nonsense. It's American Idol, for pete's sake! Not known for its great taste or sincere search for the "best." How do you explain that freakshow Taylor Hicks?
3 of 8 | Posted by Die_MediaWhores![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tvgasm.com/newsgasm/nav-commenters.gif)
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Posted on April 5, 2007 2:56 PM
American Idol is not a singing competition and it is not a talent contest. It is a REALITY show. Period. Nothing more, nothing less. As in all reality shows the producers try to steer the audience into believing whatever they want them to believe. Hence Sanjaya's success.
4 of 8 | Posted by Jason Mitchell | Posted on April 5, 2007 6:23 PM
Sanjaya won't win, but he'll be the farthest-surviving shitty contestant out of all 6 seasons. He might even beat Scott Savol's 5th place spot. We'll see.
5 of 8 | Posted by Smoke_Rulz![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tvgasm.com/newsgasm/nav-commenters.gif)
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Posted on April 5, 2007 7:27 PM
I love that Sanjaya is still in! American Idol is a singing competition? Please. I hope the little bastard wins so this drivel will no longer be clogging up the TV and killing off great shows that are not targeted to American morons. I won't lie - I've watched it, on occasion, mainly because it scares most every other decent show out of its time slot, but it's just C-R-A-P. Good lord. Who had the idea to put bad Karaoke on TV and let idiot Americans waste hours calling in for their favorites like it means something. It's like some social experiment gone horribly wrong.
6 of 8 | Posted by Anonymous | Posted on April 6, 2007 12:52 PM
That worn out used up fat assed walking veneral disease J-Whore is going to give singing advice? This I have to see. The Center for Disease Control's Public Enemy Number 1 is going to mentor people? On what? How to be sluts?
Her advice will be...'make sure you blow and bone the president of the record company to get a deal'.
What a pathetic fame whore she is. She is a disgrace.
KH
7 of 8 | Posted by katieshole | Posted on April 7, 2007 4:39 AM
katieshole is funny.
Yeah, I think JLo's appearance (couple with Gwen's a couple of weeks ago) pretty much negates the notion that this is a singing competition. If anything, its a lesson to Sanjaya -- see? you don't have to know how to SING, Sanjaya! You just have to know how to work it. If Gwen and JLo can make careers out of mediocre voices, you can too!
8 of 8 | Posted by Die_MediaWhores![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.tvgasm.com/newsgasm/nav-commenters.gif)
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Posted on April 9, 2007 1:39 PM