(AP)
60 years after Mohandas Gandhi's civil disobedience movement led to the end of British rule in India, the gentle Sanjaya is just as peacefully (if less than tunefully) bringing Viceroy Simon to heel.
American Idol is an institution built on an ideal: the most talented singer wins. In the end, all it has is its credibility. That's been crippled now, perhaps beyond all repair. And once the tipping point is reached (one week from now? Two?), HMS Idol will sink fast.
I've written extensively about the stunning parallels between Gandhi and Sanjaya. (Of course their hair is a contrast, though Sanjaya has at least one more week to debut a chrome dome. This I would not advise. Sanjaya's eyes are too closely set to pull off a bald look.)The parallels between the Brits of the 19th and early 20th centuries and Simon are worth examining. In both cases, it was the hubris of the otherwise ingenious Englishmen that did them in. The Brits in India with their oppressive Salt Taxes and brutal suppression of their Indian subjects; the imperious Simon with his gratuitous, sometimes cruel, insults of a young man with a real, if not enormous, fan base. (Simon overstepped with his colonialist hauteur. And now millions of families are paying a dear price as the sun sets on their favorite TV show.)
The implications are huge indeed. It's about more than a single show or a major network. The entire Reality Show Raj may already be teetering. Idol whetted our appetites for talent contests, by far the most enduring of the reality sub-genres. Without Idol, Heather Mills may as well hop back across the pond (where I suspect her countrymen will promptly trade her for the servicemen held in Iran).
And all because of one soft-spoken Indian.
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UPDATE: So it's the end of the road for Chris Sligh. A sign that the influence of the Christian Right is waning? With his dismissal and the survival of Sanjaya, one thing is clear: This is a new America.
P.S. What was up with Chris Richardson totally hogging air time during that Ford commercial? Not cool!
*RELATED ARTICLE: IS IT RANDY'S FAULT?
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 13)
16. I really don't care who anyone thinks is the best singer at this point. One thing is for sure that Sanjaya is the worse asn better ones are beign voted out. What is happening? I think is the telemarketers, credit card company and consumer service outsourced workers from India who have phone access as if they were in the USA. Anyone thought of that? I think the show format should change to vote for the worse singer instead of your favorite. That way the votes are less dilluted to the different singers.
Teri at 8:40AM on Mar 29th 2007
17. Sanjaya stinks!!!!
Steve Matheny at 8:49AM on Mar 29th 2007
18. Sanjaya seriously should have been the first to go home. He has no talent at all. The fact that he is going forward with every show takes away what AI is all about. It is NOT about teenie bopper good looks it is about talent...something he does not have. Those voting for him are taking away the chance for someone who is deserving to break into the music industry..and they should be ashamed of themselves. They are making a mockery of AI.
sarah at 8:50AM on Mar 29th 2007
19. For comments made by Robert T. above, your dearth of intelligence is evident. Go back and count how many presidential elections have been won by the candidate with the most popular votes. Then divide that number by the number of presidents and multiply by 100. I think you will be amazed at the percentage.
Sanjaya should not have made it past Hollywood. The producers had a chance to get rid of him but didn't. They have no one to blame but themselves.
Indeed, the abolishment of multiple votes per phone needs to be established. Sanjaya is what most of America is, i.e. wanna-be's with no talent and that's why they vote for him/her. Their empatheticity and vicariousness is woefully obvious.
Gary Seagraffe at 8:55AM on Mar 29th 2007
20. Sanjyah and this American Idol situation only represents what is happening everyday all over America. If you are attractive most likely you will win. I just don't understand why all of a sudden people are making a big deal about. Just imagine, I've been in that situation where I was more than qualified for a job and a cute blond with big breast comes in and she gets it. Sanjyah is'nt the guilty one America is. We raise our children to be more affixed on looks and not on Talents or abilities. So this is the out come, next who knows, a sexier president with no experience. Prettier doctors and unqualified lawyers. Wake up America
Katrina at 9:03AM on Mar 29th 2007
21. It appears to be a racist thing with this Sanjaya. i noticed it in this past weeks Idol performances. When the goof was taking stage, the cameras scanned the audience. There was someone holding up a huge round sign that said, 'Vote for Sanjaya, Vote for OUR people'. What kind of crap is that? It's racism is what it is! If this continues, i will not watch next year and will talk bad about the show.
MikeInDaniaFL at 11:38AM on Mar 29th 2007
22. Sanjaya - have some class and graciously step aside, kid. Your continued presence is disrepectful of the other contestants and the show. You have to know the votes you're getting are not because you're the best singer. Your votes are anti-Idol votes. You'd make alot more brownie points if you acknowledge the talents of the others and bow out before you become a bigger distraction than you already are.
To the Idol producers - suggestion for a format change... Let the public vote the bottom two but let the panel choose who ultimately goes each week.
Terry at 9:21AM on Mar 29th 2007
23. This has now reached the point of becoming rediculous. Sanjaya stands there with that smug look because he knows that thanks to Howard Sterns' crazed fan base and the "Vote for the worse" website that he will be with AI for at least 4 more weeks! AI should do like "DWTS" and give the phone vote 50% of the total stay or go vote. Let the judges get back into the fray instead of just being commentators. The 9-13 year old teeny bopper crowd has apparently displayed thier inability to sensibly dictate who will be the next AI, and that's why that no talented Sanjaya is still on the screen, plus he'll be on the tour next year...yea!
One more week of looking at him will force my family to seek our television entertainment elsewhere!!!!
Bob at 9:18AM on Mar 29th 2007
24. I too, will stop watching a launch a possible boycott of AI. Sanjaya is making a mockery of the show...along with those upholding him. AI is a forum for the talented ONLY; not those seeking ridicule!!! Get him off or I am turning the channel.
Shay at 9:19AM on Mar 29th 2007
25. This is just PITIFUL. We used to watch American Idol every week and now we only check to see what talented singer got voted off. To bad, it was a very intertaining show but now due to Sanjaya and his no talent voice we are watching Dancing With Stars. Hope Stern doens't ruin that one also.
CAT at 9:22AM on Mar 29th 2007
26. One phone, one call. However, that is not going to save Idol this year. I stopped watching it and now just read the results on my computer to see who gets the boot. Too bad, I really enjoyed watching those who deserve to win, win. I guess we are all just waiting for the death rattle now.
Chantal Tenace at 9:19AM on Mar 29th 2007
27. Everyone is up in arms about Sanjaya (as well we should be) and the credibility of American Idol is definitely on the chopping block.... In my humble opinion the whole voting system is wrong. I don't think we should vote for our favorite each week...I think we should vote off the person who should be eliminated. That would make a whole lot more sense, and might help with the problem we are having now.
Lucy at 9:33AM on Mar 29th 2007
28. for goodness sakes leave little SANJAYA, alone he's only a young child,Ithink you are degrading him, Simon lay off. VAN PARKES FAYETTEVILLE ,TENNESSEE
evan at 9:42AM on Mar 29th 2007
29. You know, I feel sorry for this kid! No wonder he can't sing as well as he did in the auditions....he has all this other stuff going on about him, ie hair, eyebrows, teeth, site to vote for the worst to keep them on show. I bet he feels totally humiliated.
I agree that maybe he should bow out gracefully. We know he won't though!
This is his 15 minutes of fame!!
Tammy at 12:27PM on Mar 30th 2007
30. I think not only is Sanjaya a joke, he a sarcastic one at that. Cocky little varmit I would say. Last night was the end for me. I won't be watching it anymore...what's with Paula gushing all over the little dude? Yuck. As we say in the medical field, "Idol is CTD...circling the drain".....it's OVER.
amanda at 10:04AM on Mar 29th 2007