Tonight's AI was teeming with surprises:

It started with the appearance in the audience of AI erotica star Antonella Barba. For those of you with short memories, Barba was voted off the show weeks after racy photos of her surfaced on the internet. Interesting factoid: some of the pix were taken at the fountain of DC's National World War II memorial, with Barba in a wet t-shirt. I've always wanted to ask Barba why she chose that monument. Was this her tribute to the Greatest Generation? Or was it a protest against what is undoubtedly the National Mall's ugliest monument?

Gina Glocksen, the season's "resident rocker" (an annoying label) was in the audience, though that was predictable.

LaKisha's performance of "This Ain't A Love Song" was a pleasant surprise, though I'm not sure it warranted a kiss from Simon. (If this were May it would have been Paula who kissed LaKisha. Lesbian kisses are a TV Sweeps Season staple.) I'm always glad when LaKisha has family in the audience. She needs all the support she can get. This time it was "LaKisha's Cousins."

I know I'm supposed to be indignant at Sanjaya Malakar's inclusion in Idol's top 12 - especially since Sundance Head is going home. But Sanjaya needs someone's support, and I'm lending mine. The judges have scoffed at his singing and mocked his "Paula hair." (For the record it's "Gina Gershon hair.") He's reacted with good cheer and humility, though I can tell he's suffering tremendous survivor's guilt.

Folks, Sanjaya knows he's not the best. He can't help it if America keeps voting for him. (His grace and self-awareness are a lesson to other contestants.) So stop trashing him!

That said, it is legitimate to ask why America is voting for him. Sanjaya is the first finalist of Indian descent, or "South Asian American". There are approximately 2.5 million Indian-Americans - less than 1% of the U.S. population - but rapidly growing in influence. They are also the richest ethnic group in America, with a median family income of $68,771 (2004). Is Sanjaya's ascendance a sign of Indian-Americans flexing their electoral muscle? Will they make Sanjaya Idol's "New Tiger"? This, of course, assumes a pattern of ethnic-identity voting.

- Read on, but first take my Sanjaya hair poll!

Or is she simply a victim of her good looks? No poll here. Just want to know what you think.