American Idol and the Sanjaya Malakar Call Center Conspiracy Theory
So the latest conspiracy theory posits that it is the Indian call centers that so many of us Americans now deal with when calling our credit card companies, that may be pumping up Sanjaya Malakar’s weekly vote totals on American Idol.
(Apparently, the Hindu elephant-god Ganapati (or Ganesha) may be using his powers to generate all of these calls.)
Frankly, I personally don’t have a problem with Sanjaya doing so well on the show. In all honesty, Idol is no longer purely a singing talent competition, and charismatic, cute, and/or attractive contestants can do very well if audiences at home think they have some special, unique quality. And obviously, Sanjaya has something that millions of Americans (and our Indians in call centers) like. I still think the four best singers/artists on the show are Melinda Doolittle, Lakisha Jones, Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis. But Sanjaya Malakar could survive at least 3-4 weeks if he keeps exuding the same happy, positive energy he has been over the past few weeks. And for that, some fans will continue to starve (you can even buy a Sanjaya Hunger Strike pin now for 2 bucks, FYI).
Posted: March 25th, 2007 under American Idol, Sanjaya Malakar.
Comments: 4
Comments
Comment from LUPE
Time: March 25, 2007, 12:30 pm
SANJAY THERES ALOT OF JELLYBEANS OUT THERE. THE CHICKS ARE YOURS. YOU ARE A CROONER AND DON’T LET THEM OR SIMON CHANGE YOUR STYLE OF SINGING. UNTIL YOU LEARN TO PROJECT YOUR VOICE, HOLD THAT MIKE LIKE YOU ARE GOING TO KISS IT. YOU DON’T NEED THE EARINGS. WHO IN THE HELL DECIDES YOUR OUTFITS.
SOME SONGS SUITED FOR YOU….WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMEN. KIND OF A DOG. SINCE I LOST MY BABY. HOLD ME. GOOD LUCK
Comment from Melinda Hammock
Time: March 28, 2007, 11:19 am
Sanjaya, Don;’t listen to what people say. Your a terrific person and still very young. I just love the Michael Jackson part of you. Go out there are project that voice every week and you will do fine. Don’t be timid, that is the part of you that I would not vote for. You have a great voice, just use to come out of your shell and blow us away like you did last week !!!
Pingback from 8 Asians » SANJAYA-GATE!
Time: March 30, 2007, 8:23 am
[…] And why is Sanjaya relevant for Asian Americans? Because his ethnicity is irrelevant to his success or lack thereof, that’s why. While there were once rumors that Sanjaya staying on the show due to call-centers in India that have him on speed-dial, all it took was a shot of a crying girl to confirm America’s worst fears - “foreigners” aren’t voting Sanjaya to remain in the competition, but THEIR OWN CHILDREN. (For the record: votes in American Idol are in the millions, so sites like votefortheworst.com probably don’t make a major impact, as much as they would love to.) And millions of 8-13 year olds don’t care about Sanjaya’s ethnicity; they care about his wacky hair and the fact that he’s barely hit puberty. So here’s to you, Sanjaya - you’re standing up for Asian America. Even though I think you’re kind of a “meh” singer. […]
Pingback from 8 Asians » Sanjaya voted off of American Idol
Time: April 24, 2007, 12:25 am
[…] Okay, so the first paragraph might have a tad bit of sarcasm, but I’m a pop culture junkie, so hear me out: Sanjaya was the first contestant of Asian decent since Jasmine “OMG Flower In My Hair” Trias to make the Top 12. His singing content was, uhm, questionable, but the conspiracy theories behind him remaining in the competition were downright absurd, from Howard Stern’s “vote for the worst” campaign to how people in Indian call-centers were voting for him en masse, never mind that phone lines only open for a couple of hours after the show and India is, oh, a million time zones away. If anything, the conspiracy theories probably helped his cause due to America’s tendency to side with the underdog (that, and crying 13 year old girls.) […]
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