The Monitor's American Idol Chat

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*Chris Richardson is our first unanimous, correct pick to get voted off. WE ROCK!!!!

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So the producers gave everyone a break and no one is eliminated. How un-thrilling. They should have brought back Sanjaya.

By Brandon Garcia, Idol Chat Editor

While I’m happy for my fellow Idol Chat panelist J. Cantu, who after weeks finally gets to change his shirt, I can’t help but feel a little downhearted that I don’t have Sanjaya Malakar to brighten the beginning of my week.

Sanjaya is without doubt the worst singer and performer ever to make it this far on American Idol, and there have been some truly god-awful contestants. As the joke of the season, he unwittingly became the most popular, and the most hated over the years. Sanjaya’s presence made us question the very soul of the show — is it a singing contest or a popularity contest? Will sensationalism win out over true talent?

Fortunately, no.

But I am glad Sanjaya survived over singers such as Stephanie Edwards, Brandon Rogers and Haley Scarnato. While those contestants were trying to win over America with bright smiles and disco standards, Sanjaya gave us little nuggets of Idoliciousness, like his glorious, ever-changing hair and golden catchphrases like “Welcome to the Universe of Sanjaya.” Sanjaya put many of his yawn-inducing opponents in their place, proving every week that it’s better to be awful than merely mediocre — the middle ground is the world’s most barren territory. American Idol needed to be reminded of that this year more than any other.

So hats off to you, Sanjaya. You’re the true winner this year, no matter what the haters may say.

There’s really only one performance that you need to see Sanjaya, and these two minutes are better than anything you’ll see from here until the finale: “You Really Got Me”

By Brandon Garcia, Idol Chat editor

It’s been a rough ride for you, Haley. You started out the season as the wholesome Disney princess, but
America just didn’t want you that way. Over the past eight weeks, the rough hands of the producers ripped off your satin gowns and stuffed you into a pair of hot pants. You became the town slut of the Top 12, always easy on the eyes, your Z-grade performances always a dependable laugh. But alas,
America grew tired of you, throwing you to the dogs like a mud-stained ra