Sanjaya Malakar

By ATHIMA CHANSANCHAI Despite the impression given off by "American Idol," Sanjaya Malakar is no one-trick ponyhawk. For one thing, the Seattle native really can sing, even when he has a cold. His peers on the show, who are quoted in his new book of ...

 - Dec 9, 2008 Wright introduced me to Camila Recchi, 20, first cousin of "American Idol" phenom Sanjaya Malakar. (Her hair is VERY normal, btw. ...

By tvgal@seattlepi.com (Melanie McFarland) Without Mr. Hair-um Scare-um in the mix, get ready to slog through two tons of boredom for the next couple of weeks. America's tweens could have weeded out Phil Stacey and Chris Richardson before Sanjaya, but nooooo. We have to wait for those two to get the boot, and maybe LaKisha too. I'm not say...

In the online community and in Sanjaya Malakar's home state of Washington, the croaking crooner seems to have a loyal following of friends, family and fanatics who would like nothing better than to see him achieve the ultimate "Idol" success.

In a surprise, Stephanie Edwards -- one of this season's best singers -- was voted off the top-rated talent contest Wednesday, while weak and sometimes unwatchable performers Sanjaya Malakar of Federal Way and Haley Scarnato were allowed to stay.

By tvgal@seattlepi.com (Melanie McFarland) Between the two reality television hair tragedies from Seattle, we would have thought that "America's Next Top Model" contestant Cassandra Watson would have gone much, much farther in her competition than "American Idol" contender Sanjaya Malakar.

By tvgal@seattlepi.com (Melanie McFarland) But my job -- and this season's inclusion of two Seattle-area contestants -- forces me to keep an eye on things. And I must say, Sanjaya Malakar's continued survival has been a source of great merriment. In fact, I hope the 2007 mascot for VoteForTheWorst.com wins. It could happen. The Federal W...