The Sanjaya Installation Video: Will Ferrell Made Him Do It

The source of the “Sanjaya Installation” video has now been found…

It’s Will Ferrell. And yes, the whole thing was a joke.

You can find the “Hoax Revealed” video and the full-length "Installation" video on Ferrell’s website funnyordie.com. Here’s the link: http://www.funnyordie.com/v1/view_video.php?viewkey=a5df3221116a5085a605

Did Ozzy Diss Sanjaya?

Jim may not want to read this one…

Apparently, Ozzy Osbourne dissed Sanjaya…

The “New York Post” reports that Ozzy was to have appeared on the “Idol” finale but backed out at the last minute after he heard that he would have to do a duet with Sanjaya.

According to the “Post” source, Ozzy called Sanjaya a “hairstyle-challenged idiot” and said he “didn’t want to be on stage with that idiot.”

I’ll let you guys write the jokes for this one…

Has Sanjaya Already Won?

Here’s a quote I know Jim will love from realitytvmagazine.com…

“If all the money that Sanjaya stands to make from CD sales, endorsement deals and TV sitcom appearances is added up, then Sanjaya likely has already won ‘American Idol.’”

Some reports have Sanjaya already receiving $15 million in offers.

As for Sanjaya himself, he says he’s “just riding the wave.”

Saturday, that wave took him to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and to the after-party (where he escorted supermodel Petra Nemcova). Monday, he appeared on “Live With Regis and Kelly” and read the Top 10 list (rather stiffly) on “The Late Show with David Letterman.”

But “already won”? What do you think? Will he prove to be the most popular contestant in the end?

Sanjaya Speaks...

So what did the most controversial “Idol” contestant ever have to say about his elimination?

What happened to him this week? “Honestly, I’m not a country singer. I think that really took a toll on me, and I didn’t have enough really strong performances to have people forgive me for that.”

What about Simon? “From the beginning, I think that Simon saw potential in me, and when I didn’t fill that potential, he was kind of disappointed…He’s very opinionated, but I learned more from him than from anyone else while I was on the show.”

Sanjaya said it still hasn’t hit him how much of an impact the show has. He said he’s considering getting a bodyguard.

About Ashley, aka crying girl, he said he thought it seemed “unnatural” that he could have that effect on someone. On “The Tonight Show,” he joked that he thought she was going to dehydrate from all the crying.

Sanjaya received his GED after his sophomore year, so he viewed “Idol” as his junior and senior year of high school. He hopes to get into Berklee School of Music.

And for the record, Sanjaya means “spiritual psychic”…

Sanjaya at the White House?!

It's bad enough that Sanjaya got more attention than any other "Idol" contestant AND he got to actually sit on the couch and talk to Jay Leno for an entire segment. Now he's going to the White House...

"The Washington Post" is reporting that Sanjaya has been added to the "People" magazine guest list for the White House Correspondents Association Dinner this weekend...

I'll have much more on Sanjaya later on including his parting words to the media and the details of his "Tonight Show" appearance...

Sanjaya gives us "Something to Talk About"

Sanjaya Malakar, “Something to Talk About”: 12
It was nice to hear a coach finally agree with me about Sanjaya not projecting, but he didn’t listen. It must be hard for the backup singers to be that quiet. Plus, I don’t consider this a genuine country song—no matter how appropriate he thought it was. And why, oh why, did Ryan feel it was necessary to jump in and defend Sanjaya? Are they trying to keep him in or was Ryan concerned that Simon’s vicious comments would make even more people vote for him? Ryan, I love you, but stay out of it!

Could Sanjaya soon have "the best of both worlds"?

I'm not sure whether I should scream or cry at this next one...

If Billy Ray Cyrus has his way, Sanjaya could soon be making "Hannah Montana" swoon.

Remember I told you that "Idol" and "Dancing With the Stars" share studio space? Well, Billy Ray ran into Sanjaya this week and they talked about "Hannah."

Here's Billy Ray's take on the conversation, courtesy of "Access Hollywood":

"Yeah we were talking last night. I was practicing a little camp work out there in the back and getting ready for my thing and Sanjaya came out of the studio. I said hey man. I said how you doing? Congratulations on all your success and he came over and shook my hand and said hey you're Billy Ray Cyrus man. My family loves you man. We love Hannah Montana and I said well you need to come up and be a guest on Hannah Montana. He said I'd love to man, I'd love to. He said where you filming at? I said just up the street you know and he said tell them to write me in, I'll be there. I'm gonna go tell them Mr. Sanjaya said he would be glad to come on the show and I think it would be really cool for him and Miley to hook up. I just want him to sport that porcupine deal man."

Again, I'll remind everyone that Sanjaya can make no appearances without the permission of 19 Entertainment, but I can't believe they'd turn this one down. And it would have to be a win for Disney. Sanjaya, the hearthrob of tween girls everywhere on the most popular show among tween girls? Can't you just hear the girls scream?

But I'm thinking that Billy Ray should check with Miley first. After all, she is the star...

If you're not familiar with "Hannah Montana," be sure to check my Stay Tuned blog at http://media.herald-dispatch.com/blog/tuned/2007/03/my-friday-night-obsession-hannah.html...

Sanjaya makes the young girls swoon...

Sanjaya Malakar, “Besa Me Mucho”: 16
The young girls out there loved that one, didn’t they? And quite frankly, it wasn’t that bad. He has a beautiful voice if he would just use it. Again, if he had just powered through, it would have been pretty good. But what is up with that goatee? It looked like someone drew it in with marker.

KFC "Sweetens the Deal" for Sanjaya

Last Monday, I posted an item about KFC offering Sanjaya a lifetime supply of Famous Bowls, if he wore a bowl haircut on the show.

Well now, KFC is “sweetening the deal.”

Here is the actual letter for your enjoyment…

Congratulations on surviving yet another tough elimination.

Last week, Kentucky Fried Chicken® offered you a free lifetime supply of KFC Famous Bowls® if you donned a bowl hairdo. You chose instead to wow the judges with a slicked-back do, a white tuxedo and your trademark showmanship.

The judges and critics may think you're a long shot for a recording contract, but at KFC, we think you're a real "original." And as the experts in Original Recipe® Chicken, we know an original when we see one! In fact, today, I would like to sweeten our tasty offer by serving you up your very first recording deal.

If you sport a bowlcut hairdo in a nationally televised performance, KFC will grant you a free lifetime supply of KFC Famous Bowls and a charitable donation in your name – plus $5,000 in cash and your own starring role in our next KFC Famous Bowls advertisement.

Now, that’s an offer almost as juicy as our KFC world famous chicken and a deal that could help provide young people with much needed college scholarships via our Colonel’s Scholars charity.

Win or lose, we're confident that KFC's deal will help turn millions of viewers around the globe into "fanjayas."

Your Fan,
Gregg Dedrick
President of KFC

When I posted last week’s letter, I said that I wondered if this was a joke. Well I can now tell you without a doubt that it is not as this letter comes straight from the PR firm that’s handling this deal.

They were also nice enough to send me this picture of their special version of the haircut.

So why would KFC do something like this? The fact that you just read this answers that question…

I would, however, like to remind you—and the fine folks at KFC—that Sanjaya cannot make any deals without approval from 19 Entertainment, who controls his contract, and I seriously doubt they’re going to give permission for this. I don’t think it would make the fine folks at Coca-Cola very happy…

Gina Smiles, while Sanjaya Dances...

Gina Glocksen, “Smile”: 15
I’m torn on this one too. I just didn’t think this was the right song for her. And the band seemed to be on a different tempo. And what was up with her hair?

Sanjaya Malakar, “Cheek to Cheek”: 15
I can’t believe I rated Sanjaya above Phil, but I had to give him a five in song choice. Plus, you have to admit that dance with Paula was pretty good. If he had just put some power behind the vocals, this would have really worked.

KFC Reaches Out to Sanjaya...

In the category of things I wish were a joke, I would put the following item…

KFC is reaching out to Sanjaya to promote its Famous Bowls. Here’s the open letter from the KFC press release, courtesy of “USA Today”:

An open letter to Sanjaya Malakar:

Congratulations on catching America’s ears…and eyes.

Over the past month, you’ve wowed the world with your original performances. And, your ever-changing hairdos have made you almost as famous as KFC® Original Recipe® Chicken and Colonel Sanders himself.

On behalf of Kentucky Fried Chicken®, I want to serve up to you a tasty offer. If you don a bowl hairdo during one of your next nationally televised performances, KFC will grant you a free lifetime supply of KFC Famous Bowls®. We’re sure America will be as ‘bowled-over’ by your take on this classic look as they are by our KFC Famous Bowls.

From wavy to Mohawk to now the classic bowl – who knows, your bowl cut could start a trend as big as KFC Famous Bowls, which consumers ranked as THE most memorable new product of 2006.

In addition to free KFC Famous Bowls for life – if you sport a bowl cut, KFC will cut a check in your name to Colonel’s Scholars, a charity providing young people with much needed college scholarships. We’re confident that helping students afford college is something that even the toughest of judges would stand and applaud.

Your Fan,

Gregg Dedrick
President of KFC

Now, this information was posted on the “USA Today” website today, April 2nd, but since I’ve been unable to confirm it anywhere else, I’m really hoping it’s a really bad late April Fool’s joke.

However, in the case that it’s not, don’t look for anything to happen with it since KFC is so tied to Pepsi and “Idol” is sponsored by Coke.

And if it is true, I’m not sure I can look at a Variety Big Box Meal the same way again…

Sanjaya drowns in "Bath Water" and Haley shows her "True Colors"

Now I know why Ryan was making those faces…

Sanjaya Malakar, “Bath Water”: 2
He’s just mocking us now, isn’t he? I warned you about that Mohawk last week when it might have been appropriate, but this? Even the best Gwen Stefani could muster was a half-hearted ‘Good luck to him.” But as Simon said, it doesn’t really matter what we say, does it? However, I think that cocky attitude he showed tonight could finally undo him.

Haley Scarnato, “True Colors”: 14
Did Gwen only give that advice about not messing with the melody to the camera or did Haley just ignore it? It might have been a good choice if Haley hadn’t killed it. Notice she was still showing off the legs, though.

The Latest on Sanjaya-gate...

So here’s the latest on what I am now calling Sanjaya-gate…

First, here’s the final word on the crying girl from the only media outlet I can find that actually talked to her, “The Los Angeles Times”…

The girl is Ashley Ferl, a 13-year-old from Riverside, California. She and her family got tickets to attend a taping of “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” that also included tickets to a rehearsal of “Idol” or “Smarter.” Ashley’s family, of course, chose “Idol.” Ashley was so excited to see the rehearsal that she started crying. The producers took note and invited the family to attend the live show from a prime location.

Most interestingly, even though she probably helped Sanjaya make the top 10, Ashley said her favorites are Sanjaya, Melinda, Gina and Jordin and would not choose one over the others…

Meanwhile, an “Idol” fan is taking drastic measures to try and stop the madness. A girl who calls herself “J” on MySpace is staging a hunger strike until Sanjaya is voted off…

So, do I truly believe there was a conspiracy to keep Sanjaya on the show? I really hate to use that word, but it was definitely unfair to show Ashley so much during Sanjaya’s performance.

You may be asking yourself why they would want to keep Sanjaya on the show. Let’s see…Howard Stern is talking about it, all the major Internet sites and TV shows are talking about it. Could that be incentive for the show?

And I believe they think Sanjaya will sell concert tickets. I was stunned when they didn’t take the top 11 last year to include Kevin Covais, who seemed so popular with young girls (Personally, I think he would’ve been more entertaining than Lisa Tucker.).

I know I said earlier that if Sanjaya was in the top 11, the show might step in, but I think they think they’re on to something now…

But heaven help whoever has to produce this year’s “Idol” CD. What on Earth will Sanjaya sing?...

Who Is The Crying Girl?

So I checked all my sources this morning (even Ryan's radio show) to discover the identity of the crying girl who more than likely punched Sanjaya's ticket to the top 10.

Here's what I've been able to piece together for you...

Her name, as Ryan told us last night, is Ashley and according to "People," she's 12. Apparently, she won the right to be at the show's rehearsals in a contest through OCATV.com, which provides on-camera audiences for live tapings of shows, while at a taping of "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" The "Idol" producers found out she was a Sanjaya fan when she met him and when she was so upset about missing the performance show, they gave her tickets and put her front and center.

Which begs the question: Are the producers trying to keep Sanjaya on the show? Maybe they think he would sell a lot of tour tickets?

Ryan said on his radio show this morning that Sanjaya has A LOT of teenage girls voting for him...