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Sanjaya Gets The Boot

Loved, hated, off-key 'Idol' contestant says goodbye at last

By Sarah Seltzer, Newser User

Posted Apr 19, 2007 7:50 AM CDT

(Newser) – Reality caught up with reality TV last night, when "American Idol" contestant Sanjaya Malakar was finally booted from the show. Sanjaya, as he's known to legions of fans and detractors, gained attention for his missed notes, his faux-hawk, and his popularity on the sabotage website votefortheworst.com

Despite the "Idol" judges' repeated pans, the 17-year-old survived into the final seven, raising the possibility that a contestant whose distinguishing characteristics were his coif and his absence of vocal talent would emerge as the winner in the season-long viewer voting. Sanjaya's rendition of Bonnie Raitt's "Something to Talk About" settled that question.

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[Videos (1)]

In this photo made available by Fox Television, Sanjaya Malakar performs Tuesday, April 17, 2007 on the set of "American Idol" in Los Angeles. Sanjaya, the under-talented but unflappable singer who horrified... (Associated Press)

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Sanjaya Gets The Boot