Reasons Why We Loved Sanjaya
Let Us Count the Ways
Not since season three's Jon Stevens had a country been so riveted by a marginally talented teenager. But Stevens was no Sanjaya, and here's why ...
Reasons Why We Loved SanjayaBecause He Beat Sundance
The big guy was an early front-runner, but we thought Sundance was a cocky poseur. And we're still peeved about that "You can be my bodyguard!" comment during the Hollywood finals. Leave it to Sanjaya to sunset Sundance.
Reasons Why We Loved SanjayaBecause His Fans Had the Craziest Name
We're still trying to make sense of "Blaker Girls" -- seems like a stretch. And while "Soul Patrol" and "McPhans" were cute fanclub names, it just didn't get any better than "Fanjayas."
Reasons Why We Loved SanjayaBecause He'd Already Been Immortalized on 'SNL'
You know you've become a household name when you're parodied on 'Weekend Update' -- and by 'Saturday Night Live' golden child Andy Samberg no less.
Reasons Why We Loved SanjayaBecause He Had Nerve Enough to Hula Dance on National Television
Now, Sanjaya wasn't known for his dance moves. But for some reason, he felt compelled to reveal to the nation his flair for hula dancing in a taped segment during the Top 12 round -- complete with wiggly hula fingers and all.
Reasons Why We Loved SanjayaBecause He Left Simon Speechless
It takes a special kind of vocal talent to leave Simon Cowell without words. Cowell, whose mastery of creative insults is legendary, had simply given up. "I don't think it matters what we say anymore," he said after one of Sanjaya's performances.
Reasons Why We Loved SanjayaBecause He Sucked and He Didn't Care
It was pretty much a given: Randy's critique would be negative and unintelligible, Paula's would be negative and nice and Simon's would be negative and indifferent. It was also a given that Sanjaya would stand there clueless, as their critiques went in one ear and out the other.
Reasons Why We Loved SanjayaBecause He Made Little Girls (and Some Grown Men) Cry
Ashley Ferl earned the envy of pre-teen girls across the country when 'Idol' producers made her dream come true. When Sanjaya sang, little Ashley turned on the waterworks. You didn't see anyone crying over Phil Stacey, did you?
Reasons Why We Loved SanjayaBecause Howard Stern Was a Fan
We're not sure if he was serious or not, but the "King of All Media" backed Sanjaya from the start. Some suspected Stern's rabidly loyal fans were keeping the kid in the competition.
Reasons Why We Loved SanjayaBecause of the Hair
Whether flat-ironed, teased into a tizzy or done up in a faux-hawk, his versatile hair made up for his limited vocal range. Who cares if he sang flat or forgot the lyrics? Sanjaya put his faith in his luscious locks and his legions of loyal, clueless female fans.
