Sanjayamania Hits The Road

Sanjayamania Hits The Road

Idol Watch - Sanjayamania: Aidin Vaziri | Nobody really expected him to win. But for a brief spell it seemed as if Sanjaya Malakar had half the world on his side. Despite questionable singing skills and dubious choices in material, the 17- year-old native of Washington state soared through the "American Idol" elimination battles week after week, causing more drama in the nation's living rooms than an entire season of "24." Simon Cowell, not unreasonably, threatened to quit. Because the "American Idol" producers like to keep the contestants in a bubble, Malakar said he had no idea how big of an impression he was making during his run on the show, which ultimately ended for him with a seventh-place finish. Calling from Los Angeles rehearsals for the American Idols Live Tour a few weeks ago, however, Malakar said he remembers the precise moment he went from being just another hapless Season 6 contestant to the focus of full-on Sanjayamania. It was during Gwen Stefani Week, in which he performed an off-key rendition of No Doubt's "Bathwater," despite the guest coach's insistent protests. But the singing hardly mattered. It was all about the hair -- seven ponytails running down the center of his head to form a fluffy faux-hawk. A phenomenon was born. "That was the week everyone said, 'Whoa, he's insane!' " Malakar said. "I had no idea it would be so polarizing." Read the complete feature.