Blake Lewis blames Idol producer Lythgoe for Sanjaya

by Jason Hughes, posted Apr 2nd 2008 3:22PM
Sanjaya and Shyamali MalakarI know this is going back to last year's American Idol, but in a recent radio interview, runner-up Blake Lewis blasted Sanjaya Malakar, saying the singer more famous for his hair than his voice should have never been on the show. In fact, he went on to say, "He had already gotten cut. [The judges were] like, 'You suck. You shouldn't be on the show. Then the producer [Nigel Lythgoe] put him back on." In fact, Lewis said he only made it to Hollywood because his sister did; Shyamali Malakar got cut there. If this is true, does this speak to the integrity of the selection process? I realize it's a reality show as well as a competition so personalities are cast as well as talent, but wouldn't you still want the best singers represented? I guess not.

Every year there is criticism when certain contestants advance ahead of others, but as far as I can tell this is the first time a former contestant has come out and said much the same. "I got pissed every week because my buddies that are super-talented are going home and he's [still there]," he said about Sanjaya's improbable run to seventh place. Of course, once they hit the stage it's our choice, and our fault, how long they stay. But are the showrunners intentionally putting in sub-par performers to try and drum up press and controversy like they had last year with Sanjaya?

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harve

i find it very interesting that Simon told sanjaya at his audition that he, sanjaya , had a wonderful voice,yet he didnt even want to put blake through, because, he blake, didnt have a very good voice. the only reason blake made it was because randy and paula agreed they liked the beatboxing.simon also said blake is obnoxious. watch the auditions and see for yourselves.I think that simons instincts were right on. he picked a superstar sanjaya and he identified a self centered, self serving ssssoooo sooo singer......blake! me thinks blake doeth protest too much!!!!!!!!

May 11 2008 at 12:35 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
maddyl

I think it's a shame that Lewis would have the nerve to speak that way about any other performer, especially one with whom he worked for over a year. He shows no class. Sanjaya had a great voice and earned his spot. I don't think he should have won, but you don't hear him talking trash about anyone on season 6 or anyone else, for that matter. The kid has guts, and Lewis has none.I hope Sanjaya cuts a CD and it's a smash. That would really frost Lewis and be great for a young man who took a beating of negative press and NEVER let it get him down.

April 06 2008 at 8:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
DJ

Blake gets frustrated because he's going around the country doing live interviews to try to get DJs to play his new single, and all they want to know is about Sanjaya. I can understand his frustration, but he needs to learn some PR skills. He's not doing himself any favor. And, as already has been mentioned, he's a very weak singer himself. His only strength is the beatboxing, and that gets old. Actually Sanjaya has the better voice, but he got nervous performing on the show, and Blake didn't because he'd been performing at clubs around Seattle for years.

April 04 2008 at 12:42 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
chgosaint

Idol needs to actually show the numbers of the people calling for each once it is down to viewer's voting. I do not believe for a minute it is purely based on the calls recevied. The producers may get the bottom three, but then choose from there. If it is on numbers, show them to us Idol...

April 03 2008 at 12:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kim

This year's example:

Kristi Lee did not perform well during hollywood week. She then sings her pathetic version of Amazing Grace again and voila, she's in the top 24. I feel the producers passed her on because she's really beautiful not because she is really talented.

That being said, AI is a talent/popularity contest not a talent contest. America would not be allowed to vote if it were just about talent. The judges would be all that's needed. I have always felt that allowing fans to vote without any limits is insane. Thirteen year old girls decide this competition every year since they're the only ones who are obsessed enough to speed dial for hours. I would like to see a voting system like Dancing With the Stars where the judges' votes count for 50% and the viewers are only allowed to vote 5 times for each phone line/email.

April 03 2008 at 11:29 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Phish

first of all, i think ALL of last seasons top 12 sucked big time!
and they all failed in their careers subsequently.
Blake, however, is a total douchebag. he is just so horrible to watch, and his songs are like garbage.
at least we got some entertainment from sanjaya, which is what TV is all about.

from blake and jordin, all we got was torture!!

April 03 2008 at 4:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kris

Jordin got cut at her first audition in LA. Funny how Blake doesn't bring that one up. Oh yeah -- she beat him.

Even his fans are jumping ship over this. May his second single tank as badly as the first one.

April 03 2008 at 4:39 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Cherie

Sounds like sour grapes on Blake's part.

April 03 2008 at 1:49 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Danielle

Sanjaya, himself, actually wrote about this in th American Idol Chicken Soup book. It's public knowledge. How Nigel got him on the show when Sanjaya had already failed one of the rounds and his sister had made it. Nigel saw Sanjaya and let him continue on with his sister, Shyamli. In the end it was Sanjaya who made it all the way through instead of his sister. American Idol is straight contest and most likely never was. Blake needs to shut his mouth. Blake is not one of the greatest singers in America.

April 02 2008 at 7:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
DBL

And whom does Blake blame for his extreme lack of talent, the flop of his album and being dumped by his record label? Jesus!!!

April 02 2008 at 5:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to DBL's comment
Eugene

Wait, blake blames Jesus for his lack of talent?

April 02 2008 at 6:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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