It is with a sad heart that I announce that Sanjaya Malakar as been eliminated from American Idol this evening, April 18th, at 9:57 EST. Sanjaya is survived by six other superior contenders for the title, who will remember him fondly, and millions of viewers who will not.
The girls cried for him. The celebrity judges loved him. Simon hated him. It was a love/hate relationship from the very beginning, and he will always be remembered as perhaps the most polarizing contestant of all time. His presence simultaneously delegitimatized the show as a singing competition and provided it with some of its most substantial press in recent years. It was a double-edged sword, and tonight Sanjaya’s metaphorical head got caught between the sword and the chopping block.
A Memorial Service is likely to be held on every morning talk show, every internet site, and on a wide majority of future Idol broadcasts. They’ll remember his tenacity, his spunk, and ignore his terrible singing.
So long, Sanjaya. See you at the Finale.
Cultural Learnings 
I’m torn as to how I feel about this. I was on the Sanjaya boat (mostly because I loathe American Idol) but do recognize that this is a talent contest, and really, people voting should have enough sense to respect that.
But, if the American Idol producers were dumb enough to think that it would be respected, then, well, they get what they deserve.
I do think that Sanjaya was what this show needed: something other than an ‘amazing talent’ or a constructed ‘rivalry’ to get press. And really, if he had gone any farther than this, it would have legitimately de-legitimated this contest. (Can you tell I’m saving all my good sentences for my final papers?) This way, American Idol got what it needed, and the American people felt they had enough power to truly skew the contest without really compromising what this show is supposed to be about.
Bah!! Spot-on analysis as always, Myles! Good luck on your exams/papers.