Add executive producer Cecile Frot-Coutaz to the infinitely growing number of people who believe that, despite being one of the Top 7 finalists remaining in the competition, Sanjaya Malakar has no chance of winning American Idol's sixth season.
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"It's not gonna happen. Trust me," Frot-Coutaz recently told Entertainment Weekly. "Eventually America gets it right. We're not worried. We love Sanjaya, but he's not going to win."
Fellow executive producer Ken Warwick has also stated he's "pretty confident" Malakar won't be crowned Idol's sixth season champ -- as has Idol judge Simon Cowell, who even threatened to quit several weeks ago if Malakar was the eventual winner. Cowell has seemingly given-up all hope of swaying the American public to not vote for Malakar due to his lack of vocal ability.
"I'm not sure there's anything I'm going to say in the 20 seconds I'm allowed that's going to change what he does," Cowell told Entertainment Weekly. "People are going to talk more about his haircut than his singing, so I don't think it's necessary for me to give a proper critique."
Idol judge Randy Jackson asked viewers to harken back to the Top 24, when he described Malakar as "shy and reserved." Now, Jackson told Entertainment Weekly Malakar has "come out of his shell," a comment the 17-year-old Federal Way, WA-native agrees with.
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"I'm shy until you get to know me, and then I'm really outgoing and kind of obnoxious sometimes," he told Entertainment Weekly. "I'm turning 18 in September. So basically I see it as, this is my training to be an adult. And when I'm 18, I'll have the training in what I want to do for the rest of my life."
Somewhat brazenly, Malakar even offered his own opinion as to why the judges have stopped offering constructive criticism about his signing.
"I think they gave up because people in America at this point know what they think about me," Malakar told Entertainment Weekly. "They've gotten to a point where they can judge for themselves."
When Cowell has to reference statistics and odds to make his point that Malakar must eventually go, it only adds fuel to the fire that Idol's sixth season cast might be a bit lacking when it comes to talent.
"When you have nine or 10 contestants, only one can go [each week]," Cowell told Entertainment Weekly. "So at this stage you've just got to relax a little bit. There's always going to be that teen vote for the underdog. There's nothing wrong with that, by the way. As long as they don't win."
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio