Eric the Midget in the news

Bob Thorney · Eric the Midget in the news

Eric the Midget getting some publicity from the Sanjaya controversy...

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1555113/20070320/index.jhtml

Mar 20 2007 1:47 PM EDT

Is Howard Stern Behind Sanjaya Malakar's Staying Power On 'Idol'?
Shock jock, VotefortheWorst.com support this season's underdog.
By Chris Harris

It's not as though Sirius Satellite shock jock Howard Stern has been taking credit for Sanjaya Malakar's startling longevity on the sixth season of Fox's "American Idol," but boy, would he like to.

That's right, folks — Malakar has himself an unlikely campaigner in the "King of All Media," who's been advising his fans to vote in jest for the first contestant of Indian descent to make it into the show's top 12.

Stern — a self-professed "Idol" junkie, much to the chagrin of his mostly male audience and buoyant sidekick, funnyman Artie Lange — has thrown his full support behind the 17-year-old finalist, considered by many to be this season's underdog. The mediocre Malakar has evoked comparisons to third-season hopeful William Hung, and each week, he finds himself accused of slaughtering yet another song.

And that's precisely why Stern would like to see Sanjaya assume the "Idol" title from the affable, salt-and-pepper-pelted Taylor Hicks. Of course Stern's espousal is largely disingenuous; after calling Malakar his "favorite contestant" recently, Stern confessed he'd like to see Sanjaya win because he's the least talented of this year's finalists.

Likewise, Malakar is the "Idol" aspirant of choice on the Web site VotefortheWorst.com, which encourages its visitors to vote for the show's least talented contestants in hopes of ultimately swaying the final vote and derailing the reality-TV franchise altogether. On Tuesday (March 20), Stern interviewed VotefortheWorst.com founder Dave Della Terza about his Malakar mission.

Stern — who has theorized Malakar's staying power on the show has hinged on phoned-in votes from India — may just be doing all of this to raise the ire of regular caller and resident "Idol" expert Eric Lynch, known to fans as "Eric the Midget."

Lynch, who claims he has been voting for 27-year-old Lakisha Jones, fears Malakar's inclusion on this summer's impending "American Idol" tour and promises to call Stern and gloat the second Sanjaya is given the old heave-ho. Stern has said he's even toying with the idea of sending show writer Benjy Bronk out on the streets of Manhattan with a sign, urging the public to vote for Sanjaya.

With more than 6 million subscribers signing up for Sirius Satellite service since his arrival, it's possible Stern's influence will be felt. But Maria Milito — a New York radio host who appeared on MSNBC's "Countdown With Keith Olbermann" earlier this month, touting herself as the " 'American Idol' Princess" — doubts Stern's audience is carrying out his orders.

"I don't think that he can do this," she said. "Compared to the days when he was on free radio, it's different now. I don't think [Malakar is still in contention] because of Howard. I think [Malakar will get booted] eventually — this kid won't last."

While an improbable campaign, Stern did mobilize his audience enough to land repeat guest Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf onto People magazine's list of most beautiful people in 1998. Stern called on his audience to vote for Hank, and they inadvertently hijacked the poll, giving him the edge over Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney and others.

Only time will tell if the supposed "Stern Effect," a term coined to reflect the subscription growth attributed to Stern's joining Sirius, will influence who stays and who goes on "Idol." One thing's for certain: Lynch is licking his chops and hoping for sweet revenge

Bob Thorney

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/4/3/134518.shtml

Howard Stern's 'American Idol' Conniving

Fox's "American Idol" is in Howard Stern's crosshairs.

The show with the most dominant ratings in broadcast television history is in danger of being "ruined," according to the satellite shock jock.

Stern has been working with Web site votefortheworst.com and using his radio platform to try to persuade his listening audience to follow the dictates of the site, which advocates that "Idol" viewers vote for the poorest performer on the show.

The designated contestant of the current season is an atonal, arrhythmic, androgynous singer named Sanjaya Malakar. Malakar has inspired tears, endless Internet chatter, late-night comedy ribbing, and a direct threat from curmudgeonly judge Simon Cowell.

Cowell has signaled his intentions to quit "Idol" if Malakar wins. "I won't be back if he does," Cowell recently declared to "Extra."

Stern is gleeful over the possibility of the show's demise. "We're corrupting the entire thing. All of us are routing 'American Idol,'" the Sirius bigwig boasted during a recent show. "It's so great. The No. 1 show in television and it's getting ruined."

Stern routinely uses Malakar as fodder to debate Eric Lynch, a habitual caller. Lynch is firmly against the idea of harming the integrity of "Idol." In jousting with Lynch, Stern launches verbal missiles at the show while he promotes the idea of Malakar becoming the next "American Idol."

Fans of Stern have demonstrated cult-like tendencies in the past, as listeners appear to follow the dictates of their leader. He has even thrown his weight around in statewide elections in New York.

Malakar was in the bottom two or three of "Idol" contestants during the initial episodes of the show. But he was noticeably absent from the lower vote-getter categories in those telecasts that took place after Stern started to focus on his get-out-the-vote effort in March.

With over 30 million people tuning in each week, other networks are likely pleased with Stern's campaign and heartened by the fact that this year's "Idol" ratings are down 10 percent.

Since the actual vote tallies are not released to the public, exactly how many voters Stern has managed to corral is unknown. Malakar does have his own fan base and is also being covered extensively by Indian media.

Fox has issued a statement on the matter, expressing its skepticism of Stern's actual impact on the plurality of the vote.

"With 30 million votes every week, and hundreds of millions of votes over the season," the Fox statement reads, "the power of true fans of 'American Idol' dwarfs any attempt of people trying to gain notoriety. Despite the press coverage, these campaigns don't affect who moves forward in the competition."

In private, though, Fox execs must have their fingers crossed that Malakar is booted sooner rather than later.

Bob Thorney

http://blogs.phillyburbs.com/blog.php?p=12331&cat=39

4.9.2007

Eric the Midget joins pro-Sanjaya camp

Eric the Midget (Eric Lynch) announced on the Howard Stern Show this morning that he has joined the pro-Sanjaya Malakar movement.

The rabid American Idol fan also known as Eric the Actor, told Stern this morning that he voted over 125 times for Sanjaya last week.

This marks a reversal in Lynch’s steadfast stance to not vote for the controversial candidate.

Among Lynch’s favorite Idol contestants past are Diana DeGarmo and Kelly Clarkson.