Calls from India to keep Sanjaya in the Competition
@Justareceptionist (869)
United States
March 22, 2007 5:39pm CST
A co-worker of mine told me that the reason why Sanjaya keeps winning is because outsources in India are calling in and voting for him constantly. I checked it out on google and lo and behold, I found an article!
"Are outsourced tech support workers in India using their speed-dialing phone resources and technical expertise to keep Sanjaya Malakar on American Idol? That's the chatter we're picking up on blogsites catering to the Desi community ("Desi" in this case referring to people of South Asian descent spread throughout the English-speaking world-- see MTV Desi).
Leading Desi blogsite Uber Desi addresses concerns that "support for Sanjaya equals racism" because of the claim that most of those voting for Sanjaya (a "half-Desi") are of Indian descent or in India:
"MeraGussaII on O3 alleges that the voting for Sanjaya has racial overtones. The blogger alleges that most of the votes Sanjaya is receiving is from Indians or people of desi origin. I say Sanjaya is this year's version of Chicken Little... unless tech support people from call centers in India are dialing in to American Idol on their clock, the majority audience and voters for American Idol is the teenybopper crowd."
It's an open secret in the television industry that American and UK series featuring phone-in voting by viewers rely on phone centers in India to take calls-- and occasionally, pump up the numbers. Idol is seen in India on Star World TV, and the Indian and South Asian media have followed the Sanjaya saga closely and prominently--ever since Sanjaya and his sister Shyamali auditioned.
Too bad Shyamali (above right) didn't make it to the finals. She'd have given Antonella Barba a run for her money--the innocent-looking beauty was a Hooters waitress in Tacoma!
See what we missed out on... as in Shyamali's Hooters past... after the jump..."
Does this not upset anyone else? True, this is racism and should be judged based on talent, not your race.
7 people like this
25 responses
@fuzzEbluebathrobe (378)
• United States
23 Mar 07
I might buy the whole "were so happy to see someone like us and we will vote for him no matter what " thing except that Sanjaya's most devoted fan was that little blond blue eyed girl in the audience Tues. Her name is Ashley and she had an absolute melt down over being there to see Sanjaya sing. If there were 4 more of him he would be India's version of Menudo. Menudo was loved obsessively by pre-teen girls despite their complete lack of talent. Never under estimate Teeny Bopper appeal.
2 people like this
@Justareceptionist (869)
• United States
23 Mar 07
I saw this girl on the Good Morning America show and the producers wanted the girl to be towards the front row to capture the camera's eye. So, she was "planted" sort of speak. This isn't to say that she wasn't a fan of Sanjaya's but having her there could've been a ploy on AI's part to give America a reason for Sanjaya's victories.
Picture it: You hear about the call centers voting him in then remember the blonde hair blue eyed girl crying for him. It's a perfect way to steer the American public into believing that the majority of his votes are from the American public.
@fuzzEbluebathrobe (378)
• United States
24 Mar 07
Wow!! You are really commited to this idea. What if your conspiracy theories are the true hoax?
@jbrowsin66 (1321)
• United States
23 Mar 07
I'm not sure this is the reason... I even saw some media online today that say that the tearful girl in the audience was purposely "planted". Whatever the reason I do think that Sanjaya (as you said) could be the next teen idol. He's not the best singer, but to give him credit he's not out of tune or anything. The judges seem to want to hear people "belt it out" in their vocals and I really don't think that is Sanjaya's style. For whatever reason I'm kind of glad to see him make it again this week. If William Hung can make it, surely Sanjaya should be able to, lol.
2 people like this
@JC1969 (1224)
• United States
23 Mar 07
I beg to differ, Sanjaya is pitchy and off-key 95% of the time since his initial audition. I thought he destroyed a classic Kinks song and it was like seeing a hyped up kid doing Karoake. He doesn't have a strong voice, and therefore will not be able to be versatile with respect to singing.
1 person likes this
@Justareceptionist (869)
• United States
23 Mar 07
True but William Hung made it because he actually had charisma even though the American public would rather hear pots and pans falling on the floor. He was an innocent guy and didn't take the rejection to heart. Plus the whole fact that he was an Asian guy with an accent really boosted his chances in getting famous.
Sanjaya does have charisma and I can honestly see him making it afterwards because of this. He has a big smile that melts the ladies' hearts and not to mention the flowing shiny hair of his. So with that combined he's very appealing to the target audience of American Idol: 10-13 year old girls.
@thescribbler (386)
• United States
23 Mar 07
If the judges had picked more talented people in the beginning, we might not be finding the judging based on popularity so much. But it's bound to happen. Looks and personality are part of the package. And young ppl love their music and their faves, so the young contestants, if they're cute especially, will get extra votes based on that instead of talent.
As an example, Dancing With The Stars. Last season Emmett Smith won instead of Mario Lopez who was a much better dancer. Why? Because Smith is/was a football player with millions of fans. They voted for him bcs they like him, not bcs he was the better dancer.
It's human nature. And it's why Simon keeps reminding the viewers that this is a singing contest. Not that it's doing all that much good.
2 people like this
@arnboy (357)
• India
23 Mar 07
I have never heard anything more funny LOL. Anyway systems are clearly designed with efficient algorithms to prevent such kind of voting. Also, voting from India will require calling international numbers (now that's expensive like hell for a third world call center worker who earns barely $200 a month). Also, accessing the Internet etc. other than for company related purpose is monitored via proxy management software and if any employee is found indulging
in such acts, then they are fired.
So, i think your doubts should melt away. People working in call centre's India would be categorized as poor poverty stricken people in America.
2 people like this
@Justareceptionist (869)
• United States
23 Mar 07
OH REALLY???
Here's a quote from Sheldon Liber's blog. It is from an actual owner of an Indian call center:
"I own 25 call centers in India, and all my staff is just sitting idle during the American Idol. It is the great Indian Idle during American Idol.
So I have asked them to download the American Idol video -- as it is available on Bit Torrent as soon as it is aired -- there are lots of fans in India who download the show immediately, and get Sanjaya's number and start voting for him. For every vote, I reward with a point, and with every 100 points, they get a pay grade increase. So -- American Idol contestants, contact me if you want to win -- I can hook you up."
@whoachica (110)
• United States
23 Mar 07
Thanks for the info, I was wondering if there was a reasonable explanation for that kid to still be in the competition. He's just not as good as the others. I thought maybe he had all the young teenage girls' votes.
2 people like this
@Justareceptionist (869)
• United States
23 Mar 07
I mentioned this a couple of spaces above and it's what's doubling his votes. He appeals to both the Indian and young teenage girls' appeal.
@natalie1981 (1995)
• Singapore
23 Mar 07
I knew it!! I knew something was up. I was thinking a while back when Sanjaya kept making it on AI that what if people in India could vote for him? Initially I thought maybe a cellphone service provider made this voting available in India but the call center people makes sense. Hmmm...Oh, and I really think Sanjaya's sister is a way better singer than him. I really liked her audition video.
2 people like this
@Justareceptionist (869)
• United States
23 Mar 07
I didn't think American Idol accepted international phone calls but when you think about it, American Idol IS shown in India so it makes one wonder.
@xbrendax (2662)
• United States
23 Mar 07
Of course I am upset as I am sure many others are too, even Simon said he will not be back next year if Sanjaya wins, but what can we do about it? I truly believe at the last minute, American Idol will pull some kind of strings or something and have him booted off! (He really is NOT a good singer)!
1 person likes this
@Justareceptionist (869)
• United States
23 Mar 07
Either that or Simon will throw a boot at Sanjaya. One way or another a boot will be involved if Sanjaya makes it.
@Justareceptionist (869)
• United States
23 Mar 07
While the votes are what makes the next American Idol it is a sociological issue. If it were, let's say, English or Italian voters getting Sanjaya to stay in the competition it wouldn't make a news story. And I have no problem with a group of people being proud of a competitor in American Idol. But these are call centers we're talking about, not from people's homes. Those places generate thousands of calls a minute globally. Would you say that's fair?
@Idlewild (6090)
• United States
23 Mar 07
Anything based on fan voting is subject to people making multiple votes, organzing groups of people to vote a particular way, etc. Most Americans have cell phones and many have landlines too, so theoretically those people could vote twice.
How long is the voting open for American Idol? Is it only for a short while after the show airs? If so, is it possible that people in India aren't even at work when Idol in aired there? As for call center workers manipulating calls, I'd hope the producers would have safeguards against that. Does the Idol voting even rely on call center workers? I figured the whole voting thing was automated...
1 person likes this
@Justareceptionist (869)
• United States
23 Mar 07
That's the problem. You can't detect whether or not the calls are automated from call centers. Apparently word got out one way or another that call centers were voting for Sanjaya.
As for the time difference, if it's automated I'm sure there's a program in their system to automatically dial Sanjaya's voting number. In the Pacific Time zone it ends at 11:59 PM. So that's gotta be the ultimate deadline.
@Foxxee (3651)
• United States
23 Mar 07
Sanjaya is a good singer and America likes him and that is why he is still in American Idol. People want different and he sure is different. In a good way that is. I like his singing, but I didn't really like it at first, but I am starting to really like him. I also voted for him. He is good and people are making excuses that it's all about racism and other stuff, but the truth is, he just sings good and that is the only reason why he is still here, because America loves him.
@Justareceptionist (869)
• United States
23 Mar 07
If Sanjaya wins, it'll be the biggest upset in American Idol. Lakeisha and Melinda are way better. And for Sundance and Sanjaya to be in the bottom 2 at one point and have Sundance lose to a bad singer was America's mistake.
Prediction: Sanjaya will only make it on the Disney Channel.
@tricia_toh (112)
• Malaysia
23 Mar 07
I don't know how true that is. However, I know Sanjaya didn't ask the Indian people in India to vote for him. This boy is American. I bet he barely speaks Indian language. So, why talk about racism here? If the Indians wanna support Sanjaya that much, there's no harm in it right?
1 person likes this
@JC1969 (1224)
• United States
23 Mar 07
You are right on some accounts--I am sure, too, that Sanjaya didn't ask for the Indian population to vote for him. However, they are identifying with him and voting for him on that account, and not because he is talented. He is pitchy and off-key more often than not--and by them judging him only on the fact that they identify with him, they are skewing the competition and each week he makes it through, though his performance was not good (not even great)he pushes someone else more talented out, and that's when there is harm done. If this is truly what is happening, and that between the teeny-bopper little girls, and the Indian population, he is able to stay in this competition till the end despite his lack of real talent, it can hurt the record company that produces the winners CD. Financially, it won't sell big.
@alcazar (761)
• India
23 Mar 07
i donno whats wrong here. why the americans think that nobody can perform bette than them.if it was like that then you should not have allowed him to participate.he is perfoming and he is gettng this votes due to the immense influnce the indians have on their on the economy.now everyone is just after it.its just onother form of racial discrimination.
1 person likes this
@Justareceptionist (869)
• United States
23 Mar 07
It's not an American pride issue whatsoever. There was an Asian guy early on in the competition who I thought was great. In fact he shouldn't have even gotten kicked off that early. Sanjaya seems pretty established as an American so to me it's not America vs. India. Call centers are massive institutions. That's the issue at hand.
@txwoman36 (173)
• United States
23 Mar 07
i have always wonder why he stayed since he is still in the competition and doesnt seem to have very much of a voice. some of the people have alot of talent that have been let go. i think he needs to go before some of the people on the show did.
1 person likes this
@Justareceptionist (869)
• United States
23 Mar 07
He should've been gone a long time ago. He had a good performance with "You Really Got Me" but I agree with most of what Simon says. And from my own observations he's not really stepping it up any notch.
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
23 Mar 07
Unfortunately when the people get to vote it will be a popularity contest.....welcome to talent politics. I think at least half of the past idols won on a popularity wave, and didn't deserve it for talent. I personally like Sanjaya and his performances are improving, so you never know what will happen. I don't think it is right to put any of the contestants down, they are all trying and the all have some merit. And even the losers can be winners if they have the talent, there is always the chance that someone will offer them a xhance to record.
@Justareceptionist (869)
• United States
23 Mar 07
I'm not putting Sanjaya down at all. I think he has great appeal but come to terms with reality for a second.
@estarga (1188)
• United States
23 Mar 07
You know that is exactly what I said when he started winning. It is awful. I was glad to read this. You had the gumption to research it but I swear to you, I told my husband the exact same thing I said he is winning because of all those callcenters out there are voting for him. He sucks straight up.
1 person likes this
@Signal20 (2281)
• United States
23 Mar 07
Actually just do a search for Vote for the worst, or vote for Sanjaya. There's quite a few sites that are promoting everyone to vote for Sanjaya, being the worst. Howard Stern did a big plug on his radio station about it, I think that's where a lot of the popularity is coming from. I guess they're trying to make the point that it's become a popularity contest instead of a genuine singing contest, which it has.
1 person likes this
@onabreak2 (1161)
• United States
24 Mar 07
There has to be some reason he is still in the running. It sure isn't his singing. I have heard that Howard Stern is having people vote for him too.
I guess we will see if it works in favor. If he gets voted as American Idol I am sure they will be changing the structure of the voting.
1 person likes this
@smartie1685 (450)
• United States
23 Mar 07
I'm really not surprised by this. I thought something like this was happening because otherwise he would have been voted off the first time. I think he also has some of the pre-teen audience that like him if you think of the little girl that was crying in the audience last week. Since he is the youngest he may appeal to them so they don't care if he's the best singer or not. Its not fair but I don't see what we can do to combate it unless everyone else starts voting more for the other people as to balance it out a little.
1 person likes this
@crimsonblues (1191)
• United States
24 Mar 07
That is SO not fair. I wonder how legitimate that is, because call centers can crank out numerous calls a second. I dont like him - and I wouldn't be sad to see him go, but i think if this is true and the AI producers know and fail to do something, I wont be watching again next season. I'm gonna be really upset if someone with talent goes and he doesn't. He's a teenage girl's idol..
1 person likes this
