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Former American Idol contestant Sanjaya Malakar

Dennis Rodman

Sanjaya Malakar with sister Shyamali Malakar

Chris Richardson

Gina Glocksen

Jordin Sparks

Maybe that’s why Sanjaya’s always got that goofy grin on his face! Turns out that Sanjy’s mom, Jillian Blith, used to be a pot-growing potentate — and that his sister Shyamali was no stranger to the art of toking herself.

The Momjaya was pinched by the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department in February 2005 in Pierce Maybe that’s why Sanjaya’s always got that goofy grin on his face! Turns out that Sanjy’s mom, Jillian Blith, used to be a pot-growing potentate — and that his sister Shyamali was no stranger to the art of toking herself.

But — buzzkill — Shyamali, who was arrested for possession, directed the cops to another green-growing facility nearby, where they arrested Blith and her husband, Charles Quist (Sanjaya’s stepdad). Quist’s mugshot, obtained by TMZ, bears a striking resemblance to Gary Sinise, a very blitzed Gary Sinise. (We’re told there’s a mugshot of Shyamali, but it can’t be made public because she was only 17 at the time of the bust.)

Blith could’ve gone to jail for up to five years after pleading guilty to one felony count of unlawful manufacturing of a controlled substance, but got off with a relatively mellow 30-day sentence.

Just one word more: Ganja-ya!

(source)

From the home office in Wahoo, Nebraska…

THE “LATE SHOW” TOP TEN

[As presented by Sanjaya Malakar, the most recent contestant voted off “American Idol,” on the Monday, April 23 broadcast of the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN, seen weeknights (11:35 PM‑12:37 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.]

10. The camera adds ten pounds to your mohawk.

9. Work hard and make sacrifices, you can finish in 7th place.

8. It’s very important to “Keep it real, dawg.”

7. I should have gone for the immunity idol – oh wait, that’s “Survivor.”

6. On-camera Simon is a bit nasty, but off-camera, he’s a total jerk.

5. Voting for yourself 100 times an hour causes some wicked carpal tunnel.

4. When you forget the words, just do this.

(Sanjaya belts out a riff like“Ohhhhhhhh”)

3. Honestly, I thought I was auditioning for “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?”

2. Nothing.

1. America loves performers with bad hair – right, Dave?

“Things I Learned from ‘American Idol’”

(courtesy of CBS Media)

Sanjaya Malakar and Petra Nemcova

Bill Paxton

Valerie Bertinelli

Morgan Fairchild

THIS JUST IN…

…from CBS Entertainment

Sanjaya Malakar, the most recent contestant eliminated from “American Idol,” presents the Top Ten List on the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN, Monday, April 23 (11:35 PM-12:37 AM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Malakar, 17, cultivated a popular following and strong fan base during this season’s edition of “Idol,” and despite lack of critical acclaim, managed to become one of the top seven finalists before being voted off the show Wednesday, April 18. The LATE SHOW is a production of Worldwide Pants Incorporated. Barbara Gaines, Maria Pope, Jude Brennan and Rob Burnett are the executive producers.

(courtesy of Jennifer Gunderson with CBS Media – thanks Jen!)

Sanjaya Malakar, the under-talented but unflappable singer who horrified and captivated millions in his improbable “American Idol” run, was finally voted off the show Wednesday night. When the result was announced, Malakar wiped away tears and got a big hug from LaKisha Jones, the next lowest vote-getter. “I’m fine,” he told Ryan Seacrest. “It was an amazing experience.”

“I can promise you: We won’t soon forget you,” Seacrest replied.

Malakar then performed one last song, “Something To Talk About.” Putting his own twist on the song, the 17-year-old known for his pretty looks and ever-changing hairstyles ad-libbed: “Let’s give them something to talk about … other than hair.”

On Tuesday night’s show, Simon Cowell had slammed his performance as “utterly horrendous.” And for once, the notoriously mean judge was vindicated.

“I’m beginning to sense something here,” a grinning Cowell said when Malakar wound up in the bottom three.

Six contestants are now left: Jones, Blake Lewis, Jordin Sparks, Chris Richardson, Melinda Doolittle and Phil Stacey.

Malakar was routinely savaged by Cowell as he developed into one of the weakest, most awkward “Idol” finalists ever. Still, the gangly teen managed to outlast better singers by cultivating an unlikely fan base that helped him survive round after round of viewer elimination.

Though his breathy, childlike singing voice paled in comparison with other finalists, his ability to stand out kept him in the competition. He consistently delivered the season’s most talked-about performances, even daring to sport a ponytail mohawk that added pizazz to an otherwise tepid rendition of No Doubt’s “Bathwater.”

That, of course, wound up fodder for watercooler discussion on G-rated morning programs and smart-alecky Web sites, stoking suspicion that Malakar was self-consciously manipulating the media to carve a place in “American Idol” history.

Many had predicted that he would make it all the way to May finale. Among Malakar’s supporters: radio shock jock Howard Stern and the Web site VotefortheWorst.com, which has long promoted the show’s tone-deaf candidates. (Previous targets include surly Scott Savol and sweet-natured Kevin Covais. Cult superstar William Hung never even made it to Hollywood.)

Malakar also had the backing of friends and family in his home state of Washington. “He’s very handsome. That’s most of it,” marveled his friend Pat Wright, a gospel choir director in Seattle. “He’s a teenager, and young girls and guys really like him.”

Malakar seemed buoyed by his widespread fame.

“Welcome to the universe of Sanjaya!” he proudly proclaimed on a recent telecast, following a backhanded compliment from an exasperated Cowell.

Indeed, after panning another of Malakar’s performances, Cowell threw up his arms and said there was nothing he could say to prevent people from voting for the oddball-turned-national phenomenon.

But, in the end, Malakar could not win enough votes to join the ranks of Taylor Hicks, Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood.

He will, however, live forever on YouTube.

The feisty Rose McGowan revealed that Sanjaya’s her “American Idol” pick — because “he’s horrible!”

(via TMZ)