Smallscreen News

'American Idol': Then there were 6

By Stone Martindale Apr 19, 2007, 2:36 GMT

Sanjaya Malakar, 17, from Federal Way, Washington REUTERS/Fred Prouser

Prefacing the results of the viewers voting, judge Simon Cowell addressed the Virginia Tech eye roll flap from last night’s performance show. 

Cowell said “I wouldn’t normally comment on a press story, Ryan, on this show about me or American Idol.  But last night on the show, Chris and I got into quite a heated debate about singing through your nose and after I finished talking I was talking to Paula, and unfortunately I didn’t hear Chris mention the people of Virginia.”

Cowell continued “There was on camera, I gave a look, but in fact I was giving a look to Paula, and the implication was I was disrespecting the victims.  And I just want to absolutely set the record straight, I didn’t hear what Chris was saying.  I may not be the nicest person in the world, but I would never, ever, ever disrespect those families or those victims, and I felt it was important to set the record straight.”  

The finalists stood on stage, while Seacrest divided them into two different groups.  One group was Sanjaya Malakar, LaKisha Jones, and Blake Lewis, and the other group was Chris Richardson, Jordin Sparks, and Phil Stacey.

Ryan Seacrest told Melinda Doolittle that she was safe.  Seacrest told Melinda to join the group of Chris Richardson, Jordin Sparks, and Blake Lewis who were safe this week. 

The bottom three were Sanjaya, LaKisha, and Blake.

Guest star Martina McBride also sang “Anyway” from her new CD “Waking Up Laughing.”

Seacrest then told Blake Lewis that he was safe and to take a seat.  The bottom two remaining were Sanjaya Malakar and LaKisha Jones. 

Seacrest announced that after over 38 million votes, Sanjaya Malakar was going home.