American Idol's Final 8: Forget Sanjaya, It's Haley Scarnato That Needs To Go
 
After last night's Final 8 show, featuring mentoring by actress/dancer/singer Jennifer Lopez, one thing became crystal clear to me: Haley Scarnato needs to go.
She's out of her league. Even a league that features the much maligned Sanjaya Malakar, who has some how managed to rise to the occasion and do what we thought was impossible: greatly improve.
Haley who has admitted her strategy on the show is to show as much skin as she can get away with, should have chosen a different strategy, like perhaps, sing as best as she can get away with. I have her number, and so apparently, does Simon Cowell.Â
In the last two weeks Simon has insulted Haley by way of complimenting her - in physical appearances only - and while she gets what he's saying, she continues with her charade, while rolling her eyes at him. She's not being smart.
Whereas, Sanjaya took a negative and choose instead to "wow" the public with his tenaciousness and his charisma. Is he the greatest singer? Heaven's no. He's not even close. Blake Lewis is WAY better and even Phil Stacey has more range and ability. But this show isn't just about singing, it's about the whole package.Â
While I doubt Sanjaya will win the contest, he is going to parlay his bit of talent and determination in whatever way he can. And that my friends, is a magical thing to see. He's only 17 and yet he's smart enough to grasp what's going on. It's an inspiration. A fruity, weird and uncomfortable inspiration, but an inspiration none the less.
And Haley, your one trick pony show needs to take on down the road. Maybe you and that other flesh-seller Antonella Barba can team up for a Playboy two-fer.
