Gossip blog PageSix is reporting that American Idol’s Sanjaya Malakar is in negotiations with MTV for a variety show called “The Sanjaya and Shyamali Show” with plans to film a pilot in early Spring. This was from Sanjaya’s manager Suzy Sachs.
Well, it’s a known fact that I disapprove of this Donny and Marie thing, but the fact that it actually might happen instead of all talk, is quite exciting. Sanjaya Malakar back on TV in his own show — isn’t that the most exciting thing ever?
‘Idol’ Watch: Sanjaya’s Coming Back! (pageSix)
34 Comments for The Sanjaya and Shyamali Show
Yes, but did you not THIS PART!!
“But it gets better Fan-jaya’s! The formerly faux-hawked wonder, who is either the most loved or loathed contestant in the history of American Idol depending on your opinion, is also prepping to release his first CD. “He’s in rehearsals for a new album,” Sachs tells PageSix.com. Sanjaya is studying with famous vocal coach Seth Riggs (who has worked with artists like Kelly Clarkson, Faith Hill, Ray Charles and Ricky Martin) and is heading into the studio this weekend to begin laying down some preliminary tracks. “He did very well,” Riggs tells PageSix.com of their sessions. “I wish I could have done what he’s doing at 18-years-old.” ”
An ALBUM! He’s working on a SOLO ALBUM!!
This is the part I like: “He’s in rehearsals for a new album,” Sachs tells PageSix.com. Sanjaya is studying with famous vocal coach Seth Riggs and is heading into the studio this weekend to begin laying down some preliminary tracks.”
GO SANJAYA!!!
Thanks, Rickey!!!
haha, rickeyfreaky Snuffles
Go Sanjaya and Shyamali!
CD!!!!!! Wooooooohoooooo!
Exciting news about Sanjaya and Shy! Thank you for keeping us informed Rickey.
He looks GOOD!
( He looks great!) Exiting news, Rickey. And a CD in the making. So that was what he was smiling about.
“He did very well,” Seth Riggs, famous vocal coach, tells PageSix.com of their sessions. “I wish I could have done what he’s doing at 18-years-old.”
How exiting, everything. Go Sanjaya!
The more I think about a Sanjaya & Shyamali show on MTV, the more I think it might be fun, especially if geared toward teens. Donny & Marie was vomit-inducing because it was a squeaky clean family show. Sonny & Cher at least had an air of hippie cool for the mainstream masses, back in the day. MTV has an edge over the networks. It could work, and if they can pull off a pilot and even a show, that’s very, very exciting. Chin up, Rickey–doesn’t mean they’ll be an “act” for life!
Ummm… The name of the show needs work… yeah, it’s their names, but how about a catchy creative title? or a simpler one? Any ideas?
Excellent news! I believe this will do very well and can’t wait to see it!
I didn’t go spiraling downhill into one of my obsessions over Sanjaya…like I very well COULD have given his adorabilty factor and my well documented history of doing so, but I would LOVE to see this! It sounds PERFECT for him! He so cute and his sister is so beautiful, they NEED to have another shot at stardom. I think they’d do well at it!
I think the title of the proposed show is perfect !
This has been my dream since they both auditioned and made it to Hollywood.
I loved Donny & Marie, AND Sonny & Cher too!
Hi everyone, I just joined but I’ve been reading Rickey’s blog for a while. All I have to say is that I’m looking forward to the upcoming CD more so than the TV show.
Reality shows based on the lives of famous people have never lasted very long. Think Newlyweds, Ashlee Simpson, The Osbournes, Meet the Barkers. The only ones that have had long runs are crappy like Hogan Knows Best and My Fair Brady.
Am I the only one who thinks Sanjay should maintain a low profile?
TainaAzteca,
It’s described as a variety show, not a reality show — at least that’s the goal (and what was written about).
Maintain a low profile? If he wants to disappear forever from the public mind and lose his window of opportunity, yes. But he seems about to take charge of his opportunities.
Writing good songs or finding good songs and performing them well, with good backing, arrangements, etc. — that takes awhile. And
it seems it would be ready months before the
tv show would be, since it wouldn’t even start shooting, ***IF*** the show is finalized,
until Spring. The CD is set for Spring release as a goal (though I doubt they’ll make it, unless it’s mostly covers.
The tv show will be shared, as far as focus, and I’m looking forward to it, as long as it’s not a reality type show where they follow people around and they all act up for the cameras.
(Did you read the manager’s actual words?)
TainaAzteca, welcome to rickey! it’s great to see that Rickey’s Sanjaya news continues to attract new members. I’m dying to know how Sanjaya’s recording session went this weekend. Anieb, although the timeline seems optimistic, Sanjaya has surprised us before, and as you said, “he seems about to take charge of his opportunities.”
Hi everyone.
Thank you Rickey for putting up this topic-you are always top of things.
TainaAzteca-welcome. I am inclined similar to Rickey and you in that I am looking forward to Sanjaya’s album more. But a ‘nice’ TV show may also be a good idea. I was mighty thrilled to read the vocal coach Seth Riggs’s comment about Sanjaya’s singing (see quote by coco in post 7 above).
About low profile-you do have a point and they did say that he has been keeping a low profile–he had only couple of appearances after the tour got over. However, I guess in this industry, one has to have right amount of exposure too, as the contestants have to build on the fame attained through the show, public memory being short as it is. They must have to plan each move really carefully, I guess. Exciting times are ahead for Fanjayas. Good to see you here.
GirlyGirl-still having trouble with the internet services, I see.
So anyone going to watch the new season? We know Rickey is watching.
I will watch, but not as religiously as I watched last year till the number seven position contestant left the show. 
I will not watch, Greennj. Of course that’s no great sacrifice for me, as I didn’t want AI6, either – except for one very important audition and the finale. Thank goodness for Rickey!!!!! without whom I would have had to watch American Evil. I mean Idol.
American Evil–gotta love ya, Hester!! Hi Green!
So Sunday night in DC there was a very prestigious BET awards night, which included the likes of Stevie Wonder and Gladys Knight. Buried in paragraph 5 of the Washington Post’s writeup about the guests is the following: “An invitation-only crowd packed the Warner for the show…The mayor was there, and, for comic relief, a guy that looked like that dude Sanjaya from American Idol. (Maybe it was him — skinny as a rail, big head, big hair, looking kind of like a Q-Tip on legs — anybody know?)” Here’s the link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/13/AR2008011301378.html
Despite the Post’s sophomoric jab, which I will ignore, I bet it was Sanjaya–maybe this was his opportunity to finally get to see Stevie
If true, was he recording this weekend, or wasn’t he?? It’s killing me that true to form, GirlyGirl was living under a rock while Sanjaya may have been a stone’s throw across the Potomac, but I will think happy thoughts of Sanjaya being the toast of the town
Oh, and I forgot to mention that the article says the show will air Feb 22, so maybe there will be a shot of Sanjaya in there.
Very interesting, GirlyGirl. If it was Sanjaya wouldn’t they write a little more respectful about him? I’d feel bad if it turnes out that it was someone making fun of him again. So ….I don’t know. Until the show airs or someone can explain.
But we have to keep our eyes and ears open because like Bill Vendall he might show up in unexpected places.
Coco, with the Washington Post? unfortunately, no. The reporters were never very kind to him. Even a dj on my radio station this morning was back to claiming that Sanjaya “made a mockery” of Idol because the dj is part of an Idol Chatter segment with a Fox affiliate TV station. (Sanjaya made a mockery of Idol, all right, in a wholly different way than the dj intended, lol). But your mention of Bill Vendall makes me smile.
GirlyGirl-thank you for telling us about the BET news. Won’t it be great if it was true? He would have finally met his “Idol”.
You are still pretty strong about Bill Vendall, eh? 
Hester-American Evil-I like that.
2kids said that they may show Sanjaya in intro today, so aren’t you going to watch even for that? 
No, Greennj, I am not, lol. The way I figure, anything worth seeing will be on Rickey.org in no time flat
YAY!!!=]
I KNEW IT=] lol.
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it would take forever to type all the little smiley faces to show how big the smile on my face is=]
lol
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Hi, Green–Yes, I’m hoping that the rumor is true and that Sanjaya finally got to meet his idol (maybe he had an “in” via Seth Green or something?). And yes, Green, my heart still beats for Bill Vendall, the artsy little jerk, lol.
So far I haven’t watched Idol this season. I hate watching the auditions and usually don’t watch until Hollywood Week.
Riiiiikey!!! Go buy People magazin ASAP!!( 01/28/08)
Good Sanjaya update and nice pics!!!
And while you’re at the newstand, check out the other teenage star ZAC EFRON on the cover of DETAILS magazine, he looks great and is being compared to Leonardo DiCaprio!
I hope Sanjaya and Zac become great friends and stay away from H-trouble together.
I bet Hester will know the answer to this one…
What of the torch report? Did Sanjaya get his copy? Is daze making copies?