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 pizzazz to an otherwise tepid rendition of No Doubt’s “Bathwater.”

That, of course, wound up fodder for gossip 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.

... contd.