This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
As AI contestants drop off one-by-one the show thanks to the Sanjaya Effect, senior citizen crooner Tony Bennett has become the latest casualty and it makes us wonder if it might have something to do with Mr. Malakar.
Bennett has lived 80 full, rich years, he even served in the military. But days after "working with" Sanjaya, he became too ill to perform, and in fact will not return to the American Idol stage as planned for tonight's show.
Access Hollywood has the details:
According to a spokesperson for the star, he has a cold. With just hours left until tonight's live show, producers from "American Idol" are working hard to find a stand in. A source close to the show told Access Hollywood they are trying to get Canadian singer Michael Buble to fill in.
Thanks, Sanjaya... for nothing!
photo via AmericanIdol.com