What is the secret of Sanjaya's survival on 'American Idol'?

LOS ANGELES: Everyone is puzzled as to why India-American contestant Sanjaya Malakar has stayed this long on 'American Idol' since he can't carry a tune in a bucket except that one time when he gave a rendition of Jennifer Lopez' "Besasme mucho".

Sanjaya's rendition had Lopez gushing and judge Simon Cowell choking on his acid tongue while he had to admit that he had done a good job.

The Los Angeles Times editorial says that the secret of his survivability on the show is his good spirit.

The editorial went on to explain: "Although all 'Idol' contestants must suffer public judgment with a smile, Sanjaya's grin seems to be that of an ingenuous, bewildered kid instead of a well-coached contestant. His flamboyance - such as that surprise Trojan-helmet-like ponyhawk hairstyle - is tempered by a timidity rarely seen on national TV.

"And because he cannot be derided like obviously talentless former contestant William Hung, it's hard not to sympathise with him as a young man who is simply out of his league.

"Malakar may win nothing more than a hair-product endorsement. But he will have shown that even in a genre dependent on egomaniacs who display highly scripted humility, a plain old good sport can survive for a while."