Sanjaya Malakar, his outsized personality and his outsized hair, captured the imagination of the American Idol viewers Season 6. With all the attention he garnered during his Idol run–for better or for worse–endorsement deals seemed like a no-brainer for Sanjaya. I’m not surprised that he’s managed to land a sweet deal with Nationwide Insurance.
The new ad, debuting today, is one of 6 developed by Nationwide to reach South Asian American consumers and will air on US cable stations that cater to the South Asian American audience.
There’s also a website, where, according to the press release, “fans can upload a picture and try on various hairstyles, outfits and accessories worn by Sanjaya in the new ads and during American Idol. When their look is complete, the Nationwide Sanjaya widget allows fans to share their new look with friends and family.”
Alrighty, then!
The ad is cute. Yes, his hair plays a part. And you can watch it here after the jump…
Cute commercial!
Wow–is he a poor actor! I thought it was cute that they had him sing “nationwide is on your side” at the end–sounded decent.
Oh MJ, you’re so kind to Sanjaya.
I’ve always had a soft spot for Sanjaya. It’s a cute commercial, and I wish him success. Love the pony-hawk!
Sanjaya and Melinda are the bright spots when I think on season 6. Sanjaya for the way he made lemons into lemonade, and of course Mindy for the voice.
That was hilarious. I, too, had a soft spot for Sanjaya,and, I wish him well with his career.
aw, it was a cute commercial! Oh, that Sanjaya.
Nationwide is censoring comments on YouTube which is totally un-American and big corporation bullying. I left an unflattering comment there and they removed it twice and only leave the good ones up. Wrong!
The commercial is good and Sanjaya is very cool as usual. What I have a problem with (beside Nationwide censoring comments) is some of his fans whose ages range from 20’s to 60’s- anything under 20 or so is OK and age appropriate. These “fans” obsess and drool over him- an 18-year-old boy. They say sexual things about him and spend money they need for themselves or their families to follow him all over the country just for one short meeting-if that. They spend hours talking about him every single day on his fan site for no money, which is not blogging like MJ is doing here. They write letters to everything he is involved in and vote in every poll he is in hundreds if not thousands of times for hours. Is this normal for a grown person? No. I know other fan groups do it but that does not make it right.
I would have never put it here but Nationwide censored me on YouTube so here ya go. Take that Nationwide.
MJ I truly hope you do not censor this. Please let there be free speech somewhere. Being a fan is one thing. Being a obsessed person is another.
Thanks for posting the video, MJ. I appreciate it. :o)
Great job Sanjaya!
Well I thought it was cute. And I was NOT a fan during AI! Wow. Oh gosh, I hope nobody has a problem with me being an big ol’ obsessed fan of David Cook!
ETD some other comments that I realized probably would not meet mj’s guidelines.
Welcome to internet Idol fandom?
Sanjaya’s Nationwide commercial is the topic of this post, not his fans. Let’s keep the post on-topic.
BTW, this is my blog. There’s no free speech. Sorry!
Aww, I wish him luck.
Mj, you are a saint!
I am sometimes glad for censorship. Some things should be left unsaid.
Amen to that, abbysee!
That was quite amusing. Good for Sanjaya.