SANJAYA MALAKAR

STRATEGIC INITIATIVE A trio of mortifying, murmur-y semifinal performances have all but erased our first impression of this season's youngest male contestant — an on-point rendition of Stevie Wonder's ''Signed, Sealed, Delivered.'' While it'd be nice to see Sanjaya deliver one decent big-stage number, is anyone holding their breath?

FROCK U Oh, Sanjaya! We wanted you to take a razor — not a flat iron! — to your peculiar Gayle King 'do! When will you listen to us?

REQUEST LIST Aaliyah's ''Age Ain't Nothing but a Number,'' New Kids on the Block's ''Step by Step''