Verk It, Girl!

Decades before Sanjaya was born, Europe started staging a voter-driven, continent-wide talent contest recognizing the schlockiest balladeers and crooners from Norway to Greece.

Just like American Idol, the Eurovision Song Contest has had its share of controversy - remember Dana International, Israel's winning cross-dressing entrant in 1998?

Now another fella in gal's clothes, Verka Serdyuchka, is causing bigoted Ukrainians to take to the streets. They are demanding that the post-sovietfabulous dame be yanked as their country's entrant in the May 12 contest. The BBC has more.

Last year's winners, caveman-headbangers Lordi of Finland.
Photo: Getty Images