Sanjaya of ‘American Idol’ on Nationwide’s side

Sanjaya of ‘American Idol’ on Nationwide’s side

COLUMBUS — Former “American Idol” contestant Sanjaya has gone from “pitchy” to pitchman.

Sanjaya Malakar is selling Nationwide Insurance in a new ad that’s part of the Columbus, Ohio-based company’s campaign, “Life Comes at You Fast.”

Malakar says that’s something he knows from personal experience. In a statement, he points out that he went from an unknown singer to appearing before of millions of people on “Idol.”

In the commercial, Malakar visits a wise man who tells him he needs a retirement plan — and a haircut. He sports a “ponyhawk” hairstyle similar to the one he made famous while competing on the Fox network singing show.

Woman can sue over removal of YouTube clip

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge is allowing a Pennsylvania woman to sue Universal Music Corp. for forcing YouTube to take down a video clip of her baby dancing to Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy.”

Universal Music demanded the removal of the 29-second home video by Stephanie Lenz of Gallitzin, Pa., because it allegedly violated copyright laws on the song.

But a San Jose-based judge says Universal needed to first consider whether the clip was “fair use” of the material.

Fair use provisions of the U.S. copyright act allow segments of copyrighted works to be used for purposes of parody or satire or in reviews and other limited circumstances.

It’s the first such legal ruling requiring copyright owners to consider fair use of their material before demanding that Internet sites such as YouTube remove material.

Harmon, Sehorn expect 3rd

LOS ANGELES — Angie Harmon and husband Jason Sehorn are expecting their third child, Harmon’s publicist confirmed Wednesday.

The 36-year-old actress and 37-year-old former National Football League player were married in 2001 and have two daughters, 4-year-old Finley and 3-year-old Avery.

Today’s birthdays

Author Ray Bradbury is 88. Actress Valerie Harper is 68. Correspondent Steve Kroft (”60 Minutes”) is 63. Actress Cindy Williams (“Laverne and Shirley”) is 61. Country singer Collin Raye is 48. Singer Roland Orzabal of Tears for Fears is 47. Singer Tori Amos is 45. Rapper Beenie Man is 35. Singer Howie Dorough of the Backstreet Boys is 35. Guitarist Jeff Stinco of Simple Plan is 30.