This post was part of AOL Money & Finance's Best & Worst of 2007. Voting has now closed and readers have chosen Sanjaya Malakar as the most shameless attempt to cash in on the proverbial 15 minutes of fame. Be sure to let us know in the comments if you are pleased with this result.

When Andy Warhol observed nearly 40 years ago that "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes," the man wasn't kidding. While the toe-headed artist couldn't have predicted the rise of the internet or reality television in 1968, this pair of media outlets now enables anyone with a webcam and a dream to put themselves on the map for one brief shining moment (or even several). Below are some of the folks we hated to love as they flitted across the pop-culture radar this year.

For about six weeks or so, the main topic of discussion at the nation's water coolers was the hairdo of a mild-mannered 17-year old. Sanjaya Malakar -- a contestant on News Corp.'s (NYSE: NWS) FOX Network's American Idol -- divided a nation with his questionable talent and his ever-changing coiffure. Howard Stern launched a campaign, the goal of which was to discredit the show with a Sanjaya victory. Sanjaya took it all in stride ... the tongue-lashings from Simon Cowell, the hatred from America's bloggers, the worldwide attention. But underneath it all, he was a sensitive teenaged boy, one who couldn't quite blink back the tears when he was mercifully ousted from the competition. From that point on, the Idol season wasn't the same. I barely remember who won.

When you're the undisputed champion, people are always watching for the first hint of vulnerability. The undisputed champion is News Corp.'s (NYSE:NWS) Fox network show, American Idol, and recent Nielsen stats suggest its stranglehold on the American viewership might be loosening.

Last week, an ABC show, Grey's Anatomy, actually managed to sneak into second place for the week, behind AI Wednesday but ahead of AI Tuesday. In the role of up and coming contender for the crown, you might also look at Dancing With The Stars on the Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) network, which handily won Monday night this week. The finale, won by Apolo Ohno and Julianne Hough, drew a 10.2 rating and a 17 share.

Looking beyond the slight decline in American Idol viewership, however, I see a still-thriving franchise. Part of the decline can be attributed to shrinking television viewership, part to time-shifting via DVD recorders, and part to those who prefer to watch on-line.

American Idol continues to clobber its competitors in the market sector that really matters to advertisers, those 18-49 years of age.

On a more parochial level, stories about AI are among the most read on this blog. I can only conclude we must have a huge News Corp. stockholder following!