Tidbits 5/29

• AmericanIdol.com, AI's official website, has a few photos of Clay performing at the finale in its photo gallery now.
• Another Associated Press wire story. This one is entirely about last Wednesday's Clay/Michael Sandecki duet. "When I first auditioned, I said my dream was to do a duet with Clay Aiken. They let me live my dream," Sandecki said.
• andPOP and Electric New Paper Asia: McPhee says being runner-up isn't that bad: "Being a runner-up gives more career freedom and she wouldn't mind being the next Clay Aiken."
• Blogcritics: "Here's to hoping Kat goes Clay Aiken on us and not Bo Bice."
• The Sun News: AI is one hot shot -- "Clay Aiken, the runner-up in 2003, was teaching in Raleigh public schools until the show sent him into orbit as an international star."
• Charlotte Observer: Underwood, Seacrest visit Idol state... "What about the fact there were three North Carolinians among the finalists this year, not to mention Clay Aiken and Fantasia before?"
• Reality TV Magazine: most memorable AI finale moments-- "As Clay Aiken look-a-like Michael Sandecki sang 'Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," the real Clay Aiken walked out behind him. Michael Sandecki's surprise reaction was the leading topic of water-cooler conversations on the day after the finale."
• Another Blogcritics article... deals largely with Clay's new look and a bit of history on the thing (you know what we're talking about), but they do it nicely. "The producers managed one of these perfectly constructed TV moments. Sandecki got to act out the homage to Idol's awards show roots, we watched his Clay Faiken audition in all its bladder-tightening glory, then Ryan made us wonder if the show had jumped the line to full-on mean by asking Sandecki to sing again. As he screeched while scrunching up his face for a few painful bars, suddenly from behind door number three, Idol 2A version of Clay Aiken popped out. As a bonus, Aiken sounded better on Elton John (wow, interesting choice there) than any of this year's contestants ever managed. Yes, I'm looking at you, Levon lite."
• Here's a hot YouTube video chronicling Clay's "return"
• The CB's Debya's fantastic "Nobody does it better" photo montage.
• Clay's return is still sending shockwaves through the blogging world says About.com's pop columnist.
• Entertainment Weekly interview with Katharine McPhee. She says, "But Clay has obviously shown that being the runner-up is just as great as being the American Idol."
• Mediafiends: Katharine won't fade away: "She will not fade away into the sunset like past runners up (save Clay)."
• Want a limited edition BAF jersey? Here's your chance.... eBay auction.
• On Extra today, Simon Cowell said: "Clay, no disrespect, but your new look - particularly your hair, was horrible."
• According to unconfirmed rumours, all 3 American Idol judges gave Clay a standing ovation after Clay performed on AI last week. This was not shown on TV (commercial break)
  

Technorati tags: Clay Aiken, American Idol, Invisible, Katharine McPhee