Tidbits 1/17

• The CB's ClayBearLady says a commentator on FOX Sports mentioned Clay's name during a Red Wings game on the network -- "Something known by Clay Aiken, if you get off to a quick start...well, who knows!" ... this probably has something to do with Clay's #2 finish on Idol.
  
• Lycos Top 50 - This week Clay has gone up to #10 from last week's position of #21. That is a jump of 11 in one week! This is his highest jump in quite a while!
• American Idol sees a big season opener, with over 37.3 million viewers... we've got tons of articles and many of them have Clay mentions:
• Hollywood Reporter/Variety- "The top ratings performer was the May 21, 2003, telecast between Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard that averaged 38.1 million viewers and a 16.8/37."
• Billboard.com

  "Idol" averaged a monster 37.3 million viewers and a 15.7 rating/36 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, according to preliminary data released today (Jan. 17) by Nielsen Media Research. That was up 5% in viewers and 3% in adults 18-49 compared to last year's premiere, which in itself was no slouch (35.5 million, 15.3/34). But even more stunning, it was the second-best telecast for "American Idol" since it debuted in the summer of 2002. The top ratings performer was the May 21, 2003, telecast between Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard that averaged 38.1 million viewers and a 16.8/37.

• Blogcritics - "Then we're shown clips of the most successful Idol contestants, as images of Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Taylor Hicks, and Chris Daughtry flash before the screen."
• Reuters -

  Win or lose -- and either result has made stars out of 2006 4th placed Chris Daughtry, 2003 runner-up Clay Aiken and 2004 7th placed Jennifer Hudson -- for the 12 eventual finalists, "Idol" is primarily about the music and about people power.

• CanMag -

  The only other Idol episode to do better was the season finale between Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken. I don't know about you, but I voted for Aiken. (see my bumper sticker)

• Indiana Daily Student -

  After powerhouse Tamyra Grey, from the first season, was voted off prematurely, I became skeptical about the legitimacy of the voting process. My suspicions were validated the next season, when two-ton Ruben Studdard was crowned the victor and Clay Aiken was given the silver medal. But where are they now? Clay Aiken recently released his third CD to national fanfare, and Ruben is working at the IU Bookstore.

• Contact Music - "Only CLAY AIKEN and RUBEN STUDDARD's final sing-off in May, 2003, brought American Idol more viewers - 38.1 million fans tuned in for that. "
• United Press International wire- "The only other "Idol" telecast to rate higher was the May 2003 season finale between Reuben Studdard and Clay Aiken."
• Actress Archives - "That's up 5% over last year's season premiere and only below the season two finale, in which Ruben Studdard beat Clay Aiken, in the series history. That episode aired in May of 2003."
• E! News - "The premiere came within about 800,000 viewers of tying the May 2003 Ruben Studdard-Clay Aiken finale and vying for the title of most watched Idol ever."
• Mercury News blogs - "The two-hour premiere drew an average audience of 37.3 million, the second-largest in the show's history after the 2003 finale with Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard."
• Billboard- "The top ratings performer was the May 21, 2003, telecast between Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard that averaged 38.1 million viewers and a 16.8/37."
  
• Stuff.co.uk (New Zealand) -

  Win or lose – and either result has made stars out of 2006 4th placed Chris Daughtry, 2003 runner-up Clay Aiken and 2004 7th placed Jennifer Hudson – for the 12 eventual finalists, Idol is primarily about the music and about people power.

• Florida Today - In an article entitled, "Can You Identify the Faces of 'American Idol'", it says of Clay:

  "We remember Kelly Clarkson, the first “ Idol” winner. But can you name the second? Bet you remember the second season’s runner-up. That was Clay Aiken, who gets more buzz than any of them. He’s been to the King Center in Melbourne twice and sold out both shows fast as lightning."

• USA Today/ Forbes -

  No wonder New York native Mario Vazquez, a favorite of season four, bailed out after becoming a finalist. A year later — once his existing contract with American Idol lapsed — Vasquez resurfaced with an Arista record deal and a hit single, Gallery. Though he cited personal reasons for quitting Idol, the unprecedented move immediately sparked talk that Vazquez thought he'd do better as a free agent. Vazquez's lawyer, by the way, is also Clay Aiken's and helped the season two runner-up sever his contract with 19 Entertainment.
  

• SFGate - "There was a quick clip with Clay Aiken looking a lot like Opie Taylor at his audition, then another clip of him post-makeover. To get to this point, the Fox mega-hit had auditioned some 100,000 people in seven American cities."
• Mercury News on the AI5 finale -

  And when Clay Aiken showed up, it was not to sing ``Invisible'' or any of the tepid tunes he has belted out as a solo artist but to take another run at ``Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me.''

• Philly Burbs -

  All signs did not point to “Success” for Minneapolis. Seacrest started off the night blaming us “American Idol” viewers for turning Clay Aiken into k.d. lang and for making Kellie Pickler a household name. Paula was virtually muted, and the Dawg was neutered.

• New York Post - "Runner-up, positive pop prince, Clay Aiken has undoubtedly surpassed the velvet-voiced teddy bear who beat him, Ruben Studdard, in terms of headlines, recent album sales and strength of fan base. "
• Buddy TV -

  Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken...all have achieved at least a modicum of fame. Last night, former Idol Jennifer Hudson won a Golden Globe award in the Best Supporting Actress category for her role in the musical Dreamgirls. If there was any doubt that Idols could make it in the entertainment business, it has certainly been erased.
  

• Point Spreads -

  Following Clarkson, Ruben Studdard emerged as the winner of Season 2 despite a controversy over the accuracy of reported results. Regardless of losing to Studdard, runner-up Clay Aiken has gone on to release three albums since appearing on Idol.

• Minneapolis - St. Paul Star Tribune (very small mention)
• Minneapolis - St. Paul Tribune - another mention - "Only the showdown between Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard in May 2003 attracted a larger audience."
  
• Electric New Paper (Singapore) on Taylor Hicks -

  Hicks' album sold a respectable 298,000 copies in the US, putting him behind first-week figures of American Idol alumni Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, Carrie Underwood and even Daughtry. However, he topped entries by Kelly Clarkson and Fantasia.

• Dallas Fort-Worth Star Telegram - "You the voting viewers are also responsible for Clay Aiken, the most famous loser in Idol history. His fans are called Claymates, although we prefer Clay Pigeons."
  
• Yooohaaa.com - On this page are pictures of some of the more popular idols of the past 5 years. Of course, Clay's pic is on there. Click on it to make it a little larger. And, if you scroll down to the very bottom of the page, you can nominate your favorite Idol for the Hall Of Fame by typing their name in the space and a brief description of why they should be in the hall of fame. Then click "submit". Let's vote Clay in!!
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• Foxes on Idol article about Simon Cowell's X Factor show... small Clay/BOTW mention.
• Indiana Daily Student - politics/Iraq article, mentions: "They were both pilots who served our country (in theory), they both have an unhealthy fascination with Saddam Hussein and they both abhor a vegetable or a fruit -- the elder hating broccoli and the younger hating Clay Aiken." uh... ok.

• Carolina on My Mind - celebrating with ATDW this Valentine's Day. Thanks to A Beautiful Mind for the beautiful banner.
  

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