Tidbits 2/6

The editors of popular photo sharing website WebShots have included a Clay photo from greeneyedrobin in their editor's choice gallery called "Stars of Reality TV". The photo above is featured on page 2.

• New York Times - very nice mention in a review of Katharine McPhee's new album...

  “American Idol” is reliable, but it’s not predictable: the show’s most successful winners and losers are a diverse bunch. Kelly Clarkson has perfected bubble-gum rock, and Carrie Underwood has established herself as one of America’s favorite country singers. Fantasia Barrino and Ruben Studdard have had some success on the R&B charts, and Jennifer Hudson may get a chance to overtake them both. Taylor Hicks has his soul-man act, and Chris Daughtry is looking more and more like a bona-fide rock star. And need we even mention Clay Aiken? We need not.
  

• Vegas Pop - In an article about Simon Fuller masterminding Michael Jackson's comeback, it says, "In addition, he promotes and manages such 'American Idol' stars as Kelly Clarkson, Ruben Stoddard and Clay Aiken in addition to being the longtime manager of Annie Lennox and the now solo careers of Emma 'Baby Spice' Bunton and Mrs. Beckham."
• The Mercury News - In an article about Chris Daughtry, Clay's success is mentioned:

  The real chance for victory occurs when the alumni try their luck on the record charts. Just ask Ruben Studdard, the Season 2 champ who to this day fights comparisons to runner-up Clay Aiken, who has registered the more successful recording career.

• Verizon PR about some pre-Grammy Clive Davis party they will be carrying to their subscribers... small Clay mention in a footnote about RCA Records.
• Yahoo PR - about the UNICEF UpClose campaign...

  Clay Aiken kicked off the campaign on January 30^th with the question: “What can we do to get more Americans committed to supporting programs that help children?”, which received close to 6,000 answers from the Yahoo! Answers community.

• In related news, Clay's UNICEF page has been updated with info about the UpClose campaign...

  In early 2007, Clay Aiken is participating in UNICEF UpClose, an awareness-building campaign powered by Yahoo! Answers. The UpClose program is a new forum for discussing the challenges facing the world's most vulnerable children. He asked: "UNICEF is working for the survival of children worldwide. What can we do to get more Americans committed to the cause?"
  

• Today's Caregiver Magazine PR - mention of their annual conference... Clay was a keynote speaker at their 2004 conference ... "Prior Fearless Caregiver keynotes have included Clay Aiken, Debbie Reynolds, Della Reese, Leeza Gibbons and the late Robert Urich."
• Houston Chronicle - Kimberley Locke returns with new single, CD. "The season-three Idol alum, who finished just behind Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken, is making bigger waves than her former finalists. And for all the right reasons, I might add."
  
• Foxes on Idol - near record ratings for AI -

  The reason all this is even possible is because American Idol is posting staggering ratings numbers. The premiere of season 6 came within a hair of matching the Ruben/Clay finale of season 2! Fox executives are still lighting stogies over their good fortune. For fans of the show, this is great news… and not so great.

• Lycos50 - for some unknown reason this week's list isn't loading up on my browser, but I've been told Clay came in at #16 this week.

• Carolina On My Mind - oh, this post is all over the place... everything from Clay's UNICEF campaign to a history of what is being called "Web 2.0"... but that's why we love Carolina's blog so much... check it out today!