Tidbits 3/24

Nice Clay mention on The Insider yesterday... though I'm not sure Clay qualifies as a "teen" any longer.

• There's a nice photo of Clay in tomorrow's (Sunday) New York Times, says the CB's pearlgjr:

  Certain sections of the New York Times get delivered on Saturday...one of which is the 'Arts Section'
  
  The New York Times has a story on how singers from the South have dominated American Idol. How the winners of Idol come from the south; they have a 'lockdown' on the outcome.....it's an interesting article.
  
  But the point is that they used 3 pictures in connection with the article....
  
  Top picture is Clay.....
  
  then Kelly and then Reuben.
  
  Interesting...considering Taylor, Carrie and Fantasia all 'winners' were not pictured at all.

• Atlanta Journal Constitution - Clay Aiken coming to Atlanta for concert. "Among the marquee names in what an ASO press release calls the "first round of performers": Morrissey; Natalie Cole; Steve Miller Band; Travis Tritt; Clay Aiken"
• Entertainment World - Dianne Austin comments on Ryan Seacrest' on-air dancing during Idol this week:

  I absolutely loved it when Ryan broke into his beat boxing and dancing. Who knew he had any rhythm? I remember watching him live in the studio when he hosted his own On-Air show and had Clay Aiken as a guest. At that time, he broke into some moves to the tune of Clay’s then-top 40’s hit song Invisible, and he looked like a total geek. Couldn’t dance worth a damn. Maybe it was on purpose for Aiken’s benefit, though.

• Winston Salem Journal - An article about Chris Daughtry has three Clay mentions: "LOSERS ARE THE NEW WINNERS - Clay Aiken set the Idol precedent when he came in second to Ruben "On Wry" Studdard, now a weight-loss advocate and never-say-never soul crooner", "Clay Aiken had - sorrrrry, has - his Claymates" and "North Carolina has emerged as fertile ground on American Idol. Fantasia. Clay Aiken. Kellie Pickler. All North Carolina natives."
• RW (Radio World) Online - In an article about the impact that American Idol has had on radio, the number of spins by various idols, including Clay, is listed as follows:

  Season One winner Kelly Clarkson and Season Four winner Carrie Underwood are leading the pack with 4 million radio spins between them. Mediabase says Clarkson has 3.3 million spins since winning the first title, and Underwood has amassed 725,000 spins, averaging more than 450,000 per year.
  
  Other popular contestants include Fantasia Barrino, Josh Gracin, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, Kimberley Locke, Bo Bice, Mario Vazquez, Chris Daughtry, and 2007 Academy Award Winner Jennifer Hudson.
  
  Here’s how they stack up against Clarkson and Underwood: Josh Gracin, Season Three finalist, about 580,000 spins; Fantasia Barrino, Season Three winner, 375,000; Ruben Studdard, Season Two winner, 294,000; Clay Aiken, Season Two runner-up, 225,000; Kimberley Locke, Season Two finalist, 210,000; Chris Daughtry, Season Five finalist, 146,000; Mario Vazquez, Season Five contestant, 123,000; and Bo Bice, Season Four runner-up, 115,000 spins.

• Myrtle Beach Sun News - celebrity 'battles'...

  Battle of keeping your hands to yourself, Clay Aiken and Kelly Ripa
  
  When 2003 "American Idol" first runner-up Clay AIken was a guest co-host for "Live with Regis & Kelly" in November, he put his hand on Kelly Ripa's mouth when he wanted a chance to talk with the third "Dancing with the Stars" series winners, Cheryl Burke and Emmitt Smith. Ripa immediately voiced her discomfort, "I don't know where that hand's been, Honey," prompting homophobic hallucination accusations from Rosie O'Donnell's view.
  
  Winner: Ripa, especially if any manufacturer of instant hand sanitizer such as Purell wants a poster girl.

• The ConCLAYve's Michi's beautiful the highlight blog this week...

  I know that when I listen to Clay cd’s, our common bond will be there and I will smile. Maybe we’ll be lucky and we can go to a concert together.
  
  I hug her tightly. Call me if you need me.
  
  Goodbye for now Mom. I love you.