Tidbits 5/29

This looks like a "new" photo from Clay's appearance on The View last September. He is being flanked by Angela and Quiana. Thanks to OneSingerGal at the CB for uncovering this at Slide.com.

• Small Clay Aiken concert mention in the San Diego Union Tribune ... click on the thumbnail to the right to read it. Thanks to the CB's LUVClay26 for the scan.
  
• Clay Aikenology group @ MySpace - really cute story about Clay being "in" the delivery room with a Claymate as she gave birth...
  

  Clay Aiken 'with' me in the delivery room - As luck would have it, one of my best friends went into labor on Mother's Day. The baby was already five days late for her own birth, a trait definitely genetically inhereited from the mother. We planned, and packed, and rehearsed. I was to be one of her coaches in the delivery room along with her boyfriend. She had her stereo with some Clay music on it, and a prepacked bag with other goodies in it.
  
  The midwife came in,looked, and said "It's time to push!" We were relieved to hear that.
  Two hours later, with Mr. Boyfriend and myself looking on, she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. She kept asking if her baby was ok. The little baby girl had a bit of trouble breathing, but that was mainly due to having to push and kick her way out into the world, listening to Clay Aiken sing for her. All of us were crying.

• Pegasus News - some band I have never even heard of being cooler than Clay? What? How's that even possible?

  Futuresoul Soundclash Go see this show because FSS' Clay Pendergrass is way cooler than Clay Aiken. That's right, bring it Clay Aiken fans, we're not afraid of you.
  

• OC Register - Idol finale ratings slightly higher than previously announced:

  Because Jordin Sparks' coronation as the sixth "American Idol" winner didn't come until after 10 p.m., "Idol" viewership was adjusted from 29.5 million in fast national figures to 30.7 million in the final national (live plus same-day viewership) tally.
  
  While those numbers dominated the night and added an extra bit of relish to Fox's already preordained May sweeps victory, they were still off rather dramatically from last season's "American Idol" finale. When Taylor Hicks topped Katharine McPhee, the two-hour show averaged 36.4 million viewers.
  
  Fox said last year's finale was the network's most-watched night of entertainment programming ever, though it wasn't even the most viewed "Idol" finale ever. The 2003 showdown between Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken was broken into an hour-long preshow and an hour-long finale, with that second hour drawing 38 million.

• Arizona Republic - disappointed with Idol finale ...

  I was disappointed with the finale. In previous years, there were so many surprises and silly guilty-pleasure skits, like showing Paula and Simon on a date, and Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken in the boxing ring. This year, the finale reminded me of Idol Gives Back all over again. They didn't even splurge for the confetti or choir singers. What was up with that? Are you as upset as I am? Hey, we should start a "Bring back the confetti" petition for next year.

• Caroll County Times - best AI performances:

  3. "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Clay Aiken, Season 2.
  
  I love any songs backed by an inexplicable gospel choir.

• Student Operated Press questions why we are so addicted to talent contests -

  This week on AI, voters picked a new winner. With far more votes than in any American Presidential Election that I know of, over 70 millions viewers voted and Jordin Sparks won over Blake Lewis. Two very different singers appealing to different fans. In fact, the last 4 or 5 finalists will do well. Remember Clay Aiken or Chris Daughtry?

• AskMen.com - article about Mizuo Peck... "Mizuo appeared in Clay Aiken 'The Way' music video."
  

• The ConCLAYve - Newsweek is another example of crappy journalism - But approximately two and a half years ago, Newsweek reported a story about Clay Aiken and cited gawker.com as a source. That's right, gawker, the gossip site which uses this disclaimer: "Gawker is a gossip site. The site publishes both rumors and conjecture, in addition to accurately reported information. Information on this site may contain errors or inaccuracies; the site's proprietors do not make warranty as to the correctness or reliability of the site's content. Links to content on and quotation of material from other Gawker sites are not the responsibility of Gawker Media.