November Sweeps Brings Out Lots of 5th Grader Articles

We've been waiting for November 1 for weeks now so we can see Clay on Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader. And November 1 is the beginning of sweeps for television. So the articles are coming out of the woodworks about sweeps shows, and that includes the celebrity version of "5th Grader". Here are a few of those articles, which will hopefully bring lots of viewers to the show:

• Reality TV Magazine - They call Clay a legend!!

  In a special two hour episode of Are You Smarter Than A 5th grader, not one but two reality TV legends will be making guest appearances. American Idol 2 runner-up Clay Aiken will be playing the game, as well as America's Got Talent season one host Regis Philbin.

• Media Life - Media Life's article about the celebrity version of 5th grader starts off saying, "A supersized edition with two big-name guests". It goes on to say that 5th Grader does not have the best ratings at No. 75, but concerning the celebrity show:

  Fox likely wouldn’t draw better ratings for anything else it put in the slot, and the celebrity element, which will be repeated again the next two weeks, could give “Grader” a slight lift, especially since Aiken maintains a large fan base among “Idol” fans.

• Dallas Fort Worth Star Telegram - Article entitled 'Sweep'-ing viewers away every night says, "The November sweeps period begins tonight,..." and then lists "Stuff to Watch or Record":Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? This two-hour edition, the first in a series of celebrity episodes with stars playing for charity, features Clay Aiken and Regis Philbin. Even if neither is smarter than a fifth-grader, both are certainly richer.
• Louisville Courier Journal - Tom Dorsey, the writer of this article, is a little uninformed concerning his Clay comments, IMO. He says, concerning past sweeps vs. today's sweeps:

  Stars that were really stars, such as Frank Sinatra or Judy Garland, did specials. There were so many competing goodies it was hard to know which way to turn the TV dial.
  
  Now we get "American Idol's" Clay Aiken and Regis Philbin as special guests on "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" tonight at 8 on Fox. Philbin is a great guy, but he's no Sinatra.
  
  I'm not picking on Aikin, either, but in sweeps gone by they would have had the winner of a show, not just a finalist.

  I think Mr. Dorsey needs to do his homework on the last 4 years of Clay's successful career.
• New York Daily News - According to this article, presidential candidates such as Hilary Rodham Clinton and Rudy Giliani were asked to test their smarts against the 5th graders, but they all said "No". However:

  Luckily for viewers, Hollywood celebrities aren't as cautious as White House hopefuls. So Regis Philbin, Clay Aiken, "Access Hollywood" host Billy Bush, Tony Hawk, Miss America 2007 Lauren Nelson and "American Idol's" Kelly Pickler are all ready to prove they know a thing or two about math and science.
  
  Philbin and Aiken get the pencil going tonight at 8, kicking off three weeks of star-studded episodes of "5th Grader" in which the celebs play for their favorite charities.

• Orlando Sentinel In their picks of "10 for your attention", the celebrity 5th Grader is included:

  Will you go for celebrities playing the game? That approach ruined Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. Oh, well. The contestant list: Regis Philbin and Clay Aiken tonight, Tony Hawk on Nov. 8, Billy Bush and Kellie Pickler on Nov. 15.

• MTV -

  The new season of "American Idol" is still a few months away, but that's not stopping the juggernaut's presence on TV. Former contestants Clay Aiken and Kellie Pickler will be celebrity contestants on "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" on Thursday and November 15

• Springfield News Leader -

  "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" 7 p.m., Fox. The Fox people were really hoping there would be a seventh World Series game tonight. The Red Sox swept, however, so the network plugs in this expanded version. Clay Aiken and Regis Philbin play for charity.

• Fayetteville Observer -

  “Are You Smarter Than a 5th-Grader?”: This is an interesting pairing. Clay Aiken and Regis Philbin are celebrity contestants tonight, competing to win money for their favorite charities. You may recall that Aiken ruffled the feathers of Philbin’s co-host, Kelly Ripa. I’m sure Regis will put aside their differences for the sake of winning. 8 p.m. Fox

• The Futon Critic -

  WILL THE STARS SHINE BRIGHT? "AMERCIAN IDOL'S CLAY AIKEN AND TALK SHOW HOST REGIS PHILBIN TEST THEIR 5TH GRADER FACTS FOR CHARITY ON A SPECIAL TWO-HOUR "ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER?" THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1, ON FOX
  
  The 5th graders extend a helping hand to AMERICAN IDOL's Clay Aiken and talk show host Regis Philbin, who will put on their thinking caps on and play for big bucks with proceeds going to their favorite charities on a special two-hour edition of ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER? Thursday, Nov. 1 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (AYS-205/206) (TV-PG)

• Reality TV Magazine -

  American Idol Finalist Clay Aiken On Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader
  
  In a special two hour episode of Are You Smarter Than A 5th grader, not one but two reality TV legends will be making guest appearances. American Idol 2 runner-up Clay Aiken will be playing the game, as well as America’s Got Talent season one host Regis Philbin.

• Desert Morning News - "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (7 p.m., Ch. 13): In this two-hour episode, Regis Philbin and Clay Aiken play for charity."
• Los Angeles Times - "Regis and Clay: Regis Philbin and Clay Aiken play for charity on "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?" (8 p.m. Fox)."