Tidbits 1/24

Theater Mania - Clay joins cast of Spamalot -

Meanwhile, on January 18, former American Idol finalist Clay Aiken (right, with Christopher Sieber) joined the Broadway cast of Monty Python's Spamalot.

• Spamalot recap today:
• Associated Press - the AP article about Clay on Spamalot is spreading quickly:

  Clay Aiken, who burst to fame during the second season of American Idol, has made his Broadway debut in Monty Python's Spamalot - in creator Eric Idle's old role.
  
  "There's a lot of pressure," Aiken says. "To think about how many people dream of doing something like this and to have the opportunity is pretty humbling."

• TicketNews.com - Clay Aiken helps bring up Spamalot ticket sales -

  And now for something completely different. Clay Aiken, known to millions as an “American Idol” contestant in its second season and now a recording star, debuted in his first Broadway role as Sir Robin in the Tony Award winning musical Spamalot at the Shubert Theatre on Jan. 18. He will continue in the role through May 4. It appears to have been a boost to recent ticket sales.

• San Francisco Gate -

  "I'm having to learn a whole new language. Upstage, downstage. I'm like, 'Upstage? What's that mean? Behind? Oh, got it. Why didn't you just say behind? ...' It makes me crazier than I already am." — Clay Aiken, on nailing the stage lingo for his Broadway debut in "Monty Python's Spamalot."

• IFMagazine -

  Next up, was Clay "freakin'" Aiken, who appeared on THE VIEW to tout his new Broadway production, SPAMALOT. Aiken appearing on THE VIEW, OK good for promotional bits, but bad for news items.

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• Desert News interviews Carmen Rasmusen, AI2 finalist - "Clay Aiken and I text every once in a while"
• American Idol finds a "black Clay Aiken" in South Carolina -
  
• RealityWanted.net - "Rasharde Henderson, the “black Clay Aiken” had a very strong voice as well."
• MTV - "Raysharde Henderson sounded remarkably like Clay Aiken and looked remarkably like a cryogenically frozen long-lost member of the Jackson Five."
• Reality TV Calendar -

  Our first auditioner is 27 year old Raysharde Henderson from Atlanta, Georgia. He loves his afro and is always smiling. He claims people call him "the black Clay Aiken." I have a feeling this isn't going to go over very well. He auditions with Bonnie Raitt's "I Can't Make You Love Me" and he's good for about the first two seconds. Then it's just cheesy and over-the-top. Randy says it was over-the-top and the judges pass on Raysharde.

• TV Fodder -

  I would probably vote for Raysharde Henderson based solely on his beautiful afro. That takes talent right there! He compared himself to the black Clay Aiken, but I think he actually resembles another celebrity almost to a tee.

• Blend Television - "Raysharde claims to be the “black Clay Aiken,” which are three words that should never be next to each other."
• Curlio.com -

  First up was a guy who couldn't make his audition, because he wife who was 37 weeks pregnant just had her water break. He decided the baby was more important. So we went to Raysharde Henderson then who called himself a complete nut before comparing himself to Clay Aiken, just black. Simon Cowell thought he did remind him of Clay. Randy Jackson thought it was a bit over the top. Paula Abdul agreed it was theatrical. He didn't make it through.

• Reality TV Magazine -

  Twenty-seven year old Raysharde Henderson from Atlanta, Georgia told the judges that people said he sounded like Clay Aiken from American Idol 2. Raysharde kicked things off with “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” Even though Simon Cowell said Raysharde did remind him of Clay Aiken, the judges did not put him through to Hollywood.

• Baltimore Sun -

  Raysharde Henderson is from Atlanta and says he is called "the black Clay Aiken." He sings "I Can't Make You Love Me" with more histrionics than you can imagine. Randy calls it a little over the top, and Simon says, "I wouldn't have been surprised if you had done a magic trick in the middle of that." It's a no.

• Charleston City Paper -

  Richard (pronounced Rish-Ard) Henderson is unemployed. Says he sounds like Clay Aiken — only he seems more comfortable in his sexuality. Paula even says no. That’s when you know it’s bad.

• New York Daily News - "8:03 p.m. Raysharde says he sounds like Clay Aiken, which I don't think would be something to tell people to impress them but different strokes. He gets three nos."
• BuddyTV - "Raysharde Henderson is unemployed and from Atlanta. He calls himself a complete nut. He says people call him "the black Clay Aiken." Umm, isn't that a paradox?"
• Newsday - AI blog -

  Anyway, he says he sounds like Clay Aiken - I have a feeling he's mistaken, but let's keep an open mind and unpause the TiVo. Well, to be honest, I don't think his voice is bad at all - definitely no Clay Aiken, but really not that bad.

• MSNBC -

  “They call me the black Clay Aiken,” Raysharde Henderson confidently told the cameras. Whether “they” meant it as a compliment or not wasn’t revealed, but at any rate the judges didn’t swoon when he belted out Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” “A little bit over the top,” Randy said, before amending it to “very over the top” and sending him home.

• FOX News -

  Also consider Richard — stage name "Raysharde" — a cheerful guy with an enormous afro who was inexplicably convinced that he sounded like "the black Clay Aiken" — and Aretha, who protested furiously when the judges criticized her.

• Houston Chronicle -

  After some crowd shots and a still-tiresome Black Eyed Peas tune, we're introduced to unemployed afro-man Raysharde Henderson -- also known (to himself) as "the black Clay Aiken."

• Canoe Network - William Josephs ready to release new CD -

  Joseph's 2004 debut Within and a gig opening for Josh Groban that year, followed in 2005 by opening for Clay Aiken, kicked off Joseph's career as a major performer

• Broadway World - Quiana Parler to perform at "Tammy Faye Sings" concert in NYC - "Quiana Parler (Clay Aiken Tour, Dreamgirls)"
• 15 Rounds - random Clay mention ... boxing article
• TV listings mentions Clay's appearance today on "Mike & Juliet" -
  
• Vancouver Province
• Los Angeles Times
• AP via Yahoo - quotation from Clay -

  - "They scare me every once in a while. We had a lady throw her panties in the middle of 'Silent Night.'- Pop singer Clay Aiken on his rabid fans, IN TOUCH

• Carolina On My Mind - Clay Aiken on Spamalot still has everyone buzzing -

  As Clay Aiken begins his first full week of "Spamalot" performances, fans are still sharing opening weekend experiences and enjoying watching the singer-actor promote the Broadway musical on two popular TV shows, "The View" Tuesday and "The Morning Show with Mike and Juliette" on Thursday.
  

• Clay - The Man ... being proud of Clay Aiken
• The ConCLAYVe - Clay getting used to the pace of "Spamalot" ... AP story
• The True Measure of a Man - "Clay Aiken Surprisingly Fearless as Sir Robin in Spamalot"