Tidbits 4/11

AmericanIdol.com asks - "Whose elimination was more shocking than that of Michael?"
Vote for Clay!

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• PR NewsWire has an audio/podcast report about Clay's new album. Click "Play Now" under "Entertainment Round-Up for Week of April 11, 2008". - "Clay Aiken to Release Brand-New Album, On My Way Here, on May 6th 2008 "
  
• OK! Magazine - "Clay Aiken: 'I Haven't Watched Idol in Four Years'":

  One-time American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken has found his niche now that he’s playing Sir Robin in the Tony-winning musical Monty Python’s Spamalot.
  
  [...]
  
  Though none of the American Idol judges have been able to see his performance because they’re not allowed to travel while the show is taping, Clay certainly acknowledges that the show made him the star he is today.
  
  “Being able to make a career out of something that used to be a hobby is a big difference,” the former special education teacher says.
  
  Still, the season two runner-up doesn’t tune in to root for his favorites. “I haven’t watched it in four years,” he admits.
  

• Argus Leader - where the American Idols are now:

  Clay Aiken: Ruben Studdard’s runner-up enjoyed huge popularity initially with early singles and debut album “Measure of a Man”, but sales have steadily fallen.
  
  While mainstream support has eroded, Claymates remain ferociously loyal, and the geeky popster’s odd projects and antics keep him in the headlines (a memoir, “Spamalot ”role, in-flight tiff).

• Raleigh News & Observer - how Raleigh & Spamalot are related -

  Spamalot/Raleigh connections
  
  Raleigh and Camelot may have nothing in common. But "Spamalot" is practically a sister city.
  
  Raleigh native Clay Aiken made his Broadway debut as Sir Robin this year. He's scheduled to remain in the role through May.

• Clay was mentioned briefly on E! News last night ... about his AI2 transformation ... SendSpace cap via gerwhisp.

• Carolina On My Mind - The buzz is getting started around "On My Way Here" -

  In Clay Cyberspace, heads are spinning from the stupendous buzz swirling in the media and online about On My Way Here and the singer's appearance at Planet Hollywood. All this activity parallels another point Yaknelle made in her "cliff notes" course on viral advertising:
  
  "The big viral marketing is really done by professionals. I think in the last few days we have seen some really important moments. The ad in Playbill, the single preview, the iTune pre-sale and bonus cut, the webisodes, QVC and the Insider, for example. I really hope Clay gets some prime TV exposure."

• Anew and Afresh - Clay Aiken "looking good" on new RCA PR photos
• Anew and Afresh - Clay leaves his "mark" (literally) on New York City
  
• All That Is Clay Aiken - RCA's official biography for OMWH