Tidbits 5/2

E! Online - Clay & Hannah ... seeing double?

We have been staring at this photo all morning, trying to figure out which one is Clay Aiken, as the resemblance between the crooner and his Spamalot costar Hannah Waddingham is striking.

TheaterMania - Clay and fellow Spamalot Star Hannah Waddingham appear at the April 30 Broadway Cares Easter Bonnet fundraiser.

• MSNBC - Clay grows up, slims down:

  Clay Aiken grows up, slims down
  Clay Aiken has certainly changed his look since his “American Idol” days, a fact even more obvious now that he’s appearing on Broadway in “Spamalot.” But what exactly has changed, beyond lighter, longer hair?
  
  Us Weekly says Aiken has slimmed down considerably. Although he won’t say exactly how much weight he’s lost, he does say that it’s “a ton,” and no, personal trainers and diets were not involved, reported the magazine.

• On My Way Here mentions:
• Tri-CityHerald.com
  
• TriCities.com - "Anyway: Coming May 6 are new albums from Clay “American Idol” Aiken with “On My Way Here,” Neil Diamond’s “Home Before Dark” and Elvis Costello’s who-knows-what-the-heck-the-title-means “Momufuku.” "
• SFGate.com -

  In Sounds, Aidin Vaziri talks to Vetiver front man Andy Cabic about the San Francisco band's new album of covers, "A Thing of the Past" (Page 44), and he chats with Clay Aiken about his new release, "On My Way Here" (Pop Quiz, Page 48).

• Charlotte Observer -

  Clay Aiken, "On My Way Here:" Growing up and shaping one's life are the themes found on the latest disc from the "American Idol" runner-up and Broadway star. Released by RCA. In stores May 6.

• The Beacon News -

  Alas, Viva la Vida isn't out until June 17, and next week doesn't offer anything quite as exciting. It's a hodgepodge for Tuesday, including two American Idols ( Clay Aiken and Chris Sligh ) and another Rick Rubin-produced record by Neil Diamond . (Try as he might, Diamond is not Johnny Cash, and I don't know what Rubin's doing with him.)

• Kansas City Star -

  Clay Aiken, the one-time “American Idol” runner-up most recently seen on Broadway in “Spamalot,” presents “On My Way Here.” The title song was written by OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder

• Miami Herald
  
• The Trades - a flashback to AI2 top 5 -

  Season 2: Theme: 60s/Neil Sedaka. Standouts: Trenyce, "Proud Mary," and Clay Aiken, "Solitaire." Trenyce's performance isn't just one of the best of the season -- it's regarded as one of the best in the series' history. Neil Sedaka said after the performance that the song would now forever be known as a Clay Aiken song.

• Idolator (warning: coarse language) - does anyone care who wins American Idol anymore?

  Really, when you look at the careers of Elliott Yamin, Fantasia, Ruben Studdard, Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Katherine McPhee, Taylor Hicks, Daughtry, Constantine [...] there's no clear benefit to actually winning the contest as opposed to merely placing highly.
  

• The Improper - Clay says he's lost weight after having stopped taking Paxil -

  Clay Aiken: 'Paxil Made Me Fat'
  By TheImproper.com
  
  American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken says he has lost "a ton" of weight since getting off the prescription antidepressant Paxil, reports Us Weekly.
  
  Aiken, 29, was a scrawny geek when he first emerged on the music scene in 2003 as a contestant on American Idol (see below left). After losing to winner Ruben Studdard, Aiken--who said he was teased relentlessly as a child--became an overnight sensation. The stresses of public life, the unending ribbing about his sexuality and his sister's 2006 suicide reportedly caused Aiken to suffer panic attacks.
  

• Denver Post - "Altar Boyz" play's "Characters are cleverly patterned after Enrique Iglesias/Ricky Martin, Marky Mark and Clay Aiken, but you just can't skewer at room temperature."
• Lincoln-Way Sun - local library crowns their "Idol" -

  NEW LENOX--Move over Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Clay Aiken.
  
  Fifteen-year-old Becca Crofoot of New Lenox is the latest singer to earn "Idol" status.
  

• Clay - The Man ... counting down to May 6 - CD Release day!