On My Way Here Digest: May 3, 2008

• Wal-Mart has shipped most pre-orders of OMWH. For those of you who pre-ordered from Wal-Mart, they should be arriving in your mailboxes or doorsteps on or shortly after the Tuesday release date.
• This OMWH television ad is airing on the Lifetime Movie Network:
  
  
  
  
• People Magazine reviewed OMWH and gave it 2/4. More of the same-old recycled garbage we are now used to. A poster on the CB pointed out that People also gave Josh Groban and Leona Lewis similar gradings, while Ashlee Simpson earned a 3 1/2 stars. What gives?

  "One can't help but see a little of Clay Aiken in David Archuleta, the 17 year-old frontrunner of American Idol this season. Let's hope that Archuleta does a better job of finding his recording niche than Aiken has. On his fourth effort, the Claymeister continues to pour on the kind of schmaltz that may work on Idol but sounds hopelessly unhip on CD. Still, he's better off doing vanilla ballads than trying to bring a rock edge to "Ashes." Chris Daughtry he's not.
  DOWNLOAD THIS: "Something About Us." a lush, jazz-kissed ballad"

Clay Bids Spamalot Goodbye Tomorrow Night

Graphic courtesy Amazing_CA

Sunday night marks the end of Clay's 4 month run on Spamalot and it has certainly been a lot of fun for both him and us. For us to be able to cap off this in one post would be impossible, so be sure to check out CDD's coverage of Spamalot.

As we close one door, we open another. You'll notice that beginning today, CDD has been decked out with an "On My Way Here" look. Only two more sleeps until the CD arrives!

Tidbits 5/3

• The Urbana Daily Citizen - cracks in AI beginning to surface?

  Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken and Chris Daughtry set standards for "American Idol" contestants that are hard to top; last year's winner Jordin Sparks has had two radio hits, but so-so record sales.

• Carolina On My Mind - a big weekend for Clay and Claymates ...

  "Clayapalooza Weekend" is off and running! With hundreds of his fans in the audience, Clay Aiken is performing the final four shows of his "Spamalot" run on Broadway Saturday and Sunday.
  
  Then on Monday and Tuesday, with many of the same fans on hand, the New York City celebration will turn to the Big Apple's CD Release Party for the singer's new album, On My Way Here. Clay is slated to autograph CD's for 300 lucky fans at the Virgin Megastore.

• Something That Really Happened - wish your mother a Happy Mothers Day with a Clay Aiken e-card
• Anew and Afresh - Clay ready to begin a new chapter in the career. Goodbye Spamalot, hello On My Way Here:

  This Sunday night will mark Clay Aiken's final performance in "Monty Python's SPAMalot" on Broadway. By all accounts, his short four month run has been a hit with great reviews, sell-out performances, praise from his Broadway peers, and a record amount of money raised for Broadway Cares in the annual Easter Bonnet competition. "Monty Python's SPAMalot" came in second in the competition, raising $264,900, and I have no doubts but that the cast and crew of the show would point to Clay Aiken as a big reason why they were able to raise so much money. For two weeks, people lined up after the show to donate anywhere from $200 - $300, just for the privilege of having their photo taken with Clay. And I'm not talking about five or six people a night either. ;)

"On My Way Here" in the Weekend Circulars

This week's flyers are out and On My Way Here is featured in many of them. Thanks to various board members for posting these scans:

Best Buy


Circuit City


K-Mart


Sony BMG Canada added OMWH to their new releases list and has a version of the RCA press release posted:

CLAY AIKEN

Clay Aiken To Release Brand-New Album, On My Way Here, On May 6th 2008

Eagerly Awaited Collection Is The Pop Superstar's First Album Of Original Songs Since 2003

Multi-platinum selling pop singer Clay Aiken will release his fourth album, On My Way Here, on RCA Records/19 Entertainment on May 6th, 2008. The collection is the 29-year-old Raleigh, NC, native's first album of original songs since his 2003 chart-topping, double-platinum debut Measure of a Man.

On My Way Here chronicles Aiken's experiences over the past five years, ascending from popular contestant on the second season of American Idol to pop superstar. The album's theme came to Aiken when he and his executive producer Jaymes Foster fell in love with a song written by One Republic frontman Ryan Tedder called "On My Way Here." The message of the lyrics — how the lessons we learn while growing up shape us into who we become as adults — struck a very deep chord with the artist. The title track "On My Way Here" will be the first radio single from the album to be released later this month. Additionally, the single, "On My Way Here" will premiere as an "AOL First Listen" on Monday, April 7th.

"On My Way Here" Single Now Available at Amazon MP3

Here's your first to chance to buy Clay's new single, "On My Way Here". The single (just the one song), is now available for download at Amazon MP3. Amazon.com notes that "All digital music downloads at Amazon MP3 are free of DRM software, which means they will play on virtually anything that plays MP3s, including PCs, Macs®, iPods®, Zunes®, Zens®, iPhones®, RAZRs®, and BlackBerrys®."

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!
  

Billy Bush Interview on Access Hollywood

The Billy Bush interview that came out last week was aired last night on Access Hollywood. You can watch the interview at AccessHollywood.com or download the entire TV version of the interview at ClackUnlimited.

Clay Talks to ABC News Radio

Clay sat down to talk with ABC News Radio about On My Way Here. Clay talks about how OMWH is different from his prior albums, and why he isn't concerned about radio play. Listen to the radio at ABCNews.com.

Official Fanclub Updates with New Shirt On Sale, Photos, Bio

Clay's official fanclub has been updated with new photos in the top banner, a new biography and a new Clay Aiken shirt that went on sale in the OFC store.

05/01/08

Hey There Clay Fans!

In anticipation of the CD release next week, we are celebrating with a brand new t-shirt! Check it out tomorrow in the store!

Billboard's OMWH Review

Billboard published its review of On My Way Here. Not too bad, at all. In fact, it's pretty good!

On My Way Here
CLAY AIKEN
Producer(s): Kipper, Jaymes Foster
Genre: AC
Label: RCA

In the Broadway show that is Clay Aiken's public life, he is, of course, the leading man. His fourth full-length progresses just like the Original Cast Recording, with character development songs early ("On My Way Here"), beatific love songs in the middle ("Something About Us") and a dénouement of regret and lessons learned ("Lover All Alone"). Aiken, who debuted on the Great White Way this year in "Spamalot," sings like a theater veteran: almost too perfect, with a self-aware showmanship. But that doesn't make pop-rock nuggets like "Ashes" any less catchy, or the ballads-on which Aiken's breathy tenor could break housewife hearts-ring any less true. With big American melodies, stock AC production and general inoffensiveness throughout, this should satisfy his army of self-dubbed Claymates. -Kerri Mason

Interviews Galore: Clay's Interviews with SFGate, Access Atlanta, SheKnows

Here are some more Clay interviews, leading up to the album release day... only 3 days to go!

• SF Gate -
  

  We realize that Clay Aiken is not everyone's favorite "American Idol" runner-up. But the 29-year-old North Carolina native is the only one who sells millions of records, stars in a major Broadway show, gets to sell stuff on QVC, runs a foundation for children with disabilities and inspires fans to make homemade T-shirts that read "Clay shakes my ovaries a thousand different ways." This week, Aiken releases "On My Way Here," his first album of original material since his 2003 double-platinum debut, "Measure of a Man."
  
  Q: You look so different from how you looked five years ago. Have all the makeovers made you better?
  A: I don't think the external stuff has changed me. I'm still about as self-confident as a skunk.
  
  [...]
  
  Q: Does this album feel like your real second album, even though it's you're fourth?
  A: In a way, it kind of does. Obviously, it's the second album that we've done with original stuff. I've always said the first album was fitting a square peg into a round hole. The songs were picked before they even knew it was going to be me. Now we're putting the square peg in the square hole. I'm definitely square, that's for sure. But at least it fits.

• Access Atlanta - "Clay Aiken interview, ratings update, song choice" -

  Those Clay Aiken fans have been waiting for this since I’ve been teasing it. But his first album of originals since 2003, “On My Way Here” comes out Tuesday. (The Claymate crew will be at Manuel’s Tavern, 602 N. HIghland Ave., Atlanta, at 8;30 p.m. Monday for an album release party.)
  
  Clay is definitely the gabby sort. I had a lengthy list of questions to ask him for my 15 minutes, including several from Clay fans I solicited. But I only got in a handful of my own before the publicist said time was up.
  
  [...]
  
  Why has it been so long since you did a full album of originals?
  
  The record label latched on to me doing a Christmas album. It kind of made sense. It worked beautifully for whatever reason. The truth is, we ain’t radio people. Clay Aiken and the radio don’t happen as easily as Kelly Clarkson or Chris Daughtry. They wanted me to do an album with songs they could sell on TV. Radio is like an advertisement for your album. They thought they could sell Clay Aiken songs for commercials. So I did mostly covers. It ended up being a product I liked quite a bit though there was some resistance from the fans. They call me the next Barry Manilow but at least he has his own music. I wanted stuff that was mine whether it gets played on the radio or not. We went at this saying, that’s not a priority. I don’t want to think about doing radio friendly songs.
  
  Look-I’m not top 40. I’m not cool enough to be on there. If you walk into a nightclub and they put on Clay Aiken music, I hope they’ll run out.
  
  [...]
  
  Do you think your first single “On My Way Here” can do well on radio?
  
  The label thinks so. We never tried to find a single. We used to try to do that. We tried and tried. Nothing worked. We do things that are good for me, that sounds believable. If you saw the show the last time, I did a bit of “Sexyback.” It was totally a joke, totally tongue in cheek. If I tried to sing those songs sincerely and put it on the radio, that’d be a caricature. I know that. Give me a cool song. I start singing it, it’s not cool anymore.
  
  What’s different about this vs. your first album?
  
  I used to not care about lyrics. I could have sung about watermelons as long as it’s pretty. This is the first time we looked at lyrics. I wanted every single song to connect with me lyrically. Some of them are songs that don’t necessarily connect with me directly but a majority of people will experience.
  
  We produced a very diverse sounding album. If some of these songs were sung by someone else, they might end up on Q100… Lyrically, it’s all connected.
  

• SheKnows.com - "Claymates rejoice!" -

  Clay Aiken will be returning to the top spots of the album charts when “On My Way Here” is released May 6. That much is a certainty. The American Idol runner up is ready to get first new material to his fans since his 2003 debut, “Measure of a Man” went twice platinum.
  
  Since that famed singing competition made him a household name, Aiken has transcended pop to not only conquer the charts, but become the king of Christmas touring and an expert in Monty Python’s regal attitudes and had his hair lightened a few shades.
  
  Aiken’s return as pop music performer will have to suffice solely on CD for his fans.
  
  The singer is spending his summer at a North Carolina home he barely knows. This relaxed summer sojourn home is a welcomed one for an artist who has not had a vacation since Ryan Seacrest uttered “You’re ‘American Idol’ is…Ruben Studdard.”
  
  SheKnows: You’ve had a few records out since the closest “American Idol” vote in its seven seasons, how are your expectations for “On My Way Here” different as opposed to your Christmas album, cover record or the debut CD?
  
  Clay Aiken: I do feel bad saying this, but I’ll admit it anyway. I guess there is an excitement when an album comes out, let me say that. Am I as excited as I was the very first time? No, of course not, the first time you do anything is always more exciting. This time, I have been honestly so busy I’ve had almost no time to think about anything. But you know, every time we get something new in – we just got in the album packaging in – it makes it a little more exciting each time. And when I’m talking to people like yourself about it, that I’ve been able to make a product that is more personal than in the past. That is exciting, you know?
  
  [...]
  
  SheKnows: Heading out into the summer season that is famous for touring, you’re releasing an album May 6, millions of fans want to know -- are you hitting the road?
  
  Clay Aiken: We’re not touring actually. I have not had two days off in a row since I don’t know when. I know since September, between the Christmas tour, and then I did a UNICEF trip to Mexico, I came straight from there to New York to do rehearsals for “Spamalot.” I’m in “Spamalot” until May 4 and then I’ll take the fifth off and then from then on we’ll be promoting the new album for a few weeks straight. But after that, I’m going to sit down for a little bit.

More TV Appearances Announced

Clay is going to be on every major TV network in the next few weeks, as he gears up for the release of On My Way Here next Tuesday.

New TV appearances that have been now confirmed on Clay's MySpace page are:

• Satellite media tour for Tuesday, May 6
  
• TONIGHT - Friday, May 2 - Entertainment Tonight & The Insider
• Friday, May 9 - New York's CW 11 - Morning News (8 AM EDT)
• Friday, May 9 - The Today Show (NBC, 10-11 AM EDT)
• Friday, May 9 - ABC NightLine New York (ABC, 8 PM)
• Friday, May 16 - The Rachael Ray Show (Syndicated)
  

Clay on CBS' Early Show - May 9?

Update: RCA marketing says that no appearance on The Early Show is currently scheduled.

===

Wes Hutchinson, a member of Clay's band, says he will be playing guitar for Clay on the May 9 edition of the CBS Early Show. This appearance has not be confirmed by Clay's reps, so we'll have to wait and see whether this materializes.

May 9 2008 7:00A/EST
Playing guitar for Clay Aiken on The Early Morning Show

FanBolt.com's Talks About OMWH, Spamalot with Clay

FanBolt.com's brilliant, and lengthy interview with Clay is now up! A few weeks ago, FanBlot asked Clay fans to submit questions, and some of these questions were asked during the interview.

When Clay Aiken and his executive producer Jaymes Foster began the search for songs to record for Aiken's first album of original material since his 2003 chart-topping debut Measure of A Man, they both fell in love with a song written by OneRepublic frontman Ryan "Alias" Tedder called "On My Way Here." The message of the lyrics - how the lessons we learn while growing up shape us into who we become as adults - struck such a deep chord with Aiken that it wound up inspiring the theme (and title) of his new collection.

I think the #1 question everyone wants to know is when is the tour?

I don't have an answer for that actually. I have no idea. We were going to take some time off, and we haven't started planning one. I'm sure we will do it, we just don't know when as of now.

Do you have a favorite song on the new album?

No, I couldn't pick one. I mean this is the first album where everything is handpicked by myself and my executive producer, so we have reasons we liked every song. There's an eclectic mix, there's some variety in it without question, and that makes many of them favorites for different reasons.

[...]

You mentioned in one of the earlier interviews, I'm not sure who it was with, but you mentioned using an "out of tune" piano.

Oh did I? Did I mention that? Who did I say that to?

A sound that you liked that Kipper was able to reproduce for you?

Yeah, I can't believe I said that to someone, but okay. It's true, so I guess I must have.

Your fans want to know what song uses that as accompaniment?

Well I'm not going to tell them. Let them figure it out. It is true, it's in at least one, it might actually be in two, but it's in at least one. Let them guess! I can't believe I told that... I do love that sound. We decided to get an upright piano, and do it that way, and when I heard it I was like," HOLY CRAP! That's it!"

So it's in there. Let's see how good their ears are [laughs]!

[...]

I've seen Spamalot, and I'm a huge fan as well. How do you keep a straight face, especially as the drunken guard Prince Herbert scene?

I don't keep a straight face. Well during the drunken guard scene I do, because I don't think it's funny [laughs]. But honestly, it's because it's not that easy to do. It's not an easy thing for me. I have to think about it constantly. That's the one scene of the show where I still have to think about my lines. Normally, the rest of the play I don't even have to pay attention to my lines, but that's the one scene where I still do have to pay attention, so I don't say the wrong thing. But there are plenty of parts throughout the play where I don't keep a straight face.

Down the line, if the opportunity ever arose would you consider acting on television or perhaps in movies?

Yeah, I would love that. I always like to try new things. That was the reason we decided to do Spamalot. Something to kind of push us out of our comfort zone, so if the right opportunity came along then sure, absolutely.

[...]

Your fans miss the "Tug."! So I have to ask since we all love it so much, do you intend to use it again?

Oh Lord, no. That has its mark. If I sing that song again, I'll do it again if I'm in the mood. That was actually an accident that happened, it... it became a phenomenon! So when I do it, I do it for the fans and not naturally. We kind of joke around backstage sometimes when I'm about to sing "Invisible", and I'm like, "Oh crap where am I supposed to do that?" I can never remember where it's supposed to be [laughs], so we do it on purpose now. I think that has its place.

New York City CD Signing Event: May 6

Clay will be on hand at the Times Square Virgin Megastore next Tuesday May 6, to sign copies of his new CD, On My Way Here. The CV's stripedshirts posted the details today:

I posted this on the CD Release Release Party Board:

Virgin Times Square, NYC will be doing a Cd Signing Event with Clay on May 6th, Tuesday.

The signing will take place at 2pm. Virgin will post this announcement on their site later on today.

1 wristband will be given per cd(s) purchase. These will given at midnight of the 5th/early 6th when cash registers open at Virgin.

Representative(s) from Virgin will be making an appearance at the CD Release Party. They are working on giving some nice promotional items to us.

ClayAiken.com has the official scoop on the event.

Meet Clay in New York City!
Clay Aiken will be at the Virgin MegaStore in Times Square, New York City, on Tuesday, May 6th! The first 300 people to purchase "On My Way Here" beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday 5/6, at Virgin MegaStore Times Square location only, will receive a wristband that allows them to get in line to have their CD signed by Clay Aiken!

One wristband per person. Clay will only be signing copies of his new CD.

Tidbits 4/30

• NY Post PopWrap - Clay and Tyra give fan a huge surprise -

  Whether it's on "America's Next Top Model" or her daily chat fest, Tyra Banks is one of pop culture's guiltiest pleasures. So to satiate your sweet tooth this afternoon, I am bringing you two minutes and 39 seconds that could in fact save the world. Take note, Madonna.
  
  The clip in question comes from today's episode of "The Tyra Banks Show" which incidentally is her 500th! Congats T! Anyway, for the celebration Tyra is giving back to her fans and one of her lucky viewers got to meet her idol: Clay Aiken.
  
  The clip is beyond priceless when Clay goes from a wax sculpture to a real boy and scares the bejesus out of his numero uno. But things only get more hilarious when the trio heads backstage at Spamalot.
  

• American Idol mentions:
• TV Fodder -

  What did you think of the Top 5? Was the episode a little too fast for you? Did you miss the usual judges’ critiques in the first part of the show? And do you think voters are making up for past mistakes with Clay Aiken and Chris Daughtry by speed dialing for the two Davids?

• Detroit News -

  This year's "American Idol" is shaping up to be a contest between Davids Archuleta and Cook, which would be the first finale pitting two males against each other since the Ruben Studdard vs. Clay Aiken showdown from the show's second season.

• NeighborsGo - "David Archuleta has a backing not seen since Clay Aiken."
• Star Phoenix - upcoming CD releases -

  There's a heap of top-shelf recordings slated to go public in the coming weeks, from Def Leppard and Clay Aiken to Motley Crue and Elvis Costello. But the gems we have lined up are what we consider some of the best. Soak them up until the real fun arrives.

• HitSearch - Clay #6 on this week's Lycos50
  

Clay Performs at Broadway Cares Show in NYC

Clay performed last night at the 22nd Annual Easter Bonnet Competition– an event for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The show was held at Minskoff Theater in New York City. The photos in this post show Clay arriving at the event with fellow Spamalot star, Hannah Waddingham.

The CH's playbiller reports:

there is some talk about a DVD for sale on the broadway boards. I will try and keep track to find out about it.

Easter Bonnet Recap

Well, as you all know Clay's voice was like buh-tah today. He and Hannah were like angels singing their voices meshed so wonderfully and they didn't even flinch as the nun skated right by their faces. There were two knights in attendance to help lift the giant vase/grail unto the lovely blue dressed woman (usually seen naughty in tights). There was audience laughter through out their singing, but not a smirk was cracked. There was a large round of applause when they finished. And everyone took a bow. As the stage went dark, the intro-er said, "too bad they can't sing. My ears hurt now." Monday she said that too bad Hannah can't sing.

But lets talk off topic on the rest of the show to get perspective.
Reality contestants on Broadway were the topic du jour.
The opening scene was Project Broadway - Yes, we started with a fake sister of Heidi Klum and a fake Tim Gunn, introducing the contestants - Tina Tequila, Miss New York and Patti LuPone. When the others objected she was not a reality star, "tim" said, no, she was a real star and they needed someone with talent in this show. Then he introduced the judges - Michael Coors, Nina Garcia and special guest judge Paula Abdul, who came out seal clapping and started to speak when promptly falling on her face. "Tim" said hta was a side effect of insomnia. I swear, I now know another group of people who are as aware of reality programs as I am. Normally, I have no one to share the crap I watch with. These people rock in reality garbage knowledge! Then they did some dances, designed bonnets that were rejected, so "Tim" brought out professionals - real contestants from Project Runway - that woman with the rosettes (who wanted to add rosettes to all the hats), Chris from this season (didn't realize he was an award winning professional Broadway costume designer), Molan, and the one funny overtly stereotypical Gay guy from 2006. Then it kind of died out.

August Osage County One two punch - odd scenes with weird lessons - ick.

Mary Poppins - Up a lazy river - girl guy dance to recorded music. Nice

Naked Boys Singing - Off Broadway Lament - fantastic take off singing about working brunch to support himself, so he can appear off off Broadway. Who knew some guys would take off their pants and moon us on the buns buns buns part.

Sunday in the Park With George - understudies - Intro ed with a talk about how understudies need to get a chance, then have a dramatic scene with the to little girls from the show playing a man and a pregnant woman. Fantastic and how could the kids lose - won for best skit.

Money Python's Spamalot - Hannah and Clay and Pam Remler ( naughty under wear girl) and Tony Holds and Andrew Fitch and the uncredited skating nun! So, beautiful - must get DVD just forthis part.

Spring Awakening - there are much worse things I can do - another take off on Grease - auditioning the regular Spring Awakening kids for roles in grease - let's just say overtly sexual and riotous.

Momix dancer - some people loved her, I was eh

Mamma Mia 2.0 - Mamma Mia was tired of not winning awards, so they thought they would try and selll themselves to an off channel, like legally Blonde did to MTV - so they did the Mamma Mia on BET, the mamma mia on a tela novela, etc.

Bonnets from the road - just a display of bonnets made by touring companies.

The lion King - true colors - this was amazing. It starts out with the legally blonde crew doing a number from their show and two girls talking about how th would should see it as they do and a magical leprechaun change things and suddenly it is legally black and the songs are changed to R&B and gospel

Legally Blonde/Wicked - Feedback - They did a complex dance - I like dance, was board.

Passing strange - passing strangest - another great scene - as two people are discussing the impossibility of the show passing strange, dancers crawl on stage and suddenly attack one of the men and WHOA - suddenly he arises in a red jacket and they start dancing to thriller with more pertinent words.

Hairspray - Bridge over troubled water - This was a bit different, a yuong girl went on stage to talk about her father contracting aides when she was young, but supporting her in the arts and how proud he would be to see her on Broadway stage - then the cast did a nice version of Bridge over Troubled Water

In the Heights - Un Dia Mas - hard to describe this, it was complexly choreographed and sung

Gypsy - little lamb - another riot - it is the young girls birthday in gypsy and she is getting a present - a lamb puppet - a large lamb puppet - as it is walked on stage. The man controlling it starts singing - I am what I am - and eventually everyone on stage (30 people?) have sock puppet lambs and switched to leiderhosen and start tap-dancing - their bonnet was a woman with a charcoal grill on her head and a stuffed lamb being turned on a rotisserie

Rent - here is where all the old and new crew of rent get together on the stage to sing

Doris Eaton Travis - Swinging in the Rain - 104 year old Follies girl goes out on stage and speaks eloquently and starts dancing with her ex cook, new dance partner. She decided to teach him to dance when she was 94 and saw him dancing in the kitchen. Amazing, jealous of her genes.

Finale Help is on the way - Anika Noni Rose - yesterday she said she decided to perform despite having an asthma attack and if a video showed up on you tube, it better state she had an asthma attack!

In between there were speakers, lots of jibes at reality contestants, one directed specifically at Constantine - for reasons unknown, but when the stars of Grease came out to a lukewarm welcome, it became obvious who the jibes were directed at. These are the winners of "the one that you want" and they have not been getting great reviews. At one point though, they were talking about being the butt of a lot of the jokes that night when the guy says, but we know you love us - which was met with dead silence.

Nathan Lane came out earlier to introduce the judges and one of the judges had listed as president of the Judy Garland fan club - well, he said he could not resist it lead to too many jokes and he started realling them off - like "and you say your parents never knew?" I know I can't reproduce it but he had people rolling on the floor.

Finally the awards came out. I forget what they said before Spamalot, but it seemed to indicate they were impressed with the money raised. Clay and Hannah came from behind the stage, the others came from the audience to a nice round of applause. When Rent won, Clay was happy for them. It was a good day for Clay and for me watching them.

... and another report from the CH's mlk973:

Reporting in for flyinpenguin and fantotheend and myself now that we are back home. We had a great day in NYC today. We read about the EB this morning and called the Minskoff theater and found out that there were still mezzanine tickets available. We ran around, got ready, and headed to the city early to get to the boxoffice by 12:30. We managed to get seats in the center mezzanine row H but with binoculars got some pretty good views. For $20 we got a 3 hour show (no intermission) filled with an assortment of skits, songs, and jokes.

To start with the opening speaker said that it was amazing that reality tv stars could be made into broadway stars overnight. That got a big chuckle from the audience.

Clay and Hannah were fabulous as you already know. He looked handsome and classy. They did a straight rendition of The Prayer with the comic relief of the dancing and skating nun. Of course we barely saw the nun as we watched that gorgeous couple through our binoculars. Clay gazed at Hannah throughout the song. It was powerful and they seemed evenly matched. When we saw Hannah at the stage door after tonight's Spamalot she commented that she enjoyed singing in her real voice rather than her show voice. She has beautiful tone and power. She looked beautiful and while tall she did not overshadow Clay in anyway. While some of the other presentations went for shock value and bawdiness, Clay and Hannah stood out as pure class.

Of course, we would not have objected if Clay had decided to perform with the "Naked Boys" even though they only showed their naked rear ends (asses for those who need a more graphic description). That would have been a nice treat but was not to be.

After the show we saw Clay and Hannah leave with Jermone and head back to the Shubert just around the corner. Clay had his arm around Hannah in a protective and gentlemanly way as they made their way through the crowd.

The Spam show tonight was excellent (but you knew it would be). We got Clay smelling the flowers on his spear but no braiding. Anthony Holds was in for Bevidere and was quite good. Knights of Ni did the "Baby Got Back" song.

Smallish crowd of about 50-60 at the stage door when Clay came out and seemed happy and looked mighty fine. We got autographs from Tom, David Hibbard, Rick, and Hannah. All were really friendly and happy to stop and chat. Hannah confirmed that June 15 is her last show.

Several websites ran photos from the event:

• Playbill
• Broadway Stars
• People Magazine
• Ecorazzi - "As always, the event was star-packed with famous faces like Megan Mullaly, Nathan Lane, Laurie Metcalf, David Hyde Pearce and the dude with the biggest (and arguably craziest) fans I’ve ever seen, Clay Aiken."
• Just Jared -

  Clay Aiken and Spamalot’s Hannah Waddingham depart from the 22nd Annual Easter Bonnet Competition, held on Tuesday at the Minskoff Theatre in New York City.
  
  It was announced that over $3.7 million had been raised for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
  
  In his new album On My Way Here, Clay has a track called ‘The Real Me’ which was written by Natalie Grant, a singer-songwriter in the area of contemporary Christian music.

• TheaterMania -

  The two-day Broadway spectacular featured the companies of more than 15 Broadway, Off-Broadway, and touring productions singing, dancing, and donning original Easter bonnets. Among the notable performers who participated in their companies' skits were Clay Aiken, Hannah Waddingham, Laura Benanti, Anthony Rapp, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Priscilla Lopez, and Daniel Breaker.
  

Tyra and Clay Surprise Big Clay Fan

Tyra Banks' Spamalot segment about Clay aired today on the Tyra Banks Show, which was incidentally, the 500th episode. In the clip, Tyra surprises a Clay fan by taking her to meet Clay.

Watch the clip, below, or download it at ClackUnlimited.