Jimmy Kimmel Sports Clay Aiken Cap For Q & A

Thanks to fan Starfishy2000's eagle eyes, she caught a quick clip on The Insider of Jimmy Kimmel wearing a Clay Aiken cap and posted it on The Clayboard. After seeing the post, Clayscience videoed the spot and posted a screencap along with a link of the Q&A where Jimmy wore the hat.

The event was a Q&A session with the ABC Entertainment president. An Associated Press article entitled, Kimmel, ABC get laughs out of Leno's future gig, By Lynn Elber, has all the information about the Q&A.

Yep, Jimmy's a Clay fan for sure!!

Clay Performs For President Bush at Ford's Theatre Gala

Clay was among stars such as Trisha Yearwood and Hal Holbrook who performed for President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush on Sunday night. The performance was at a Gala for Ford's Theatre.

Spoken words and songs from the musical "The Civil War" were performed. Clay sang the song "Sarah" from the musical. According to the Associated Press article, President Bush stated the following:

"Laura and I have been coming here now for eight years to the Ford Theatre gala and this is by far the best," Bush said after the performances. "It's such an uplifting performance and a reminder of what a great president Abraham Lincoln was."

The complete article can be read at seattlepi.com or at Google.

The show will apparently be televised at a later date. CDD will let you know when this informed is made available.

What an honor for Clay to be asked to sing for the President and his wife. Congratulations, Clay, on this honor!!

Great New Review From Newsday - "Aiken is a Charmer"

The reviews are slowly coming in, and just as we had hoped, they are quite positive!! First there was Associated Press review, which said that "Clay Aiken can handle supremely silly" and "Aiken is a team player — and that's meant as a compliment." Now there is Newsday's review, and you are gonna love this one as well!!

This review, by Linda Winer, starts off by wondering if Clay, who has no stage experience, would be able to handle the role. Good news! Read on what she says:

So it's excellent news for Aiken and "Spamalot," not so good for drama schools. Aiken is a charmer. With his aging cherub face and a frizzle-pageboy wig, he goes sweetly and deftly Medieval on Broadway - a world described in the show as "a very special place with people who can sing and dance, often at the same time."

And so he does, frequently at the same time. Aiken blends into the sophomoric adorableness of the show, even toying with his own girlish charisma at a piano topped with a Liberace candelabra. His voice has range and color. He dances with a childlike skip, he yodels and sings falsetto and gets through the scenes when Robin "soils himself" with no visible humiliation. This is not a debut for cowards.

I especially love her calling Clay "a charmer", saying his voice "has range and color", and that "this is not a debut for cowards". Of course, this comes as no surprise to us that Clay is all of the above, but to hear someone in the media appreciate his talent is an absolute delight!

My only disappointment in the article is that all main characters were mentioned except Tom Deckman, who we all know is amazing in all the roles he plays. But I believe this is only one of the many positive reviews that we will be seeing about Clay's performance in Spamalot!

Thanks to Dancermom2 for the scan, above.

Associated Press Declares: "Clay Aiken can handle supremely silly"

Entertainment Weekly can learn a lot about a proper Broadway review from this latest Spamalot review from the Associated Press. The Associated Press was impressed by Clay's performance in Spamalot. Michael Kunchwara, the AP's drama critic writes:

Clay Aiken deftly acts supremely silly

Let's clear things up right away: Clay Aiken can handle supremely silly.

We knew Aiken could sing. "Idol," television's favorite trial-by-fire, proved that. So it was only natural that Broadway, eager for new faces that might sell tickets, would call — just as it did for Fantasia, Frenchie Davis, Constantine Maroulis and others from "Idol."

But don't go expecting a star turn. Aiken is a team player — and that's meant as a compliment. The ingratiating performer fits seamlessly into the extended high jinks of "Spamalot," which has been running at the Shubert Theatre since March 2005.

The guy gets the goofy humor that is the Python trademark and goes with the flow, most prominently when he is portraying the perpetually petrified Sir Robin. It's one of three roles he plays in the musical.

Aiken also exudes the physical buffoonery that underlines the cartoonlike nature of the characters and their quest to find the Holy Grail. He radiates a delightful benign bewilderment. What's more, for someone born and raised in North Carolina, Aiken does a credible British accent.

Tidbits 1/30

• Two more online news sites have posted the Spamalot Associated Press Article:
• CNN.com - The article includes two pictures of Clay: 1) the publicity photo in the beige sweater with the following caption:

  Bravely bold Clay Aiken was at first uncertain about taking on the role of Sir Robin in "Spamalot."

  2) Sir Robin holding the rubber chicken with this caption:

  Sir Robin, a luckless knight, was played by Monty Python's Eric Idle in "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."

• The Robesonian, a North Carolina Newspaper. NClayolina at The Clayboard tells us:

  The county where I live is called Robeson, (as in Robin-son!) which geographically is the largest county in North Carolina, and we fans here were very excited Sunday to see a big, beautiful layout on Clay being in Spamalot in our local newspaper, The Robesonian!

• Lycos press release - Clay #7 on this week's Lycos50 - "7) Clay Aiken"
  
• Ticket News - Broadway ticket sales sink -

  Overall, ticket sales sank to $14,451,085 this past week compared to $16,271,060 in the previous reporting period, a difference of $1,819,975. Spamalot took a 19 percent nosedive in spite of the refreshing Clay Aiken on stage. On a warm note, The 39 Steps had an increase of 15 percent. Attendance was still better this past week than the same period last season, 200,948 compared to 194,268.

• CNN Money/RCA Press Release -

  The RCA Music Group includes J Records, Arista Records and RCA Records. The J Records roster is home to platinum superstars [...] Clay Aiken, Kelly Clarkson, Daughtry, and more. RCA Music Group is part of Sony BMG Music Entertainment.

• Charlotte Observer - Charlotte Bobcats try to attract bigger acts, more people to the Charlotte Bobcats Arena, which Clay played in 2005 -

  Concerts kicked off in October 2005 with The Rolling Stones, followed by Elton John, U2, Dolly Parton and Clay Aiken by year's end. Since then, musical acts from Aerosmith to Stevie Wonder have played the arena, which also has featured such shows as Disney on Ice, Hannah Montana and "High School Musical."

• MSNBC comments on the New York interview -

  Is Clay Aiken really urge-free?
  Spilling the beans, or lack thereof, about his love life, Clay Aiken told New York Magazine, “I just don’t have an interest in … any of that at all.”
  
  “I have got too much on my plate,” the “Spamalot” star explained. “I’d rather focus on one thing and do that when I can devote time to it, and right now, I just don’t have any desire.”
  
  When asked if he had any of those, you know, human urges, he simply replied, “Ah think maybe I don’t! I mean, not really. I’ve just kind of shut it off, maybe. Is that bad?”
  
  It may not be bad, but according to OK! magazine, it may not be true, either. Apparently Clay has a certain someone in his life, but he’s just not willing to share the details.
  
  “He doesn’t like to talk about these things,” an insider shared with OK! “Saying he doesn’t date or have a sex drive is probably his way of trying to end the conversation.”

• Omaha World Herald - American Idol visits Omaha ... and finds nothing exciting -

  Sadly, the Omaha sessions did not provide an "Idol moment" on a par with the show's first footage of geeky Clay Aiken, who stunned judges and viewers alike with his big, showy voice. There were no sweet surprises like Carrie Underwood, who walked in looking like a mall shopper and then sang like a Nashville queen.

• Clay Aiken, always notable and quotatble!
• Louisville Courier Journal -

  Quote of the day
  
  "I was like, This is chah-urch, people! This is God’s house,
  not a meet and greet!" CLAY AIKEN, 29, on returning home to the Southern Baptist church he attended as a child in North Carolina only to be stared at by his fellow churchgoers throughout the service, to New York magazine

• Press of Atlantic City -

  Not cool
  
  "Let's not fool ourselves. ... There are people like Justin Timberlake, males who are cool on radio right now, and then there's me. If I heard myself in a dance club? If I went into a dance club - which I never do - and I heard Clay Aiken come on, I'd roll my eyes and get out." - Clay Aiken on his reputation for being a bland artist
  
  www.people.com
  

• Clay - The Man - getting ready for Valentine's Day with Clay, and Spamalot!
  
• Something That Really Happened - America's Giving Challenge ... DONATE MINIMUM OF $10.47 NOW ....

  Okay folks, we are down to the wire. The Bubel/Aiken Foundation is currently in 5th place and the charity in 6th place is hot on our heels. The Foundation needs to be in 4th place to qualify for the $50,000 donation and a feature article in Parade Magazine.

• Carolina On My Mind - Clay nation celebrates 5th anniversary ... Half a Decade! Wow!

  Aiken Fans Mark Five Years
  
  Every year at this time, Clay Aiken fans stop and commemorate the anniversary of The Vox. On Jan. 28, 2003, American Idol telecast Season 2's Atlanta Auditions in which the North Carolina singer's glorious pipes were first heard in homes throughout North America.
  
  For countless fans, now known the world over as Claymates, the beautiful strains of "Always and Forever" were just the beginning. Many have been riding the Clay Train ever since.

Wallpaper by Fountaindawg

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.

• 
  
• 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"
  

New AP Photo Session with Clay

The Associated Press posted 4 new photos of Clay, taken at a recent AP interview with Clay in New York City. Give 'em some hits at Yahoo News!

New Associated Press Interview

The Associated Press has posted a very detailed interview with Clay, as he gets comfortable with his new starring role on Broadway's Spamalot. Happy reading!

Clay Aiken tries to make it on Broadway
Despite having no acting experience, the former 'American Idol' runner-up is starring in 'Spamalot.'

By MARK KENNEDY, Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, January 23, 2008

(01-23) 10:34 PST NEW YORK, (AP) --

Clay Aiken is trying to become the next American Idle.

The singer, 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."

[...]

This also is different territory for Aiken, who hasn't really acted much and was even cut from his high school's production of "Guys and Dolls." Just nailing the stage lingo has him rattled.

"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."

[...]

"Probably more preparation has gone into this than anything I've ever done," he says. "It's not just learning music and lines and even steps. It's mentally preparing yourself to do all of it at once."

Associate director Peter Lawrence says Aiken has been no idle diva; the singer asked to be treated like any other company member and has been surprisingly fearless.

"Clay really surprised me. When you meet him, he's this sweet kid from North Carolina with an accent. And you think there's no way he can do Cambridge material. And then he does," says Lawrence.

"It's been a total delight and a surprise for me and everyone in the company to work with Clay because he can do things you'd never imagine he could do."

[...]

"I'm anticipating and expecting some sort of fallout. I think it's a little bit different when someone who's never done Broadway before, who may be more well known in the pop world, comes in to Broadway," he says.

"There's always this skepticism that they've been brought in for the wrong reasons or they didn't play their dues or they're not going to do their part well," he says.

"So I even told the choreographer and the director ahead of time, 'I don't want you to go easy on me. I want to do everything that everybody else does. Don't change things and make them easier for me,'" he adds, laughing. "I've since changed my mind."

Aiken, who got a degree in special education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, was teaching grade school kids with autism before he tried out for "Idol" in Atlanta. He was a former member of the Raleigh Boys Choir, and occasionally sang at weddings and at church.

"There's not really a market in North Carolina to sing for a living. There's not that career path for people. So I never really assumed or had any dreams or aspirations to sing," he says.

[...]

After finishing second to Ruben Studdard on "Idol," Aiken went on to release his debut CD "Measure of a Man," which went double platinum in 2003. His other albums are "Merry Christmas With Love" and "A Thousand Different Ways." He's currently working on his fourth CD, due possibly by May.