Tidbits 7/27

• National Ledger - Article about Clay and the fans helping to save Jericho. "Meanwhile, Jericho stars are happy the show is back. 'I heard that Clay was a fan, but I never thought he'd rally his fan base,' Skeet Ulrich tells In Touch. 'I appreciate it!'"
• "Idol: The Musical" listing -
• N.Y. Post
• Press release from Audio4Fun about their new product - a voice changer that will make you sound like your favorite American Idol contestant-

  ‘We have just uploaded a series of parody voice packages of many famous American Idol contestants such as Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Justin Guarini, etc.,” said Helen.

• Lancaster Online - Not sure who this guy, Eliseo Roman, is... but it says he's performed with Clay: "He's performed with a number of well know singers, including Linda Eder, Vanessa Williams and Clay Aiken."
• About.com - new profile for Clive Davis includes MOAM as one of Clive's "key albums" he's produced - "2003 - Clay Aiken - Measure of a Man - Producer"

• Carolina On My Mind - insects decide to join Clay's show in Gilford, NH's Meadowbrook concert.
  

Tidbits 7/12

Clay searches are up dramatically over at Topix after the "footgate" incident. The same trend was shown at Yahoo and MSN.

• Clay is #9 this week on the Lycos50, up 2 spots from #11.
  
• A few American Idol related mentions:
  
• Reality TV Calendar - "I am not kidding, if teenage girls could vote for President (by text message), Clay Aiken would be President of the United States. "
  
• Heckler Spray -

  If kids really want to feel like popstars they should practise not writing their own songs and running offstage when the tape they're lip-syncing to skips in the middle of a performance. Anyway, each clothes item will have one of the most popular song titles or lyrics from the show visibly displayed on it. We're not sure if we're more excited about purchasing a pair of goucho pants honouring Clay Aiken's Build Me Up Buttercup, or a shirt with William Hung's picture with the caption She Bangs, She Bangs on it. Yeah, that'll help us express ourselves for sure.
  

• TV Squad - follow up to their post claiming Clay took credit for reviving Jericho -

  If you like hard work, being yelled at, no money, and scalding hot coffee being thrown on you in response to a negative comment I received on my Clay Aiken post, shoot me an email and join the team!

• ... NOW Toronto has another Jericho article -

  If casey-from-mr.-dressup-look- alike Clay Aiken and 50,000 pounds of peanuts can convince a TV network to grant a floundering show a stay of execution, then I feel it's my duty as a TV critic to give it an hour of my time, if only to see what's gotten the American Idol alum's knickers in a knot.

• Richmond.com - Harry Potter article compares H.P. fans to Claymates and Elliot Yamin's fans - "Trust me, if you thought Elliott Yamin and Clay Aiken fans were over-protective, you ain't seen nothing yet."
• Concert listings:
• Tampa Bay Tribune
• Dallas Morning News - "Clay Aiken" awlful? They need to clean their ears out -

  Clay Aiken was awful, the fireworks were great, and half will never come back due to traffic problems. It is a shame the city puts on such fabulous events that conclude with so many in misery.

• Bay Area Reporter (website contains some mild adult content, so we are not directly linking to it) - gay actor Ben Patrick Johnson comments on his charitable UNICEF work with Clay and gives another example of outrageous crap the media throws around with no due cause:
  

  When he had friend Clay Aiken, the former American Idol contestant who's been dogged by speculation about his sexual orientation, videotape a public service announcement about UNICEF to run during his show, Johnson found himself in the center of an online storm of rampant speculation that he was Aiken's lover.
  
  The controversy led Johnson to confront the gossipmongers, writing on one blog that Aiken's private life is his own business and not something he has discussed with the singer.
  
  "From the first I heard of Clay's activism, back in his Idol days, I was interested in his work and his foundation. Last year after I helped build a school in rural Thailand, Clay and I met to talk about how we could harness attention for what we believe in," wrote Johnson. "So ... yes, Clay and I are friends. We share beliefs and are both convinced the world can be made a kinder place. We meet on that level, and it's wonderful. I'm gay, and Clay? His private life is his own business. It's not yours, nor anyone else's. And it's not a part of my dialogue with him. We're busy talking about other things ... things that matter more."
  

• Carolina On My Mind - Clay puts on sizzling shows in Texas, Oklahoma.
• Carolina On My Mind comments on the media frenzy over Clay's "footgate scandal". (Thanks Caro for the link back to us!)
  

Tidbits 7/6

• CBS will rebroadcast the first season of Clay's favorite show, Jericho, beginning tonight! Make sure you check your local listings (it's airing at 9 PM in most areas) and tune in.
  
• Tour mentions:
• Tour mention on the the local FOX affiliate in Houston, reports the CB's kleewolf -

  This morning FOX news show mention Clay at the Houston Symphony tonight.
  And the entertainment reporter said " I did not know he has sold 5 million records?"
  
  Just now they mention him again at News at Noon, saying "Clay with the Houston Symphony tonight at 9:00".
  

• NewsOK.com -

  TULSA — Former "American Idol” contestant Clay Aiken will perform with the Brady Symphony Orchestra at 8 p.m. Saturday at Brady Theater, 105 W Brady St. For more information, call (918) 582-7239 or go online to www.bradytheater.com.

• Northwest Herald (Christmas tour mention)
  
• Philly Burbs - Katharine McPhee article mentions Clay:

  It didn't help that she chose generic dance-pop songs for her self-titled RCA debut CD. With a voice as powerful as hers, she should have gone for greatness as Clay Aiken did with his debut.

• Pennsylvania Times Leader - "Idol: The Musical" article ...

  When “Idol: The Musical” hit the stage in New York, Clay Aiken wasn’t there in person. But there was a bust of Raleigh’s hometown “American Idol” star on stage -- and someone singing “Burnin’ Hunk o’ Clay” to it.

• TV Squad... interpret what you will from the Houston Chronicle interview, but the folks over at TV Squad and SyFyPortal think Clay has taken credit for saving "Jericho" ... I think it's clear in Clay's blogs that Clay said he was part of the large effort at getting the show back on CBS.

Clay is in Meadowbrook's program for this summer concert season. He will be making a stop at the Gilford, NH venue on July 25, his first time back in Gilford since the 2005 Jukebox Tour.

Thanks to tsunamimommy at the CB for the scan.

• Carolina On My Mind - fireworks mark tour opener

  Following nine straight days of rain, the storm clouds parted and Frisco, TX, successfully celebrated the Fourth of July on a clear night and in grand style with a soccer match, an outdoor concert by Clay Aiken, and, by all accounts, a stupendous fireworks finale.
  

Tidbits 7/5

• Tour mentions... don't forget, everything tour related including FRISCO RECAPS are up on the CDD An Evening with Clay Aiken tour blog!
• Ticket giveaway for the Houston concert on Houston's Sunny 99 FM this morning, reports the CB's kleewolf: "Prize for the winning the 'Battle of the Sexes' was 4 tickets to see Clay."
  
• Dallas Morning News - coverage of the Frisco concert - "In Frisco, a fireworks show provided an explosive finale to an outdoor concert by American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken."
• McKinney Courier Gazette - another Frisco mention: "Fortunately, Bennen said, Plano did not cancel its fireworks show. Frisco’s show — featuring “American Idol’s” Clay Aiken, also launched. A fireworks display also took place at Craig Ranch after the McKinney Marshals game."
  
• The Desert Sun -Indio, CA concert... "Both Fantasy Springs Resort Casino and Spotlight 29 Casino have pretty full slates of concerts from Stephen Stills and Joe Walsh, to Lisa Lampinelli and Clay Aiken."
• Detroit News - CLAYMATES... CHANCE TO WIN TICKETS - "Claymates, the center of your musical universe, Clay Aiken, is coming to the Freedom Hill Amphitheatre at 7:30 p.m. July 23. Win a pair of tickets. To enter, e-mail mytime @detnews.com with "Clay Aiken" in the subject line."
• Tampa Bay Tribune
  
• SyFy Portal - Clay Aiken fans mobilize to get "Jericho" back on to CBS schedule.

• Nothing here today
  

Great Clay Mentions on Jericho Message Board

As you know, Clay's favorite show, Jericho, was renewed recently, thanks to thousands of Jericho fans, including some of Clay's fans who chipped in and worked to save the show for Clay.

A great Clay mention, actually several comments, were found at a Jericho fan site (which I have not been able to track down) and were posted at Clayversity. One of Clay's fans wanted the Jericho fans to know of Clay's interest in the show and of Clay's fan's support. So she posted this info at their fansite. Below is her comment and the great responses from the Jericho message board:

Clay Fan:

I don't know if this has been mentioned here by anyone or not, but I
wanted to post, just to make sure, because I think it's pretty darn
cool! I am a huge fan of a celebrity who has been begging his fans
to help save this show! His name is Clay Aiken. He's been blogging
to his fans for the last couple of months or so, asking us to please
watch Jericho, and promote it to anyone we know. He's hopelessly
addicted. So, a whole bunch of the Claymates (lots, and lots, and
lots) have turned into Jericho fans, watching rabidly every week,
and telling their friends about the show too.

He was crushed to hear it had been canceled, and nearly exploded
when he heard the show was coming back, for at least a little while
anyway.

So, Jericho fans, be happy, y'all have got the Claymates behind you,
and the Claymates are a powerful bunch of people! LOL! We may not
go "nuts", but we will watch the show VERY aggressively. ;-)
Snow

Jericho Fan's Responses:

Thats cool to hear hes a fan!!

Thank you to Clay for his support in our campaign. Thank you to all
the Claymates who have become part of the Jericho family. We are
grateful to you and all the other people viewing this site. We are
all "Jericho." Jericho is a mindset - the human qualities utilized
in life adversity but bringing the best and worst out of people so
we all look in the mirror. Very appreciative of all your help and
Clay Aiken's help. He is a gifted singer. And we are here on earth
to share our gifts with others. LONG LIVE JERICHO.

Tell Clay thanks!! and welcome Claymates!!

Awesome! The more publicity we can get and the broader our fan base
becomes the better! Thanks for posting.

That's awesome! I know there's been a lot of American Idol bashing
around here so it's kind of funny to hear that, in an indirect way,
it's actually helping Jericho. Add me to the list of people thanking
him for his efforts. If all you Claymates keep watching the show
(and getting your friends to watch), there will hopefully be no
reason for any of us to go nuts in the future.

Aw, I think I fell in love with Clay a little after reading that.

Thanks for letting us know and THANK YOU CLAY!!!!

Thanks Claymates we are glad to have you!!!

That's nice to hear - if you talk to Clay tell him thanks and to
come join us here on the board sometime.

Welcome Claymates! Join the party. Maybe Clay can perform at the
Jericho convention?

welcome Claymates!!!!!!!!!! this is so cool

Very cool... having an American Idol as a fan... excellent! Now get
the other channel to keep A.I. out of our way! ;-)

Thank you to all Claymates and Clay himself!

After reading this, I think CLAY IS DA BOMB!!!

Thanks for the news, I have heard you Claymates are a determined
bunch! Jericho can use all the die hards it can get! I'm not
surprised to hear Clay is a fan, he seems so down to earth, kind of
like the people from Jericho, Ks. Happy to here you all are with us!

Welcome to you and the Claymates! The more viewers, the better!

*grin* tell him if he wants on the show to get his cute backside
over here. We have an in LOL

Aw, the irony, since Idol took away some of the viewers of Jericho
to begin with, LOL! Seriously though, I had stumbled upon a site
that mentioned Clay was a fan at one point (not the official one
with the actual Clay blog). That's really cool! He does have alot of
fans of his own and the fact that he's turned so many of his fans
into fans of Jericho is just pretty fantastic! (sorry, I'm really
tired and punchy!) I think it's wonderful!

I always knew there was something I liked about that boy. And he's
the only Idol's CD I ever bought.

CBS Confirms: "Jericho" Back for 7 Episode Sophomore Season

After CBS was swamped with emails, calls and almost 120,000 online signatures and a 25 ton package of nuts delivered to CBS headquarters in New York, the network has taken the rare and unusual step of bringing a canceled TV show back onto its primetime lineup. CBS confirms that Clay's favorite show, "Jericho" will return next year as a mid-season replacement with a 7 episode run.

A job well done to Clay and the countless Claymates who took part in this effort! The power of the Clay nation cannot be underestimated!

June 6, 2007
To the Fans of Jericho:

Wow!

Over the past few weeks you have put forth an impressive and probably unprecedented display of passion in support of a prime time television series. You got our attention; your emails and collective voice have been heard.

As a result, CBS has ordered seven episodes of “Jericho” for mid-season next year. In success, there is the potential for more. But, for there to be more “Jericho,” we will need more viewers.

A loyal and passionate community has clearly formed around the show. But that community needs to grow. It needs to grow on the CBS Television Network, as well as on the many digital platforms where we make the show available.



We will count on you to rally around the show, to recruit new viewers with the same grass-roots energy, intensity and volume you have displayed in recent weeks.

At this time, I cannot tell you the specific date or time period that “Jericho” will return to our schedule. However, in the interim, we are working on several initiatives to help introduce the show to new audiences. This includes re-broadcasting “Jericho” on CBS this summer, streaming episodes and clips from these episodes across the CBS Audience Network (online), releasing the first season DVD on September 25 and continuing the story of Jericho in the digital world until the new episodes return. We will let you know specifics when we have them so you can pass them on.

On behalf of everyone at CBS, thank you for expressing your support of “Jericho” in such an extraordinary manner. Your protest was creative, sustained and very thoughtful and respectful in tone. You made a difference.

Sincerely,

Nina Tassler

President, CBS Entertainment

P.S. Please stop sending us nuts

Tidbits 6/6

• Lycos PR about their Lycos50 ranking... Clay came in #9 this week. " The LYCOS 50(TM) Top 10 Search Terms for the Week Ending June 1, 2007: 1) Paris Hilton 6) Britney Spears 2) Naruto 7) Pamela Anderson 3) MySpace 8) YouTube 4) Pokemon 9) Clay Aiken 5) WWE 10) RuneScape"
• Arizona Republic highlights some new summer TV ... really random Clay mention, but not too bad-

  Ice Road Truckers | Premieres 10 p.m. June 17 on the History Channel. | What: Tough, bearded men drive big rigs over frozen lakes in Canada. | Why we care: These dudes are so macho they make Dog the Bounty Hunter look like Clay Aiken. | Why we don't: I won't say anything mean, for fear they might read this.
  

• A few tour listings today:
• Columbia Free Times
• Detroit News - Freedom Hill concert ... "In addition, the lineup features current favorites such as Crow and Clay Aiken."
• TC Palm

• Carolina On My Mind on the possibility of Clay's favorite show, Jericho, being rescued and given a 7 episode 2nd season. What caused CBS to rethink their decision? CNN and the AP are reporting that a big (and we mean big as in 25 tonnes) package of peanuts delivered to CBS headquarters in New York made TV execs rethink their choices. The peanuts are a reference to the last line spoken on the season finale which aired last month - "Nuts!"
  

  Thinking his first love, "Jericho," had been axed, Clay Aiken blogged to his fans that he has entered into a "rebound relationship" with a new favorite TV show,"The Riches." Meanwhile, entertainment pundits are reporting that "Jericho" is on the verge of mid-season revival, and preliminary rejoicing is hitting the aisles of Cyberspace.
  

Jericho To Be Rescued As A Midseason Replacement?

Rumor has it that after the relentless rallying by fans, including Clay Aiken himself, CBS is considering the possibility of bring back its action thriller "Jericho" as a midseason replacement.

Apparently, CBS is considering options and thinking about bringing the show back for 8 episodes next season.

Here's the report from a blog called Seriously? OMG! WTF?:

I am so happy CBS is realizing they made a mistake replacing Jericho with a real bomb Kid Nation, which I am still not sure will make it to air. And if it does, I doubt it will survive more than two weeks on the air. So why not just bring back Jericho then! I swear not since Fox announced that they were bringing back Family Guy have I been so happy!!! Ironically enough Clay Aiken blogged yesterday that he forgave CBS for canceling Jericho, looks like he needed to wait 24 hours before posting that apology!

Tidbits 5/16

Clay wins another The Insider poll. Thanks to the CB's gerwhisp for this cap from last night's show.

• TV Guide confirms that Jericho, Clay's favorite show, has been cancelled by CBS.
  
• Entertainment Weekly - An an article called "Sparks Will Fly" about the top 3 American Idols vieing for the top 2 spots, Clay is mentioned as follows:

  If Taylor Hicks, Katharine McPhee, Elliott Yamin, Carrie Underwood, Bo Bice, Vonzell Solomon, Fantasia Barrino, Diana DeGarmo, Jasmine Trias, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, Kimberley Locke, Kelly Clarkson, Justin Guarini, and, yes, even Nikki McKibbin all managed to avoid duplicating their performances up to and including top-three week, how come Jordin and Melinda could not?

  ...and...

  I'm thinking a Blake-Melinda finale could be the most nail-biting episode Idol has seen since the Ruben-Clay showdown of 2003.

• Salt Lake City Weekly - This editorial called "Idol In Chief" says, "Presidential candidates could learn a thing or two from American Idol about rocking the vote", and uses Clay as an example:

  Like political candidates, Idol contestants can’t stand still. They have to evolve over the course of the season, enlist the audience in their quest to be all they can be. At heart, it’s yet another makeover show, most clearly demonstrated by Clay Aiken’s amazing transformation, in mere weeks, from four-eyed, pale-skinned, carrot-topped geek to two-eyed, bronzer-toned, carrot-topped geek with a hell of a pair of lungs on him.

• Lycos Top 50 - Clay dropped one, from #9 last week to #10 for the week ending May 5. Under Clay's name, it says, "Raised over $180,000 for children". What a great thing for Lycos to put under his name!
• Asbury Park Press - Clay mention in another article about the return of soft rock with Donny Osmond and Neil Sedaka.
• PhillyBurbs.com - runner-ups find success despite losing Idol title -

  In the grand history of AI, fabulous singers always get the boot and go on to modest or better success in the real world. We’ve lost Tamyra Gray, Clay Aiken, Jennifer Hudson, John Peter Lewis, and Eliott Yamin. One of these two girls is going home tonight, but which one?

• Daily Trojan predicts the winner of AI6 -

  Jordin should be the runner-up (and could still have a successful career as such like past second-place finalists Katharine McPhee and Clay Aiken). Although Melinda deserves to win more, Jordin will most likely end up as this season's American Idol.

• Charlotte Observer - Idol Thoughts - few Clay mentions in their AI blog:

  With shows like "Idol," that's important: If I'm recalling correctly, my mom still has a videotape containing some of Clay Aiken's Season 2 highlights. This year's show has offered only a few isolated contenders, including LaKisha's "I Am Telling You I'm Not Going," from the semifinals.
  
  and.... on Barry Gibb's reaction to Jordin's "To Love Somebody" which Clay also sang in Season 2:
  
  "I know a couple hundred people have sung this song, but I haven't heard a greater version than Jordin's," he said. (What, he wasn't familiar with the Clay Aiken version from Season Two, which was, to my mind, at least as good?)

• University of California, Los Angeles - UCLA has a profile of Simon Renshaw, Clay's manager ... the profile labels Clay as a "pop culture phenomenon"
  
• BlabberMouth.net ... music article:

  For example, Clay Aiken has a nice voice but is a bit trendy and may not end up being a megastar [that] stands the test of time. I always say, "If you can live without hearing a certain singer ever again then he or she is forgettable."

• Carolina On My Mind shares with us some thoughts about the summer tour and Clay's Yahoo Music interview
  

Save Jericho: "Write your Senators. Write your assemblymen. Write Santa Claus."

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Clay is reminding us today in his blog for us to tune into CBS' Jericho. Clay's new favorite show might be canceled this month due to sagging ratings, but here is your chance to help Clay save the show - tune in all this month during May sweeps month.

The show airs WEDNESDAYS at 8 PM (check local listings)

Hopefully, Clay won't mind me quoting a few lines from his blog which shows how desperate he is and how we MUST as a Clay nation act:

I honestly don't know what I will do with myself if this show doesn't make it on to the CBS lineup next season!!! Write your Senators. Write your assemblymen. Write Santa Claus.

"Save Jericho" Petition at Petition Spot

We all know how much Clay loves the show "Jericho" and that it is in danger of being cancelled.

At a site called Petition Spot, you can sign a "Save Jericho" petition to help keep it on the air. At the site it says:

Jericho is a new serial drama on CBS, before its first season is even over, CBS is looking to send this show packing. We, as the viewers and fans can not let this happen! Sign the petition now and send it to all of your friends so this amazing show can stay alive!

When you get to the site, just click on "Make Signatures" and fill out the "Sign the Petition" information at the top right of the screen. Then click "Sign Petition". That's it!

As of the writing of this article, there are less than 200 signatures. Let's give it some more signatures and see what we can do to save "Jericho" for Clay!

Clay Blogs About BAF, Jericho

Clay posted a short blog tonight thanking us for our effort in raising funds for the BAF over the past few weeks. He said the Champions of Change gala was "unbelievable" and mentioned that a tremendous amount of money was raised for the BAF (no total yet, but Clay promised to let us know).

Clay also mentioned his favorite show, CBS' Jericho. He said rumours of him guest-starring on the show are not true, but that he plans on tuning in to the last 5 episodes of the season. Jericho is currently in a ratings sag so Clay's asking fans to tune in and support the show.

Jericho airs Wednesdays at 8 PM on CBS.