Tidbits 2/13

• Idolator - Clay invites Cowell to, uh....
  

  Clay Aiken invites Simon Cowell to kiss his butt the next time the salty Brit dismisses a hopeful as being "too Broadway," since so many former American Idol finalists have gone on to Great White Way careers that have been much more challenging--and rewarding--than serving as cogs in the Clive Davis/Simon Fuller machine. Which is, y'know, kind of a valid point. Also: Please note that Aiken actually said "butt," and not "ass," so as not to offend the Claymates' oh-so-delicate ears.
  

• American Idol mentions:
• Variety -

  So we see a bunch of good singers, then a bunch of bad singers, then some singers who rock while playing instruments then some who should never be allowed near a keyboard or drum kit again. And then a terrifying promo to the local news station’s interview with Clay Aiken, who is starting to look like an old woman.

• Huffington Post -

  Kyle Ensley -- the geeky guy playing the Clay Aiken card. No idea why he got to Hollywood (though he seems like an amiable guy). He's dreadful the first time and then sings Josh Groban the second time and to me sounded like the male equivalent of a beauty contestant (gets through the song and hits some notes).
  

• Canada.com / CanWest News Service -

  There was a striking moment on American Idol last week. A Clay Aiken lookalike -- but without Aiken's talent and ability -- recalled that he had auditioned two years earlier alongside an unknown called Carrie Underwood, "my audition buddy."

• Chicago Sun Times -

  Several singers pulled ahead from the pack. Sixteen-year-old David Archuleta was the best of the night. Former "Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken may have his "Claymates," and we're guessing Archuleta's fans will embrace "Arch Angels."
  

• CBS Showbuzz - Spamalot changes "Britney Spears" song lyrics -

  Britney Spears is out, Posh Spice is in - as a lyric for the Lady in the Lake in the Broadway musical "Monty Python's Spamalot," currently starring "American Idol" finalist Clay Aiken.

• Something That Really Happened highlights that great Broadway.com article/interview -

  Wow! Imagine that. An interview where someone actually asks intelligent questions, listens for complete answers and actually reports it respectfully! Kathy Henderson from Broadway.com conducted a very informative interview with Clay Aiken covering how he joined SPAMALOT; and his thoughts about being part of the cast and performing on Broadway. I am posting some of my favorite bits, but you will want to read the entire article here.
  

Tidbits 1/21

• ABC News - starts get opinionated on Britney Spears & the media

  "American Idol" alum Clay Aiken echoed 2007's oft-viewed YouTube plea of die-hard Spears fan Chris Crocker: "We have a presidential election going on, and for whatever reason, this is what people are interested in," he told "Entertainment Tonight," Thursday. "I think that is probably the saddest thing. Leave her alone, just leave her alone."

• The Online Rocket - "unknowns" transformed into household names by reality TV -

  Lauren Conrad. Kimora Lee Simmons. Clay Aiken. These people were once unknowns. With the help of reality television, however, these names are becoming more and more popular as episodes continue to be aired and new ideas for shows are constantly being drawn up.

• Cleveland Plain Dealer - AI2 finalist Charles Grigsby adapting back to normal life -

  In 2005, Grigsby released an album, but apparently his 15 minutes were over. A Web site that charts "American Idol" album sales puts Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Clay Aiken at the top of the list -- and Grigsby's self-titled CD near the bottom, ranking 38th out of 41.

• Something That Really Happened - New AP interviews with Clay
  

Tidbits 5/28

• The Clayboard - Oyjnkjh, a Clay fan from Korea (Korean fans are called "Clayreans") posted a delightful picture that another Clayrean drew of Clay. Don't you agree that this drawing is great!
• Great Clay mention on TV game show Family Feud today according to the CB's nanclay:

  On Family Feud today on question was Which Celebrity does good work for others(or something like that). A young lady contestant said Well my American Idol "Clay Aiken".... unfortunately the people polled did not have his name but it was a great Clay mention anyway.

• Washington Post - Twenty-three sixth-graders at Fairhill Elementary School in Fairfax are were asked some of their favorite things. Replies for "Favorite Musical Performer" were: Beyoncé, Clay Aiken, Blue Man Group and Nelly Furtado.
• Halifax Daily News - random Clay mention in sports article ... "Then I'd probably get on Scott Niedermayer for his greying beard. 'Hey, Needs,' I'd say. "You're looking like Taylor Hicks and playing like Clay Aiken.'"
• ABC KGO-TV - Rosie...

• There Was A Man - AI runner-up Blake Lewis joins the Clay Aiken American Idol's runner-ups club -

  Both Clay and Blake performed "Mack The Knife" on the American Idol Top 3. It's not an easy song to perform without coming off like a lounge lizard. Blake put his spin on it with his dance moves. Clay put his spin on it with his fantastic voice. You can decide which one is better. I know which one I like. *g*

• Taking A Moment - cute spoof letter from Britney Spears to Clay Aiken regarding the fact Clay Aiken thongs are sold out at the Clay Aiken fanclub store:

  Hey there Clay, it's me Britney. I need to tell you something. You're outta thongs. I'm not kidding you are seriously out of thongs and somebody just tell me what am I supposed to do now? This is why I stay in trouble all the time. Well, that and some other stuff.

• Carolina On My Mind - the buzz for Mr. Aiken continues.
  

Tidbits 2/18

WELCOME HOME BRETT!
We were delighted to hear last night that Clay's brother Brett Parker made it home safely after his tour of duty with the U.S. Marines in Iraq!

• Kane County Daily Herald - AI6 contestant Leslie Hunt vying for Idol crown ... "On the line is a chance to enter the next round of competition and possibly join the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Clay Aiken in the ranks of pop stardom."
• The DePaulia -what's wrong with American Idol:

  These days, "American Idol" (or "Karaoke Superstars," as I like to call it) has vocalists sing obnoxious pop songs that everyone knows they didn’t write. It is impossible to deny that singers like Clay Aiken or Carrie Underwood have impressive voices, but to put them on par with real songwriters or musicians would be ludicrous. Not only do the winners of the show hit it big, runners-up have been topping the charts as well.

• The Flint Journal - In an article about one of the Top 24 American Idol finalists, it says, "But winning isn't everything. Viewer favorites such as Clay Aiken and Chris Daughtry,...have enjoyed success greater than the people who beat them."
• Daily Herald - Yet another American Idol article says, "On the line is a chance to enter the next round of competition and possibly join the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Clay Aiken in the ranks of pop stardom."
• The Naperville Sun - And another AI article says, "At this point in the competition, the group of semifinalists can forge an identity for themselves and help spring a music career even if they aren't the winner - such as former contestants Chris Daughtry, Kellie Pickler and Clay Aiken."
• Blogcritics - article about rock band ABBA mentions Clay ... "This actually caused me to squirm in a way not at all unlike that of a teenage girl at a Clay Aiken (or back then, Shaun Cassidy) concert."
  

• Southern Girl - Britney Spears shaves her head and enters rehab, Clay sings a love song to Jimmy Kimmel... uh, no comment on the first one from us here at CDD :) ...
• A few blogs about Clay's surprise appearance with Steven Curtis Chapman last week...
  
• Southern Girl
• ClaySpots