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BlogRoll & Links
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FOX 28 interviews Carmen Rasmusen, who competed on AI2 with Clay. She says the AI2 top 12 still keep in touch with each other:
Fox 28 talked to Carmen Rasmusen who made the Top 12 on Season Two.
The blond country singer tells us about her friends: Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken and Kimberly Caldwell.
[The interviewer] says, "And you've been on American Idol Season 2. Especially when the show was brand new what was it like to go up against people like Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken and Kimberly Caldwell?"
Rasmusen says, "I'm definitely a better performer now and that really taught me how to be comfortable in front of different audiences in front of a camera in front of arenas, huge stadiums of 10 to 15 thousand people. I performed in little radio rooms."
[Interviewer] says, "I have to ask you with all the other people you competed against... Kimberly Caldwell, Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken. Did you make friends? Do you still talk to them?
Rasmusen says, "I still keep in contact with Kimberly Caldwell, Clay Aiken... I just saw Josh a couple weeks ago. We don't call each other as much as we used to... I'm so busy and they're busy."
Like Clay Aiken, Memphis took advantage. John Calipari's Tigers defeated South Carolina in the 2002 NIT final and the program gradually built itself into a No. 2 seed in the current NCAA Tournament.
Clay Aiken set the Idol precedent when he came in second to Ruben "On Wry" Studdard, now a weight-loss advocate and never-say-never soul crooner. More notable of late is the story of Jennifer Hudson, who was given the boot earlier in the competition than many expected. Hudson The Loser just won an Oscar for her role as Effie in the film version of Dreamgirls - and you can bet there is a Grammy in Hudson's not-so-distant future.
Radio World Newspaper - American Idols have big radio impact ... "Other popular contestants include Fantasia Barrino, Josh Gracin, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, Kimberley Locke, Bo Bice, Mario Vazquez, Chris Daughtry, and 2007 Academy Award Winner Jennifer Hudson."
Desicritics - why Sanjaya Malakar is still on American Idol 6 ...
Look, race and Idol have shared a complicated relationship for a long time now whether it was Frenchie getting kicked off while Barba got to stay or Ruben Stoddard beating out Clay Aiken with the alleged backing of Oprah. But it is beyond ridiculous to say that there is a BPO pact to vote for him. It isn't just paranoid, it's insulting.
A few mentions of that weird sign held up on AI6's result show this week by Brad Garrett which read: "Clay Aiken hurt me". We're still puzzled as to what the heck that means. According to People, the sign was not from Garrett himself, but was taken from someone in the audience.
Blake Lewis showed his own quick comedic timing when he grabbed a sign from an audience member that read "Clay Aiken Hurt Me" punctuated with a frowning face and handed it to Garrett. The actor continued to ham it up with the sign, holding it when he took a seat in the audience.
The Elimination... began with a bit of mugging from Brad Garrett, who came up to the stage to greet all the finalists during the ad break and then decided, spur-of-the-moment, to sit down with them. At which point Blake raced down to the audience and snatched the random "Clay Aiken Hurt Me" sign and gave it to Brad. (So Blake's a fan of the snark. Good to know.) When the Coca-Cola ad began, however, all the finalists stood up to watch, and somewhere in the shuffle (I couldn't see how, since the lights had gone dark for the ad), the Clay Aiken sign got pulled. Awww — no snark for you, Brad!
What's the first thing you notice about the opposite gender?
Probably his hair. I'm picky when it comes to hair -- needs to be short and clean-cut, off his collar and nothing flopping down in his eyes. There are two exceptions to this -- pretend Boyfriend Clay Aiken and best-looking-long-haired-man Guy Penrod.
Carolina On my Mind - Claymates, inspired by Clay's humanity, keep BAF #1 at Six Degrees fundraiser.
Lycos50 - Clay's up several spots to #16 this week. Clay's caption this week: "Claymates love him". Great job everyone!
Beyond Wisconsin - This site has a timeline of the American Idol Runner-Ups and a place where you can leave your comments about which is the best. Great chance to tell the world that Clay is absolutely the best!
MediaBase PR on the influence of American Idol on radio ... Clay is the #6 idol in terms of radio play.
The winners of season one and four respectively, have racked up an impressive four million plus radio spins between them. Others who have become household names include Fantasia, Josh Gracin, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, Chris Daughtry and 2007 Oscar and Soul Train Award Winner, Jennifer Hudson.
Story based on this PR: FMQB Radio Industry news: "Others who have become household names include Fantasia, Josh Gracin, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, Chris Daughtry and 2007 Oscar winner, Jennifer Hudson."
The Scripps Howard News Service AI article from yesterday is now floating around various news outlets in syndication. You can read a copy of it here at the Charlotte Observer ...
The recording sales of "Idol" winners Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson and runner-up Clay Aiken have soared. Former finalist Paris Bennett came to the red carpet last Thursday and said her album, "Princess P" (titled after her nickname), would be released in April.
USA Today - an all-female Idol finale show down... the next Clay/Ruben? "A Melinda-LaKisha final could be Idol's biggest since Season 2's Ruben Studdard-Clay Aiken duel."
EurWeb ... reasons we love American Idol -- giving the underdogs a chance ...
Ruben Studdard and Jennifer Hudson would have been considered by record executives to be "fat;" Kelly Clarkson would have been deemed ordinary; the nerdy Clay Aiken wouldn't translate to chicks. Carrie Underwood would have been persuaded to sing anything but country. Taylor Hicks would have to lose the gray hair.
Reality TV World - Mario Vasquez sued over alleged sexual allegations...
Vazquez withdrew from the fourth season of Idol before the finals began for "personal reasons." Shortly thereafter, it was reported that Vazquez hired Jess Rosen, an Atlanta entertainment lawyer famous for extricating American Idol 2 runner-up Clay Aiken from his Idol management contract last year, to represent him.
Carolina On My Mind - another wonderful mix-matched post on the Clay's blog, NCAA basketball and the latest buzz in the Clay nation.
There Was A Man - remembering AI2's memorable Top 12 show, 4 years ago last weekend.
On March 11 and 12th, 2003 American Idol 2 aired it's Top 12 with a Motown theme. Lamont Dozier was a guest judge. Clay brought magic to American Idol that has not been there since. His voice and his personality melded to together for a Tour de Force to be reckoned with. The whole show had an innocence. A bunch of kids trying out for their dream. These days it's seasoned professional looking for their last chance break. Whatever happened on AI2, the manipulation and unfairness that went on, I will never regret the show that gave us Clay.
A few mentions of that weird sign held up on AI6's result show this week by Brad Garrett which read: "Clay Aiken hurt me". We're still puzzled as to what the heck that means. According to People, the sign was not from Garrett himself, but was taken from someone in the audience.
