Lycos Reveals 50 Most Searched Terms of 2005

Clay made Lycos' most searched terms of the year list. Although Clay was ranked #3 last year, Clay's 2005 ranking of 64 is still, impressive!

Although Clay was in the top 50 throughout the year, Lycos says overall traffic caused Clay to be at #64. This e-mail was sent to the CB's flynn5709.

Hey Jan,

I have been wondering when I would hear from you :) I too was surprised by the ranking when we initially put it together and definitely doubled checked our calculations. When we looked at the over all search traffic, that is where he landed. His traffic has been dropping as of late, but the other events while not all are Lycos 50 staples like your boy Clay, they had larger surges in activity on some weeks/months that put them above - Americas' Idol.

Thanks Jan for your continued interest, and support. Hope you have a wonderful holiday.
Enjoy the Joyful Noise!

Oh by the way I wanted to mention to your Aiken community that Lycos had created these 'planets' where you can build cool slideshows and features of your favorite things ie - Clay Aiken. So if you don't mind mentioning that in the posting that would be great...

www.planet.lycos.com/pcp/top/welcome.do?file=welcome

There are some cool sweepstakes too.

Cheers,
Dean Tsouvalas
Director of Content
Writer, Lycos 50

Boston School Welcomes Clay Aiken

As we reported yesterday, Clay visited Learning Projects Elementary School in Boston yesterday to congratulate the school on its UNICEF fundraising efforts. The Boston Herald ran this article about the visit today in their print and online editions.

Aiken visits Back Bay school
Students at The Learning Project Elementary School raised $6,000 for UNICEF's tsunami relief efforts, so yesterday UNICEF spokesguy Clay Aiken -- the spikey haired dude from ''American Idol"-- stopped by the Back Bay school to thank the students. . . . The first Massachusetts Conference for Women takes place today at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center with first lady Ann Romney, former Texas Governor Ann Richards, and Martha Stewart Living's CEO Susan Lyne among the speakers.

Left: Thanks for caring: 'American Idol'izer Clay Aiken, in town to play the Orpheum last night, stepped into his role as UNICEF ambassador at the Learning Project Elementary School yesterday. Clay wanted to thank the kiddies for stepping up for UNICEF's relief efforts in tsunami-ravaged Indonesia. (Staff photo by Angela Rowlings)

CBS Boston has posted a video from the event which you can stream from their Entertainment section. This video is also available at pax-et-animo's Vivavoce clack site.

Rank these photos on Yahoo!

Around the Web Today

A few Clay mentions around the internet today.

Bad Clay Aiken TV Specials? What are they talking about?

The Grinch Who Wrote a TV Column
Todd Hyman 12/07/2005 2:04 pm

I hate December. But not for the reasons you'd think—cold weather, the stresses of coordinating holiday gift lists, mall crowds. I have very warm blood, I don't buy gifts for anyone, and the only reason I go to the mall is for the free samples of General's Chicken at the food court.

What I really hate about December is the terrible TV. That's right, I said it: December TV sucks. Sandwiched between November sweeps and the January midseason premieres of big shows like 24 and American Idol, December TV just gets lost in a cheery holiday frenzy, churning out terrible movies like The Three Wise Guys and bad Christmas specials starring Clay Aiken. Aside from the few classic films like Scrooged and A Christmas Story that are replayed about infinity times, there's pretty much nothing worth watching if you're over the age of 8. So, to spare me the headache of having to review CBS' original movie Pope John Paul II, we're just going to pretend that December doesn't exist. At least for the purposes of this column. So pack up the tree, return all your gifts, and say all of your Happy New Years and let's skip right to a few of January's midseason replacements.

More reviews of the new AI DVD. Very good mention.

On DVD
December 07, 2005
The Best and Worst of American Idol:
Seasons 1-4
(Capital Entertainment)

The appeal of American Idol is the game. Each week, millions of people tune in, pick their favorites and vote. Once the "best" are anointed, their albums are released. A few artists are genuinely loved (Clay Aiken comes to mind), but after a couple of spins, most winners' works are pushed aside. The end result on the record store shelf never seems to hold the same amount of fascination as the struggle it took to get there.

So, while you'll occasionally remember with fondness and occasionally revisit the rise of your favorites on Disc One (the "Best of" installment of this three-disc collection), you will most likely most often return to Disc Two (the "Worst of" installment), where futility, fragility and unrealistic expectations thrive in ever-humorous aplomb.

If you're like me, you have favorites here, too. Even bigger favorites than those on Disc One, probably. (Mary Roach comes to mind.) I mean, where else can you get two and a half glorious hours of failure and ridicule? And why is it so appealing, anyway? Who knows.

Cue it up again, though, will ya…

--Bill Colrus

Concert ticket website StubHub is including Clay on all its press releases now! YAY!

StubHub and Washington Capitals Make NHL Power Play; Online Ticket Marketplace Adds to NHL Team Partner Roster

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 7, 2005--StubHub, the leading open marketplace dedicated to tickets, today announced it has signed a sponsorship deal with the NHL's Washington Capitals. Under the terms of the agreement, StubHub is now the exclusive ticket resale marketplace of the organization and beneficiary to extensive online and offline promotional elements. The Capitals join the Dallas Stars as official NHL team ticketing partners of StubHub.

About StubHub
StubHub is the leading open marketplace dedicated to tickets. StubHub's open marketplace allows fans to buy and sell tickets to sporting, concert, theater and other live entertainment events. StubHub's goal is that fans always find a choice of select seats at fair market value, even for events that are "sold out." The company reinvented the ticket resale market and continues to lead through innovation, by connecting sellers and buyers via its FanNetwork (sm) system, the company's patent-pending, convenient, secure, and highly reliable ticket fulfillment service; StubHub supports all fan transactions with the StubHub FanProtect (sm) Guarantee. StubHub partners include sports teams in the NFL, NBA, NHL, leading collegiate athletic programs including USC, Alabama and Cal, and media companies including AOL. StubHub regularly partners with leading recording artists such as Britney Spears and Clay Aiken to offer tickets to exclusive events in support of their charities. The company is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information on StubHub, visit www.stubhub.com.

More coverage of Dear Santa, which Clay is guest appearing on Friday at 9 on FOX.

Letters to Santa make holidays special
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. And he writes letters.

In 1912, then Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock authorized local postmasters to allow individuals or institutions to use letters addressed to Santa Claus for philanthropic purposes. This tradition is carried on today, with Post Offices across the country making "Letters to Santa" available to individuals and groups upon request.

While Santa receives most of his mail at the North Pole, AK, some are sent to Santa's helpers, charitable organizations, Postal Service employees and volunteers who help make a child's wishes come true. Interested organizations should contact their local Post Offices to receive and respond to Letters to Santa.

Some of the Santa letters will be featured during a one-hour special, "Dear Santa," airing on Friday, Dec. 9, 8:30 p.m., with special guest appearances by Clay Aiken and Raven Simone on the FOX Network.

"Dear Santa is a one-hour unscripted holiday special featuring the dramatic and heartwarming stories of children whose letters to Santa will be answered with the help of some very special guests. The U.S. Postal Service teams up with some of today's hottest stars to share some dramatic stories including a girl who wants to make the holidays special for needy children, a young boy who dreams of a safe place to skate, a little girl who hopes her dad will come home for the holidays from his military duties abroad and a girl who wants to further her education," according to www.fox.com.

Merry Christmas With Love on "Santa's Playlist"

Santa's holiday playlist
by Jennifer Lathan
UT Staff Writer

December 06, 2005

Most everyone -- from 10 to 92 -- enjoys music of the holiday season. Some lyrics fills listeners with the abounding hope and joy surrounding the upcoming season, while others are just fun to sing along with.

Each year, many artists release albums with renditions of their favorite Christmas songs. This Christmas is no exception.

Here is a guide to some of the newest Christmas albums currently available.

For some of the older favorites, there is Clay Aiken singing your favorite Christmas songs. The UNC Charlotte alumni, who stole America's hearts during his participation on American Idol, released a Christmas album titled "Merry Christmas With Love" in late 2004 and the album is quickly becoming a fan favorite.

He uses both traditional hymns and classic Christmas carols to create a diverse collection, sprinkling in some newer and sometimes less well know but still powerful songs.

As a child of the school chorus crowd, one of my favorite selections is "Merry Christmas With Love." The song tells the story of a woman who has lost her family and her Christmas spirit years before. This changes when a group of carolers come to visit her and renews the Christmas spirit in her heart.

Before Aiken recorded this song, I couldn't easily find it on any released Christmas collection. Hearing his strong voice sing these powerful words can easily bring you to tears. I was so thrilled to not only find this favorite but to also hear him powerfully belt these words.

A random mention:

THE TELEVISIONARY
Laura Kennedy
December 07, 2005

Name what these guys have in common: Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and Vince Guaraldi.

Is it too obvious? They're all Christmas icons. Of course, if your holiday TV education is limited to claymation -- and I promise I'm not talking about Clay Aiken -- then you're probably only familiar with the first three characters. But Guaraldi is more important than you'd think: He wrote, arranged and performed (with the help of his trio) the backing score for my favorite Christmas special of all time, A Charlie Brown Christmas. If 40 years of adoration and TV exposure doesn't grant you some kind of icon status, I'm not sure what will.

Follow up on Clay helping out the CBS Early Show's Toy Drive on Monday.

Caroline Kennedy Fulfills Wishes

NEW YORK, Nov. and Dec., 2005

(CBS) This season, The Early Show, Walmart.com and United Way are teaming up in a unique effort to brighten the holidays of children whose lives were impacted by three recent hurricanes, Katrina, Rita and Wilma.

The Early Show is devoting weather segments twice a day to collecting Christmas toys for those youngsters.

On Monday, Dec. 5, supermodel Gisele Bundchen and Clay Aiken took part. Both also appeared in their own segments on the show.

Bundchen donated a karaoke machine, revealing she's a big karaoke fan, though she doesn't sound as good as Aiken!

He gave an assortment of toy trucks.

AD: Providence, RI

Rankings On The Web This Week

• #35 on the Lycos50, down 3
• #15 on Pollstar, up 1
• #1 on House Of Blues concerts, up 1
  

Little Girl: "[Clay]'s going to be my husband someday"

Don't miss this cute story from the CB's minisoda.

I love this little girl... she wants to marry Clay!
Last night, I babysat 2 little girls: Monica, 4 yrs. old and Megan, 6 yrs. old. We made pizza and Christmas cookies, and of course, listened to MCWL! You can't bake Christmas cookies without Clay's music, right?

Later on, we were coloring... Megan showed me a picture of Clay that she did. She did a really good job too...I asked her why she drew Clay... "because he's cute and he's going to be my husband someday!"

They're such awesome kids though... their parents are real nit-picky about who babysits for them because Monica has Down's Syndrome... so it was really cool to be talking about special needs kids with the parents and of course, I had to bring up Clay.

Unfortunately, they missed the MN concert... they're hoping to go next year though! *hint, hint... Clay - if you're reading!*

UNICEF: Ambassadors have something to say to Congress

Clay's work as a UNICEF Ambassador was highlighted in this UNICEF article, which was posted back in October, but surfaced only today.

UNICEF Ambassadors have something to say to Congress
By Martin S. Rendon, Vice President, Public Policy and Advocacy, U.S. Fund for UNICEF

As advocates and public spokespersons, UNICEF Ambassadors play an important role in urging leaders in Washington to make children a top priority of U.S. foreign policy.

Ever since Danny Kaye became UNICEF's first Goodwill Ambassador in 1954, talented celebrities have lent their stature to the advancement of UNICEF's mission for children everywhere. In addition to raising funds and awareness, they have asked policymakers to reflect the compassion of the American people for the world's children in their legislative deliberations.

Recording artist Clay Aiken, newly appointed UNICEF Ambassador, recently testified before the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee in support of increased funding for UNICEF's core programs, such as health, nutrition, clean water and sanitation, and education.

Aiken had traveled to Indonesia's tsunami-ravaged Aceh province in March. He saw firsthand how UNICEF was successfully addressing the physical and emotional needs of children affected by the disaster, and he brought this message of hope back to Congress. The new celebrity ambassador pointed out that the assistance Congress provides to UNICEF in the annual appropriations enables it to be an effective partner of the United States in responding to emergencies like the South Asian tsunami. He testified that the funding provided by Congress to UNICEF is an investment that yields returns for children in jeopardy around the world.

Clay Aiken is an example of an accomplished celebrity who is lending his talent and heart to bring UNICEF's work to the attention of the decision-makers in Washington. He is among those who truly serve as ambassadors to the legislative leaders who can help make this a world fit for children.

Mary Did You Know Mention

Short mention about Clay recording Mary Did You Know.

JACK WILLIAMS -- Readers, did you know ... the story behind his song?
The Herald Bulletin

Turn on the radio, attend a school holiday concert or slip into a pew during Advent and you're bound to hear a verse or two of the now-familiar song, "Mary, Did You Know?"

Composed by a guy named Mark Lowry, the song has translated successfully across a variety of musical genres.

Depending on where your musical tastes take you in the record store, you'll find covers of the song by American Idol performer Clay Aiken; pop and jazz artist Natalie Cole; opera singer Kathleen Battle; a who's who of country artists, including Reba McEntire, Kathy Mattea, Billy Dean and the duet of Wynonna Judd and Kenny Rogers; gospel music's Gaither Vocal Band and Michael English; and the artist formerly known for his puppy love, Donnie Osmond. Whenever the song is mentioned today, the words "modern classic" are usually close by.

AD: Good Morning America 12/9

Clay Visiting Boston School Today

As announced by UNICEF back in September, Clay will be visiting the Learning Project Elementary School in Boston today. The school raised the most funds for this year's 2005 UNICEF Trick or Treat campaign, which Clay spearheaded as its designated spokesman.

From Boston.com:

''American Idol" star Clay Aiken, who serves as an ambassador for the relief agency UNICEF, will be visiting kids at the Learning Project Elementary School in the Back Bay today to congratulate them for raising a whole lot of dough for the 2005 Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF program. (Aiken's the national spokesman for the program.) How much you want to bet that a bunch of Clay Maniacs -- as Aiken's fans call themselves -- will show up?

Shine Featured on Korean TV Show

Shine, off Measure Of A Man was featured on a South Korean TV Show, reports Bloomingclay. Video is up at Vivavoce and YouSendIt.

It's a new TV show called 'Rainbow Romance' which started recently in Korea.Though I don't watch the show,many teenagers seem to watch the show.

Anyway,one of members of our club told us that she watched the show and heard Clay's music as background music! So we searched,downloaded 40 minute long video clip and extracted about 20 second clips(ain't that pitiful? )


It is really a short clip and the story is not relevant to the song at all(it was just used as background music),but it is still cool so I upload it.

ET Newslink Features JNT

As expected, Clay appeared on last night's Entertainment Tonight. The Clay segment, taped last Friday in New York, was only about 30 seconds long and appeared with the show's daily 'Newslink' section. Video is up at the usual places, including Vivavoce and MOAF's media gallery.

Transcript by CDD
Do not post anywhere without giving credit to cdd.blogspot.com and clayisouridol.

Entertainment Tonight Transcript Dec. 5

[Clay Aiken sings Sleigh Ride]

Mark Stenis (ET): What's the yuletide without Clay Aiken? The crooner took us backstage on his new tour where Santa-Clay shared some of his favourite holiday memories.

Clay: And the very first present I ever gave my mother after I got off of Idol was to pay her house off for her. Then I bought my brother a car. I don't know how to top that now. Every year, it feels like if I give her a shirt it'll be bad.

--END-- 0:25

Clay Gives Us His Grown Up Christmas List @ GMA

Good Morning America (GMA) taped Clay singing My Grown Up Christmas List and Mary Did You Know yesterday morning in their New York Time Square studios. According to reports, Clay did 2 'subtle' renditions of My Grown Up Christmas List. It was the first time Clay performed that song in public. Both, or one of these performances will be aired on Clay's scheduled appearance on the show on Friday. There is rumor that ABC is saving one of the performances for a special Christmas day, or pre-Christmas edition of GMA. Fan video (taped by bigapple from outside -- GMA didn't let anyone into the studios) is now up at ATCA.

From the CB's HopelessDevoted:

I just got off the phone with nky4clay, solitaire234 and hippoGA. They ran into a group of women from Virginia in the airport who happened to be at GMA this morning. After the show, the producer came out and asked the audience to stick around for a performance by Clay. They have pictures on their camera that they are supposedly going to E mail to the girls. Said he was wearing jeans, sweater and a grey blazer. Said that the girls, Andy and Daniel were there. He sang MDYK...and now get this...they claim he sang "My Grown Up Christmas List"!!!! nky4clay and the girls kept repeating are you sure that was the song he sang and they insisted yes! They said he sang it alone, without the girls as back up and that they were told it would air Christmas day.

Some other tidbits they told them were that the director told them "you can clap if you like" after the song and Clay said "even if you don't like it you can clap"....and then when they stopped clapping after the song he said "who told you to stop" (sounds like our snarky Clay)

I'm alittle disappointed for those who could have gone and didn't know about this but it would make sense for him to tape it today since he was already in the city.

Buble Mentions Clay At Concert

Vocalist Michael Buble mentioned Clay in his PBS Special yesterday. From the CB's ncsupack88:

I just got home and was flipping channels and passed PBS (cuz I
usually don't watch) and saw this cute guy in a black suit so I came back and
realized it was Michael Buble. I had heard back in the summer that he mentioned
Clay during his show. He had apparently just finished the opening number and was
a little sweaty and somebody yelled out "I love You" and he said "I love you too
but tomorrow you'll be saying (in a fangirly high pitched voice) I love Clayyyyy
Aiken!"

Oh and now he does this little number he made up about "they
said no flash photography" and he starts talking and all these flashes goes off
and he's making fun of them and then says "look at you, you're mocking me". Then
he goes over to the band andd says 1, 2, 3, and they all turn to pose for the
cameras. I thought it was kinda funny considering what Clay and his fans have
been going through. So for those that say Clay is the only one that allows
cameras, I guess not.

Clay Mention on Pittsburgh Radio Station

From the CB's OLmass:

I got in my car this morning and turned the radio on to WWSW (3WS) just in time to hear the tail end of Clay singing. I think it was God Rest You Merry Gentlemen although I've never heard it before. As the song ends, the DJ says to his partner, "This is your Clay station," and she agreed. He then said jokingly but not in a derogatory way at all, "We're going to have a Clay weekend."
It was a very positive mention and I'm glad to finally hear it out of the mouth of a male DJ.

Edmonton Sun - Local Radio Station Plays Clay

Taking a 'Shine' to Christmas music
By MIKE JENKINSON, EDMONTON SUN

So when does it start to feel like Christmas for you? I heard some people talking recently that it wouldn't feel like Christmas until there was snow on the ground. Yeah, well, I hope those people are happy. Merry Christmas ... I'm going to the Caribbean, thanks.

Some people don't consider it to really be Christmas until the tree goes up in the living room and the Christmas lights are strung outside.

For me, though, the Christmas season kicked off in earnest last Thursday when my favourite radio station, Shine-FM, moved to its all-Christmas-music format, which will continue through the end of Christmas Day.

Yes, if you set your FM radio dial to 105.9 in Edmonton between now and present-opening time, it's nothing but classic Christmas carols, good old Christmas hymns, and contemporary Christmas music.

This year, I couldn't wait for the all-Christmas format to start. And I'm sure I'll been minorly depressed again when it's over.

But what do listeners think?

"You know what? There are always going to be a few people who will call up saying 'I can't believe you're playing Christmas music so early!' But if we didn't play it until the 15th (of December) we'd have more calls saying, 'How come you're not playing Christmas music non-stop?' " says Shine FM music director Hunt with a laugh. "But the majority of the reaction is positive."

Hunt says moving to an all-Christmas-music format for almost a month seemed like the natural thing to do for a radio station that plays only contemporary Christian music. "We like to think we have Christmas music 24/7 really," he says. "The majority of what we play is about Christ.

This Christmas season, Shine-FM has about 450 songs in rotation, which is about 160 more than last year. The station has also added a few artists that don't normally make the playlist, such as James Taylor and Clay Aiken, in addition to their regular roster of artists that ranges from Michael W. Smith and Amy Grant to Reliant K and Kutless.

But Hunt says the station is very selective when it comes to adding mainstream artists to their Christmas music roster, saying, "We make sure the song is what we consider to be a Christian Christmas song."

Needless to say, going to the all-Christmas format, even for a month, is quite the undertaking, says Hunt. "It's intense ... non-stop Christmas music," he says. I laugh, suggesting to him that might not the best way to sell listeners on the temporary format change - "intense non-stop Christmas music!" like it was some kind of monster truck show.

That said, he noted to me that there's a radio station in Detroit that's been playing nothing but Christmas music since November 1! "They're running TV spots - all Christmas, all the time," he says. "I don't think I could push myself to listen (to just Christmas music) for two straight months."

Maybe not. But I'll happily take 25 days of it on Shine-FM.

Heartwarming Story from the Road

This was posted by the CB's ButterflyShine. Have your kleenex box handy.

I was talking to Moulka, William Joseph's security guard after the concert. He had returned from putting William into a car, William has to be at 5:00 for the Early Show.

After giving him many compliments on how great i and others think that William is and his telling us how genuinely nice William is, i asked him if he had a Clay story he could share with me.

He said that he had a wonderful story about Clay. The day before Thanksgiving Moulka's brother died. Moulka couldn't afford to fly home to Washington State. Clay found out and purchased Moulka a ticket. Moulka said that although he and Clay say hi and he tells Clay great show, he didn't think that Clay had much awareness about him and Clay proved him wrong. He said Clay is a genuinely nice guy. I asked Moulka if i could share this story and he told me i could.

I loved tonight's concert, Clay was snarky, and playful. The Aiken Random Lyric Generator was in full force and effect and Clay admitted during intros that he messed-up the lyrics to three songs. He sang some of DSIAFC looking right at me...thud...but this story, despite loving the concert to pieces, was the highlight of my evening. I hope it warms your heart as much as it did mine.

12/9 Update. William Joseph has confirmed this story with this post on his message board:

Hello my friends,

Yes the story is true. Clay did fly Maka home and has taken great care of us. It's great to work with great people!!

William Joseph

FOX "Dear Santa" Press Release

Clay appears on FOX's Christmas-reality special, Dear Santa, this Friday at 9 PM. FOX issued this press release today.

LET IT SNOW!! A BLIZZARD OF HOLIDAY TREATS HITS FOX THIS DECEMBER
Released by FOX

"All I Want for Christmas" becomes a reality on the brand-new, original special DEAR SANTA, premiering Friday, Dec. 9 (8:00-9:00 PM ET/PT). The unscripted holiday hour features heartwarming stories of children whose letters to Santa will be answered. The U.S. Postal Service teams up with Hilary Duff, Clay Aiken and Raven Symone to share the kids' dramatic stories and to fulfill their holiday wishes, including those of a girl who wants to make the holidays special for needy children, a young boy who dreams of a safe place to skate, a little girl who hopes her dad will come home for the holidays from his military duties abroad and a girl who wants to further her education.

Interview with Boston Globe

New interview with the Boston Globe. Cute!

A very Aiken Christmas
December 5, 2005

Clay Aiken, guardian angel? The ''American Idol" runner-up has cast himself in a Michael Landon-esque role in his holiday tour, which arrives at the Orpheum tomorrow night. In between crooning ''O Holy Night" and ''Jingle Bells," he helps a widow find some Christmas spirit in the pageant-cum-pop-concert. If Aiken was a true angel, however, he would be helping Justin Guarini. Maybe next year. This year the infamously nice Aiken was happy to phone us from Pittsburgh and chat about the current production.

Q: I was reading a little bit about the show, and it sounds a little dark. There's a widow who's depressed on Christmas, and a neglected kid who wanders in on her. Am I getting this right?

A: You're getting it right, but you're looking at it in a dark way. I would not see it as dark at all. I think it's a very classic Christmas-type tale. If you think about it, most Christmas shows start with someone who doesn't have the Christmas spirit, and then they gain it by the end of the show. Are you coming to see it?

Q: I'm not sure. I think that's the night I'm mulling cider.

A: I think you should see it, because it's not very dark at all. It starts out gloomily. Hmm. That's interesting. I'm going to have to watch it tonight and see if it looks that way.

Q: You sound like a really nice, polite guy . . .

A: [giggles]

Q: . . . I'm wondering if you've ever been tempted to call Ruben Studdard and say, ''I may have come in second place, but I'm starring in TV specials with Barry Manilow and playing stadiums, and you're playing the grand opening of the Burger King in Anaheim"?

A: Ohhhh. Wait a minute. No, no, no. I'm proud of both of us. There's no way. If I said that, you know what would happen the next week? I'd start singing at grand openings for Burger King. We've each had our own successes in different ways. I think Ruben is thrilled with what he's doing. He's working on his next album. It's interesting -- a lot of times people assume that I've done better. But he's had better radio play than I have by far. It's all a matter of perception.

Q: You were on the cover of a Christian magazine last year talking about being a God-fearing pop star, but I was on your website and found that you're selling Clay Aiken thongs for 10 bucks a pop. Where does that fit into being a good Christian pop star?

A: First of all, do you think that Christians don't wear underwear? Of course they do!

Q: A thong is a bit more skimpy than underwear.

A: We started that because when I was on the ''American Idol" tour we had a lot of people that for some reason wanted to throw underwear at me on stage. So we decided as a joke a few tours back to sell underwear. They sold so well that we had to keep selling them. The religious right is very vocal in their opinions, and no one seems to have a problem with it. I have a very religious family, and they're not concerned about it at all. Because you know what? People who love God wear underwear also.

CHRISTOPHER MUTHER

Aiken 'Fulfilling Wishes' On CBS Early Show

Clay helped the CBS Early Show collect toys for needy children earlier this morning as he dropped by for special performances on the morning show. Recaps, pictures, video links for the Early Show can be found here.

Bundchen, Aiken Fulfill Wishes
NEW YORK, Nov. and Dec., 2005

(CBS) This season, The Early Show, Walmart.com and United Way are teaming up in a unique effort to brighten the holidays of children whose lives were impacted by three recent hurricanes, Katrina, Rita and Wilma.

The Early Show is devoting weather segments twice a day to collecting Christmas toys for those youngsters.

On Monday, Dec. 5, supermodel Gisele Bundchen and Clay Aiken took part. Both also appeared in their own segments on the show.

Bundchen donated a karaoke machine, revealing she's a big karaoke fan, though she doesn't sound as good as Aiken!

He gave an assortment of toy trucks.