Cool Clay mentions - May 2006

Fans post all these cool Clay mentions, then they float off into cyber space and get lost. So my brilliant idea for the day is to have a place to store them. Maybe not so brilliant when I realize how much time I'm going to be spending collecting them.

Chicago Tribune: White House Press Article
"As for the rumor that Snow might abolish the televised briefings, he gave no straight answer. But after last week's reportedly chaotic off-camera briefing and Tuesday's slick performance, I can't imagine he's even considering it. Like Bill Rancic and Clay Aiken before him, Tony Snow shines brightest with the cameras on."

Medialink Captures Top Honor for Video Excellence at SABRE Awards
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 16, 2006
The Amazon.com project involved a series of more than 20 video shoots produced over a 10-day period when celebrities, including Harrison Ford, Anna Kournikova and Clay Aiken, personally delivered orders to unsuspecting customers across the United States.

"Pyramid" - the game show
Category was "People on American Idol"
Clues - Ryan Seacrest, Paula Abdul and Clay Aiken

Saturday Night Live - intro skit
"Alternate Universe" happenings
Clay Aiken beats Ruben Studdard

Malaya Entertainment
Philippines May 15, 2006
"American Idol" is such a hit that even those who didn’t land in the top spot are assured of fame. That is, if they really have what it takes to make it big.

Take Clay Aiken, for instance. Aiken, who placed second behind Ruben Studdard in Season Two of "Idol," has far surpassed Studdard in album sales and fan base.

Fox Good Day Live in LA
Jillian Barberie to Katherine McPhee
"Well, I just want to remind you that even if you don't win, I look at Bo Bice, I look at Clay Aiken, these people, their careers are phenomenal. So, no matter what happens from here on in, you've already made it."

Forbes
People to Watch re:Chris Daughtry booted off
But even for the losers, life can be sweet: From previous seasons, also-ran Clay Aiken inked a deal with Sony BMG's RCA Music

MSNBC Scarborough Affair
"Idol Bias"
SCARBOROUGH: So why were they gunning for Elliott? Why do they select people that they want to knockout?

O‘NEIL: They just have their own biases, the same way that we do. And they‘re not necessarily based on reason, which is the problem. For example, the notorious year between Ruben and Clay, “Newsweek” magazine caught Simon saying, “We must stop him,” referring to Clay. “At all costs, we must stop him.”

Well, that‘s not your job, Simon. Your job is to critique his music.

SCARBOROUGH: And they did stop him.

Ruth Hilton, you know, why is it that these three judges can basically start gunning for a contestant and do whatever they can to try to knock him out of the winner‘s position?

RASMUSEN: They absolutely do. It doesn‘t matter if you‘re the best singer; it doesn‘t matter if you‘re the prettiest, if you have the most charisma. They are looking for someone who will make them the most money and who is different from the past years.

SCARBOROUGH: Tom O‘Neil, what do you think of that?

O‘NEIL: I think she‘s wrong on one point. Of the four winners that we have seen on “American Idol,” the one they have ruthlessly pushed out of the running, the one they ruthlessly pushed, Ruben is the only one who has not paid off on the pop charts. Clay has, of course.

So what does that tell us? That they‘re not necessarily right here. And now we‘re entering the finals, and my heart breaks for Katharine McPhee, because this is a terrific singer. And you just see that Simon doesn‘t like her, that he hates those big power ballads that are done on Broadway, the kind that Clay sang and she sang.

05/10/06 / UNICEF Spokesperson Clay Aiken visits Middlesex Middle School in CT
AND THE WINNERS ARE … STUDENTS IN CALIFORNIA, CONNECTICUT, AND TEXAS WIN THE UNICEF KIDS HELPING KIDS® CHALLENGE

UNICEF Ambassador and 2005 Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF spokesperson Clay Aiken visits Middlesex Middle School in CT

In addition to having a donation from P&G made in their name, the top-winner - Middlesex Middle School - was visited by UNICEF Ambassador and 2005 Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF spokesperson Clay Aiken. Multi-platinum recording artist Clay Aiken served as the national Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF spokesperson. Throughout October, the Raleigh, N.C. native and former teacher, encouraged kids to participate in the program.

Today’s announcement comes at the end of what has already been a historic record-breaking year for the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF program. The Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF program raised a record $5.1 million dollars this past year. Since its inception in 1950, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF has raised over $132 million to fund UNICEF's lifesaving work for the world's poorest and most vulnerable children.


Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Clay Aiken (runner-up, Season 2) — After a huge start to his post-"Idol" career, including a big-selling first album, a Christmas CD and several big tours, he's been quiet lately. His Web site, www.clayaiken.com, says he's working on a third album, but no details are given.

"You've Got Male".....author is Elizabeth Bevarly.
"But Andrew was agreeing with her that the music of Clay Aiken could, if people would just open their eyes and ears and hearts to it, bring peace and harmony to the entire planet."

North County Times Serving San Diego and Riverside Counties
But online communities still exist on the Web. By community, I mean people of similar interests who enjoy discussing issues with each other. They get to know each other well enough to mimic one another's writing styles and feel a sense of kinship. They can be organized around politics, religion, sports, or other lines.

I came in contact with one such group last year, while writing a obituary about a San Marcos resident, James Dale Leverton. A long-haul truck driver, Leverton in cyberspace was a bulwark of the ClayDawgs, (www.theclaydawgs.com), a Web site for male fans of singer Clay Aiken. There, Leverton was more than a fan; he was a friend to children and adults who were lonely.

After Leverton's death in a trucking accident, tributes began pouring in from fellow ClayDawgs. They also established a memorial fund in his name, with proceeds going to the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, which helps autism and other developmental disabilities.

"Luann 3: Sixteen Isn't Pretty"
Author - Greg Evans (due out in Sept '06)
12 of the "Luann meets Clay" strips from 2004 are in this book, along with a full page drawing of Luann with Clay. And sharp-eyed Claymates will spot Clay's picture on the book's cover as well.

SEDAKA: 'I'M STILL THE TOPS'
Movie & Entertainment News © WENN.com All Rights Reserved
2006-05-07 22:43:29 -
"They don't realise that I had the top-selling record in the United States of 2004 - Solitaire by (American Idol runner-up) CLAY AIKEN and the top-selling record in the UK in 2005 - I wrote TONY CHRISTIE's IS THIS THE WAY TO AMARILLO?.

Teen People
June/July issue
One summer, three American Idol alum releases: Clay Aiken's untitled disc, Mario Vazquez's solo album and Josh Gracin's All About Y'all. What will Simon think?

Norwich Bulletin Norwich, Conn.
Local judges' verdicts
Judges split over who will get the boot

Elliott is now our Clay Aiken in this competition. His looks aren’t pop standard, but his personality and voice make him enjoyable to watch. He’s finally figuring out his style and has grown increasingly consistent in performance in the last few shows.

Unlike Clay, he hasn’t quite figured out how to be all of those things at once. Solve that, and he’s a solid contender for the top three.