CLAY KNEW (American Idol Scandal of the Hour! Ooh! Aah!)

New York Post ^ | May 23, 2003 | Michael Starr

[Timesink]

Clay Aiken(l) was still smiling after Ruben Studdard was named the "Idol" winner.

'AMERICAN IDOL 2" runner-up Clay Aiken already knew he had lost to Ruben Studdard at least five minutes before the decision was announced, show judge Simon Cowell said yesterday.

[TontoKowalski]

I have no intention of ever seeing it.

Actually, and I surprise myself here, the show is actually pretty good.

It's an hour of talented young people singing and pursuing their dream of stardom. The songs are generally of the standard variety...no rap or metal...even some golden oldies, like Kim Locke's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

The judges' comments, particularly Simon's, can be cutting, but honest criticism from music professionals is something that many amature singers would pay quite a price to get.

Finally, it's one of the few programs an adult can safely watch with a child, and both are going to enjoy it. OK, some of the goings-on are pure teeny-bop, like the signs the audience waves, the little girls screaming, the campy videos, and the like. But it's not offensive.

[G.Mason]

"Yawn."

In total agreement.

ZZZZZzzzzz......ZZZZZzzzzz......ZZ

[Frapster]

I can't imagine that the creators of the program are really worried about whether the person becomes a star or not. As long as they pull in those kinds of ratings all they see are dollar signs.

[day10]

Reality TV = Professional Wrestling for the New Millennium.

[GraniteStateConservative]

That's 1.3M in just 5 weeks-- not "just" 1.3M.

[mommybain]

Yep, you are. I've never seen it either and have no intentions of ever watching it.

[razorbak]

Clay had more natural talent, but Reuben had a great voice also. However, the last song he sang, either because he [Reuben] was tired or emotional, he was flat and terrible. I can't ever remember a single time that Clay missed a note. Also, the producer[s] may want there to be a continuing implication of rivalry. It keeps people interested. More people buy Clay's album to prove Clay's the best. More [other] people buy Reuben's album to prove the show got it right.

[glory]

Can someone please tell me why people who post yawns and zzzz even bother to come to these threads and waste the space? I don't watch things like West Wing or the Bachelor so I just skip those threads when I see that in the title.

[Constitution Day]

From local news in Raleigh, NC (Clay's hometown):
Clay Fans Wonder If There Is Conspiracy Theory With 'American Idol'

Good grief! This is starting to remind me of the 2000 elections.

[writmeister]

Would you expect lest from a flaming queen like Mr. Aiken?

Clay says that he is straight. His friends say that he is straight. How does that make him a "flaming queen"?

[wideawake]

Clay says that he is straight. His friends say that he is straight. How does that make him a "flaming queen"?

I have eyes to see.

After all, Liberace sued people for saying he wasn't straight and all his friends vociferously backed him up at the time.

I wouldn't have believed them then, I don't believe Aiken now.

[RightOnline]

Not only straight, but by all accounts from folks I know who know him (I live in Raleigh; he's from here), one helluva nice kid.

[Fawnn]

I have no intention of ever seeing it. No entertainer is ever going to be an “idol” of mine – even if 34 million TV viewers say so.

Well, la de da! I bet you only watch PBS, right? ;)

[cubreporter]

Yes, you are alive and more importantly alive and WELL like I and millions of others. This whole thing is stupid. We heard on the news that you can vote over and over and over and over again for the same person. What kind of a talent show is that? Don't worry, you are not only alive and well but smart for not watching shows like these.

[holdmuhbeer]

I never watched it either, I'd much rather watch history channel or discovery. Guess I'm not hip.

[writmeister]

I think all of the four finalist appear to be genuine nice people who give us some hope for the future of pop music. I also disdain speculation about people's sexuality. Unless someone produces some evidence that someone isn't straight [and I am not talking about people's heightened sense of gaydar], then they should be presumed to be straight.

[ConservativeConvert]

Talk about catty...that's quite a bitchy comment.

Why do people give a shi* what Clay or anyone else does with their penis?

Get over it...

[em2vn]

Your source for this informations is...?

[Lee'sGhost]

Uh, Canada happens to be part of America.

[MississippiMan]

Kelly Clarkson's album debuted at number one. Pretty hard to beat. I'm not much of a contemporary pop listener anymore but I've listened to the album and there are at least two cuts that will be big hits. One is already making its way up the charts. If you haven't heard her, you should. Her voice is beyond good. It's flukish that someone with a voice like hers was just out there doing nothing with it.

MM