Aiken-Studdard Finale Still Tops AI



Clay Aiken-Ruben Studdard, Timeless
Montage by SueReu

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Best AI Season Ever

Clay-Ruben Pairing 'Timeless'

Through eight editions of American Idol, the 38.1 million viewers garnered by the Clay Aiken-Ruben Studdard Finale of May 21, 2003, not only confirms the popularity of the two singers but also the high bar set by the Season 2 contestants.

The faltering ratings of Season 9 all but guarantee that when the confetti falls and a new Idol is crowned in May, the Aiken-Studdard Finale will still be the champ.

An article by Lisa de Moraes in the Sunday, April 18, Washington Post -- Fallen 'Idol': The champ stumbles -- outlines the evolving problems of American Idol as its competition, Dancing With the Stars, has stepped up.


Click to enlarge AI overview. (Best viewed at Washington Post online.)

Accompanying the article is Seasons of 'Idol'-atry, an overview of the show's nine seasons to date. With 38.1 and 36.4 million viewers, respectively, the finales of Seasons 2 and 5 maintain their gold-silver ranking.

Ironically, Clay Aiken participated in both, as a finalist in his season and as a surprise guest performer with a suave makeover that momentarily fooled loyal fans and Idol personnel alike.


Don't Let the Sun go Down on Me
Clay Aiken surprises AI5 Finale audience.

Link to YouTube to view full screen.

Lythgoe Reveals AI5 Secrecy Plan

In an interview on KTLA-TV's Morning News Show later that week, Idol executive producer Nigel Lythgoe revealed that details of Clay's appearance and performance on the AI5 Finale were kept secret from almost everyone.

The singer arrived at an obscure entrance in an SUV with tinted windows. Sporting a suave new look and attracting no attention whatsoever, he walked in unnoticed with wardrobe personnel and the garments they were transporting, secretly watching the show in a nearby building before being escorted to the stage for his entrance.

Clay was there to surprise Michael Sandecki, an early contestant who supposedly had won the Golden Idol Award for "Best Impersonation" of a previous finalist. As the stage doors parted, Clay entered singing DLTSGDOM. The theater audience and television viewers went wild.

It was the same incredible voice, but the maturity and difference in Clay's appearance were so striking that the panel of judges and emcee Ryan Seacrest didn't recognize him at first.

The event easily became the most discussed water cooler topic of the AI5 Finale, surmounting the buzz about the evening's newly-crowned Idol, Taylor Hicks.


TIMELESS - Clay and Ruben (Graphic by Fountaindawg)

CT, NY, IN Venues Set Ticket Dates

The popular "Timeless" duo of Clay and Rubin will again share the concert stage when they launch this summer's much-anticipated 17-city tour throughout North America.

On Friday, April 23, one the MGM Grand Foxwoods, Mashantucket, CT, will begin selling tickets for the Timeless Tour. Two that had been scheduled for the 23rd (The Hammerstein, New York City, NY) and the Horseshoe Casino (Hammond, IN) have been changed their dates.

Phone numbers and additional information are provided courtesy of toni7babe, who maintains the Summer 2010 Timeless Tour Forum at Clayversity. Mark your calendar for these sites:

MGM Grand Foxwoods, Mashantucket, CT, (Aug. 7 concert): Phone 866-646-0050. General public: 9 a.m. EDT., Friday, April 23.

The Hammestein, New York City, NY (Aug. 11 concert): Phone 212-279-7740. American Express Pre-sale, Thursday, April 22, 10 a.m. EDT - Thursday, April 29, 10 a.m. EDT; Live nation pre-sale Tuesday, April 27, 10 a.m. EDT - Thursday, April 29, 10 a.m. EDT; General public, Friday, April 30, 10 a.m. EDT.

Horseshoe Casino, Hammond, IN (Aug. 13 concert): Phone 866-711-7463. Tickets go on sale at Ticketmaster and at the box office at noon Friday, May 21.

Upcoming ticket sale dates on the books include the following:

May 7 - Ruth Echerd Hall, Clearwater, FL (July 26 concert)
May 7 - King Center for the Arts, Melbourne, FL (July 25 concert)
May 7 - Club Nokie, Los Angeles, CA, May (Aug. 1 concert)
May 8 - Mountain View Plaza, Snoqualmie, WA (July 29 concert)
May 21 - Caesar's Colosseum, Windsor, ON (Aug 5 concert)
May 21 - Horseshoe Casion, Hammond IN (Aug 13 concert)
May 28 - Potawatomi Casino, Milwaukee, WI (Aug 3 concert)
TBA - American Music Theater, Lancaster, PA (Aug 8 concert)

The 17 Timeless Tour concert sites are linked below. For up-to-date information on ticket sales, see Clayonline News, Ticketmaster, and the venue links.


Click to enlarge scan from 4/19 Star Magazine.
Posted by Clayfulthing.

2010 Timeless Tour: Concert List

Jul-23 - Asheville, NC - Biltmore Estate (Tickets on sale NOW)
Jul-24 - Jacksonville, FL -
The Florida Theater (Tickets on sale NOW)
Jul-25 - Melbourne, FL -
King Center For Arts (Ticket sale: May 7)
Jul-26 - Clearwater, FL -
Ruth Eckerd Hall (Ticket sale: May 7)
Jul-29 - Snoqualmie WA -
Casino- Mountain View Plaza (Tickets: May 8)
Jul-31 - Reno, NV -
Silver Legacy Casino (Tickets: NOW)
Aug-01 - Los Angeles, CA -
Club Nokia (Tickets: May 7)
Aug-03 - Milwaukee, WI -
Potawatomi Casino (Tickets: May 28)
Aug-05 - Windsor, ON -
Caesars Windsor (Tickets: May 21)
Aug-06 - Chautauqua, NY -
Chautauqua Institution Amphitheatre (Tickets: NOW)
Aug-07 - Mashantucket, CT -
MGM Grand Foxwoods (Tickets: NOW)
Aug-08 - Lancaster, PA -
American Music Theatre (Tickets: TBA)
Aug-10 - Hampton Beach, NH -
Hampton Beach Casino (Tickets: NOW)
Aug-11 - New York, NY -
The Hammestein (Tickets: April 30)
Aug-12 - Verona, NY -
Turning Stone Casino (Tickets: NOW)
Aug-13 - Hammond, IN -
Horseshoe Casino (Tickets: May 21)
Aug-14 - Biloxi, MS -
Beau Rivage (Tickets: NOW)

Have an awesome weekend, Clay Nation!

Caro

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