Do you remember the AI Christmas Show in 2003? The holiday special taped on October 30, 2003 and aired on November 25, 2003. It featured American Idol finalists Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard, Kimberley Locke, Tamyra Grey, Christina Christian, and Kelly Clarkson. The show also included the American Juniors.
The hour-long show showcased the idols singing various Christmas songs as solos, duets and group numbers. Clay Aiken hosted the evening show.
Coming off the popular Season 2 of American Idol, the show was popular and the TV audience was large. The show was reviewed by most of the well-known entertainment critics and, as always, their opinions varied as much as the performances by the entertainers.
Anika Van Wyk of the Calgary Sun said of Clay:
Second season runner-up Clay Aiken MCs most of the show and proves he has so much more stage presence than Ruben Studdard, who won Idol 2. Aiken’s rich pipes are also very well suited to holiday classics.
The magazine, Entertainment Weekly said:
FEAT OF CLAY Guarini was originally intended to be the special’s host, but a runner-up who actually sells CDs — Clay Aiken — will fill his shoes. And if the show’s producer is to be believed, Aiken’s talent for emceeing (think Ed Sullivan, not Eminem) matches his preternatural pipes. ”Clay was a total natural,” says Warwick. ”We struck gold there.”
Clay will do plenty of singing as well. He’ll start with ”Don’t Save It All For Christmas Day,” a tune originally attempted by a chanteuse who shares his melodramatic bent, chest-thumper Celine Dion. The Clayster will also belt Irving Berlin’s classic ”White Christmas” with Kimberly Caldwell, and will chime in with ”The First Noel” during a show-closing medley of standards.
I don’t know the author of this review, but Caldwell instead of Locke?? Somebody needs a fact-checker.
I do remember watching the show. There are two things that I remember. First, who had the “brilliant” idea to put Ruben in a White, fur-trimmed Parka? Under the hot, bright lights, it must have been very uncomfortable. Secondly, and the best of the evening, I heard Clay sing Don’t Save It All For Christmas Day for the first time. I had never heard the song before and his performance was amazing.
Did you watch this show on TV?
Will you be watching American Idol this season?
Loved all those videos, I posted the last one on FB yesterday, Clay was great as always, just love him. Thanks so much Musicfan for keeping us smiling.xox
I will be watching Idol this season.
I recorded this program on my VHS tape and still have it. What a great showpiece for Clay. Not only did he out sing the others, but he was the emcee, too! Christmas and Clay, the perfect match up.
I enjoyed seeing this info. I did not follow Clay right after he was on AI so I missed a lot.
Thank you for fun posts everyday.
I still have this on VHS & 11/10 years ago, if you would've told me OMC was going to be on TV, I would've been like, "REALLY?!!! EEEEEEEE……" Now, I can honestly say, I still like him not only as a performer but also as a person. Guess I've matured in these last 11/10 years. Can't believe he & the others have been around that long. Thanks as always, for the lovely posts & no, I won't be watching Idol this season. IMO (In my opinion), it's REALLY taken a turn for the worse!!!! I haven't watched since "Momma Sox" was the runner-up.
Oh…these videos/ article brought back that great night for me!! Since I had a real health situation right after the Idol finale, I was not following Clay and all his appearances etc. So my grandsons were watching the Simpsons and Casey said, "hey Grandma, the Idol Christmas show is on next." WELL….needless to say, I watched it and I guess you can say, the rest is history!!! YES, I was hooked on CLAY AIKEN!!!! And, I've never regretted a minute of it in these 11 years! So, thank you, thank you so very much for the videos and memories!!!!!!!!
Again, thank you for these videos, I am missing Clay this Christmas. So thank God, I have my CDs and my youtube for all the Joyful Noise tours, TV appearances from the past. Merry Christmas to all!
This brings back memories. I first heard DSIAFCD performed by the Christian group Avalon, but I ♥ Clay's version, too.