It is always fun when you find a new article that includes a great mention of Clay Aiken. On Thursday, The Los Angeles Times published an excellent article about American Idol and the many star celebrities and they included Clay in their ideas.
The article is quite long so I have only included the introduction and the section about Clay in this blog.
The Los Angeles Times
Saying goodbye to ‘American Idol,’ the talent show that took pop culture by storm
by Amy Reiter
After 15 seasons, “American Idol” declined to say goodbye. “One more time — this is so tough — we say to you from Hollywood, good night, America,” the show’s forever host Ryan Seacrest said in the final moments of April’s series finale. Then, as the show faded to black, he uttered two more words: “for now.”
“I think we probably felt [the end] was slightly premature,” “Idol” creator Simon Fuller says now of the decision to have Seacrest signal the show’s possible return, if not in its current form, then somewhere, somehow, sometime. “Idol” went out with its best finale ratings in years. “So,” Fuller says, “it was kind of like, hang on, before we start banging the nails in the coffin … ”
The moment — the tease, the suspense, the element of surprise — was quintessential “Idol.” From its first season on Fox, when a charismatic, talented, unknown singer named Kelly Clarkson bested runner-up Justin Guarini to become the show’s inaugural winner and propel herself to musical superstardom, the show always knew how to milk a moment and get people talking…
…The show minted real stars, launching the careers of winners including Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Phillip Phillips and non-winners like Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry. Its contestants went on to release No. 1 hits (459 of them to date), win countless awards (including 13 Grammys and 14 Academy of Country Music Awards), fill stadiums and dominate the radio. They starred in shows on Broadway and on TV. Hudson won an Oscar. Clay Aiken ran for Congress. Clarkson sang at the second inauguration of President Obama, who paid tribute to the show’s impact via video in the finale. “No other show has produced as many stars,” Seacrest says. “It’s impressive.”…
…The show’s watershed moment came at the end of Season 2, when more than 38 millionviewers tuned in to watch Ruben Studdard defeat Aiken, by a wafer-thin margin after a huge night of voting, says Shirley Halperin, a music journalist who wrote the 2011 book “American Idol: Celebrating 10 Years.” “They just pulled every piece of drama that they could out of that finale,” she recalls. “And the next day all the newspapers, all the front pages of websites, everybody had Clay vs. Ruben as the top story. I’ve never seen a pop-culture water-cooler moment that big.”…
You can read the entire article at LATIMES
Do you think American Idol will return in the next few years??
Ya never know what American Idol will do! Perhaps we will see some kind of new version of the popular show. I know I watched it every season once I found Clay! I mean every single season! I never was as invested in all the wonderful singers as I was with Clay, but I enjoyed the show none the less. I love all singing and dancing shows, so whatever they come up with, I'll be watching!
I loved American Idol since Season 2. Of course, Clay was my favorite and has been since. Those who did not "win" were those I believe should have. Lost interest when all the attention went to the judges and the contestants were more rehearsed and prepared! The innocence was gone. I don't think they could bring Idol back. The magic not there!
Interesting that they are now just publishing an article now. It seems a bit late in the fast pace world of show business. Oh well. I agree with shirleyt that once the innocence was lost it lost it's appeal for me. The way they were bringing people on that you could liken to "ringers" I gave up watching around season 6. I am sure it won't be the last we see of the franchise or the two Simons in the USA. They will want to keep dodging that UK Tax especially now that Simon Cowell has been named in the Panama Papers tax scandal. UK'ers have a tough time forgiving these things.
I will forever be grateful to AI for discovering and giving us Clay. His season was the best they ever produced. After they proved to me our votes were NOT all counted I did watch up until the season with David Cook, but I never voted again. I will NEVER believe Clay didn't win, but it is 13 years later and I am over it. AI gave it to Ruben, Clay loves him, and I do too. He is really a sweet, talented guy. I hope they do bring it back some day IF Clay is part of it and SINGS. I doubt it though.