ClayManiacs

Quickie:
Observation is enlightening. Trust your eyes, not your instincts.

Overview:
You're in a fine mood. Good for you. Who says there has to be a solid, 'logical' reason for you to be happy? You know you've got guardian angels, sent to guide you. Listen to 'em.

Daily Extended Forecast:
You're famous for your connection to anyone who owns feathers, fur or leaves -- and for your willingness to do whatever it takes to keep them happy. You've also been known to extend your kindness to the underdog, even if they arrive in human form. So when someone comes along today with a sad story, you'll be more than happy to help. Just don't forget about your own needs in the process.

Daily Flirt:
That puzzle piece you've been looking for? It's almost within reach. You'll know it when you see it, and it'll slide right in where it belongs.

Daily Couples:
Happiness leads you two off on an exciting adventure. Put on your hiking boots and go out to meet the brave new world.

Daily Singles:
The stars are casting you in a spectacular light -- your happiness and confidence are sexier than any outfit ever could be. Be open to new possibilities, even if you're wearing your sweats.

Daily Career and Finance:
A conflict with a boss may reach a head this afternoon. If things get too hot, don't hesitate to get out of the kitchen. Remember who signs the paychecks around here.

NBC'S FEBRUARY SWEEPS INCLUDES 'SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE' SPECIAL, VALENTINE-THEMED EPISODES OF 'JOEY,' 'WILL & GRACE' AND 'LAS VEGAS,' SERIES CROSSOVERS AND PRIMETIME GUEST APPEARANCES BY AWARD-WINNING FILM AND TV ACTORS, RETURNING NBC FAVORITES AND POPULAR REALITY SHOW STARS

"Saturday Night Live" Special Focuses on First Five Years; Christopher Noth Reprises Role of Mike Logan on "Law & Order: Criminal Intent"; Stephanie March Returns to "Law & Order: SVU"; "Medical Investigation" and "Third Watch" Make for Crossover; Special "Fear Factor" with Reality Stars Including Omarosa, Trista and Ryan – Among Series Guest Stars Are Sylvester Stallone on "Las Vegas," Clay Aiken on "Scrubs," Cynthia Nixon on "ER," Dame Helen Mirren on "Third Watch" and Edward Burns on Three Episodes of "Will & Grace"

Series highlights(snip)

Other guest stars this month: Liza Minnelli and Julia Louis-Dreyfus reprise their great roles on "Arrested Development" episodes all month (8:30 p.m. Sundays, Fox); Pamela Anderson returns to "8 Simple Rules" (8 p.m. Feb. 11, ABC); Bo Derek appears on "Still Standing" (8 p.m. Feb. 21, CBS); Burt Reynolds guest-stars on "The King of Queens" (9 p.m. Feb. 23, CBS); Clay Aiken sings on "Scrubs" (9 p.m. Feb. 15, NBC); Sylvester Stallone is featured on "Las Vegas," (9 p.m. Feb. 21, NBC) and Cynthia Nixon guests on "ER" (10 p.m. Feb. 17, NBC).

Aiken Appears in Raleigh Promotional Video
Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. - Singer Clay Aiken is helping to reinvigorate his hometown's downtown.

A new eight-minute promotional video, proclaiming "Downtown Raleigh Open for Business," includes a brief appearance from Aiken, an "American Idol" runner-up.

The Downtown Raleigh Alliance, a booster organization, started distributing 200 copies of the video Monday to real estate brokers and others with their sights on downtown.

Viewers can see interviews with Harvey Schmitt, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce; Mayor Charles Meeker; and Orage Quarles III, president and publisher of The News & Observer of Raleigh.

Then Aiken appears and says: "I've traveled all over the country and seen lots of downtown areas, but one of the reasons that I really love coming back to my hometown of Raleigh is to see all the exciting changes that are happening in downtown, right here in Raleigh."

Past Idols cash in

Ruben Studdard, 26: For his September birthday, the season two winner sponsored a super-sized fete for 1,000 guests in Birmingham, Alabama.

Diana DeGarmo, 17: She released a CD, Blue Skies, but the underage season three runner-up is putting her bucks into savings. No matter: Ford gave her a 2005 Mustang convertible!

Fantasia Barrino, 20: The season three winner bought a two-storey brick house in Charlotte, North Carolina, and spoils daughter Zion, three.

Clay Aiken, 26 : “He’s a multimillionaire,” a source says of season two’s number two. Proof? He paid off Mom’s Raleigh, North Carolina, house and bought two Volvos – an SUV for his Los Angeles garage and a silver convertible for Raleigh.

Kelly Clarkson, 22: Since its release in November, Breakaway, the original Idol’s second album, has sold more than 900,000 copies. “Kelly is the most successful Idol in the term of radio play,” says a source. She shared the wealth by taking her family skiing for Christmas. “I have enough money! I can fly everyone places!”

Sing-a-long boys school
“Les Choristes” chants a familiar message about the power of teachers
By Claire Joseph

Troubled children are always good at singing.
“The Chorus,” directed by Christophe Barratier, maintains the stereotypical, heartwarming idea that all children can be saved and that teachers are the key to their success. (snip)

The choir in “The Chorus,” however, is so good that the film has picked up an Oscar nomination for best original song. The song, “Look to your Path” (“Vois sur ton Chemin”), sounds good in French, but in English, it boasts pedestrian lines referring to the “wave of hope” and the “path of glory” that can rescue “forgotten kids.”

“The Chorus” has also picked up an Oscar nomination for best foreign film, and, if the Oscar judges, like many viewers, share a soft spot for a favorite teacher or a fantasy of becoming the next Clay Aiken, the film might just win.

Other February happenings: Jeff Goldblum and Patti LuPone guest star on Will & Grace (NBC, tonight). Desperate Housewives' James Denton guest stars on Reba (Friday, WB). Liza Minnelli reprises her role as Lucille 2 on Arrested Development (Fox, Sunday). Another edition of Amazing Race comes to a close (Tuesday, CBS).

A mother and daughter from the Houston area appear on Extreme Makeover (Feb. 10, ABC). Helen Mirren guest stars on Third Watch (Feb. 11, NBC). Characters break into song on an all-music edition of 7th Heaven (Feb. 14, WB). Clay Aiken guest stars on Scrubs (Feb. 15, NBC). Dr. Phil hosts another prime-time special, this one for the romantically challenged (Feb. 15, CBS). Cynthia Nixon guest stars on ER (Feb. 17, NBC).

Names in the News

AIKEN HELPS RALEIGH:

Singer Clay Aiken is helping to reinvigorate his hometown's downtown. A new eight-minute promotional video, proclaiming "Downtown Raleigh Open for Business," includes a brief appearance from Aiken, an "American Idol" runner-up.

Tuesday night's "Late Show with David Letterman," with Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and actress Debra Messing as guests, was the highest-rated Letterman show this season on WISH (Channel 8). In fact, it was the highest-rated show on the network since Nov. 24, 2003, when "American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken and actor Paul Newman were guests.

The KSSK interview cracks up a bit, but it is so good to hear his voice. KCCNFM100 has a gap in the middle and cracks up a bit - BUT he sings MOAM acapella!  Twice!

Feb. 4, 2005. 01:00 AM  
 
It's not Clay Aiken in the closet


PETER HOWELL
MOVIE CRITIC
Boogeyman

 ** (out of 4)

Starring Barry Watson, Emily Deschanel, Skye McCole Bartusiak, Tory Mussett and Lucy Lawless. Directed by Stephen Kay. 86 minutes. At various theatres. PG

The boogeyman has been scaring young children for so long, it only seems right that he should finally get his own feature-length horror movie.

But here's the deal. It's really hard to build an entire film around someone hiding in the closet, unless you're making Clay Aiken's life story.

That leaves Mr. Chaplin more or less alone, the only band member who isn't sitting down. Untethered by an instrument, he worked the stage energetically, showing off lessons learned from both mainstream pop stars and alt-rock idols: his onstage persona is roughly halfway between Thom Yorke and Clay Aiken. (Or instead of Mr. Aiken, Will Young, the 2002 winner of Britain's "Pop Idol" contest.) At the end of "We Might as Well Be Strangers" (during which Mr. Chaplin is called upon to murmur "I don't understand your heart" without giggling), he held the microphone stand to the side and hung his head in sync with the drummer, who was hitting the last beat.

Aiken's mom to judge Little Miss Kerr Lake

Part of the buzz surrounding this year's event - which will take place Saturday at Vance-Granville Community College - stems from the judges' panel. Faye Parker, proud mother of Clay Aiken, runner-up of 2003's American Idol, will be one of five judges. Miss North Carolina, Kirsten Elrod, (second runner-up at the Miss America Pageant) also will appear and is expected to perform.

Rogers said she is "so excited" about Parker's participation and that she appreciates her involvement. She added that Parker is "so down to earth," "sweet" and is literally "Clay's biggest fan." Rogers does not promise that Aiken, the , will be present at the pageant, though.

Parker has judged the Miss Virginia Pageant and the Fox 50 Gimme the Mike contest. She and her son have been involved in pageants in the past.

Clay's Mom Helps Support Literacy Council
Posted Pamela on Wednesday, February 2 2005 at 3:00 PM PST
The Literacy Council of Wake County (Raleigh NC) is holding a fundraiser. On April 22, 2005, Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker and WRAL TV Anchor Debra Morgan will be co-hosting a fundraising event, "Black, White and Read All Over: A Celebration of Literacy", which will be held at Exploris Museum, from 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM, and will include a Live Auction and Silent Auction, music, and great food to benefit the Literacy Council. Clay Aiken's mom has generously agreed to be "auctioned off" to have dinner with the winner and guest. She will also be in attendance at the event.

January 24, 2005: The results of the 57th annual U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Campaign, conducted during October, November and December 2004 have been tabulated. The results are: U.S. Marines distributed 19 million toys to 7.4 million needy youngsters throughout the nation. This was the most successful campaign in the 57 year history of Toys for Tots. In 2003, the previous record setting campaign, Marines distributed 15 million toys to 6.5 million children.

Comedy - D-list diva  
 
Our favorite fiery redhead gets dropped by LOGO, makes Worst Dressed list again and plans Texas visit  
 
By Tony Peregrin
Contributing Writer

SNIP

Her newest celebrity targets? Ryan Seacrest and Clay Aiken. Or as Griffin refers to him, “Clay GAY-ken.”
The Houston Improv Comedy Club, 7620 Katy Frwy. Houston. $25. Feb. 18-19. Shows at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. 713-333-8800.    
COME OVER AND SEE ME: Griffin heads to Texas next weekend — in Houston.
 
 

Clive Davis in the Groove as Grammys Approach
Fri Feb 4, 2005 08:15 PM ET

NEW YORK (Billboard) - Clive Davis can't help but dance. Put on a record of one of his artists and his feet automatically start to tap, then he'll get up from behind his desk and groove.

SNIP

Q: THE IPOD, MOBILE DEVICES AND RINGTONES HAVE REALLY CAPTURED THE CONSUMER. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION?

A: I just think it's a great affirmation of the role that music plays in one's life. The major threat we as an industry have had to live through was the early days of Napster, when music was taken for free. Since then, we've had the battle of our lives in order to establish the validity of copyright and ownership. I totally support what the (Recording Industry Assn. of America) has done with its lawsuits against illegal downloaders. To establish these principles everywhere requires battle mode and constant vigilance. Now, to see legal downloading, to see the exploding sales of digital tracks, to see the growth of the ringtones and other areas is just affirming the role of music in people's lives.

I concentrate, for one, on the music. It's all in the creativity of trying to come up with new, talented artists, and breaking them is what has been so gratifying for us. In the RCA Music Group, we have now 10 artists whose very first albums have gone platinum. To see Fantasia, Mario, Velvet Revolver, Gavin DeGraw, Maroon5 joining Avril Lavigne, Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken, Ruben Studdard and, of course, Alicia Keys -- that's what it's all about. As far as technology goes, as long as we are vigilant in the enforcement of our rights, the digital revolution is only going to take music to a great audience in the future, and I'm all in favor of that.  

Q: IS SATELLITE RADIO THE ANSWER FOR ARTISTS THAT LYRICALLY DON'T FIT INTO TRADITIONAL RADIO?

A: Satellite radio will be very valuable in this connection and can give exposure to artists who don't fit the traditional formats. Artists who are unique and creative and don't fit into tiny little slots will benefit. I'm grateful for the new avenues, and I root for them.

Reuters/Billboard