jazzgirl

I could not have said that better! to Couchie. Please keep us posted. Depending on the diagnosis, many of us may have dealt with similar situations and can provide ideas. For instance, grab bars have been a big assistance for us (about a dozen are installed in the house).

{{{{{{gbmifan and family}}}}} I'm so sorry to read of your loss.

Hee!!!!! Thanks, Kim, for adding SPRING to your countdown. This has truly seemed to me to be the endless winter, so a countdown to spring is much appreciated. I know the Canadians have been hit hard, but here in Chicagoland, it has been one of the snowiest winters ever (not huge snowfalls, just frequent ones) and some brutal temps. What I have also been curious about, is if anything ever happened to the possible Donald Trump booking of Clay that aired on the Insider over a year ago. I don't remember reading if the gig ever came to fruition, but it did make a grand TV segment even if nothing came of it. ETA: Funny! So is the name "Clegg". Maybe a soothsayer wrote the program and foresaw who would be playing Sir Robin?

:F_05BL17blowkiss: to muskifest and your job unease. Layoffs are happening everywhere. If it does, you accept what you cannot change. And sometimes, these changes do work out for the best. I thought the EW review of Clay was ......................tolerable. Faint praise is better than no praise and generally means the writer has an unspoken bias they don't want to acknowledge. I loved H,T, & E better than the original!

Kim, I'm guessing Clay will be in the latter part when viewership is the highest, but I'm not taking any chances and taping the whole thing.

Couchie! You know, you can't take it with you. My philosophy is to make every effort to enjoy every second of life. I think the recent events of the shootings at Northern Illinois University bring this subject home. If someone has the means to do what they do, has the health, and derives pleasure from it, they might as well do it while they are able. And many of these blessed people share their good fortune through reports and clack! As was once said, life is a banquet and so many people are not taking part.

Many of us who can't go (me, me, me!) depend on the kindness of strangers (TM Blanche DuBois)who give first-hand reports. Everyone's life has different pluses and minuses that we may not know about other than the small slice that is Clay-related that is visible to us. I think our board life would be much poorer without all of us being able to share in the good fortune of others who let us be virtual participants (or a Muski might say, voyeurs !)

Scarlett has learned a new language! She is speaking "Spamalot-ese". I wonder if she sings "I'm All Alone" just like King Arthur? It must be the total immersion language approach from repeated viewings of Spamalot. aikim, thanks for the clack recommendation!

There's one I missed. I thought she went away simply because of management change. I thought she was behind the unauthorized leaking of the TITN video and thus persona non grata, or is that fan mythology?

I'm curious about the "British people" answer too. Unless he's going back to Vanessa and the two Simons. And as keeping faith said above, THE MYSTERY PRODUCER!!!! cha cha, your project is awesome! Many thanks for your labor of love!

Claygasm, you really, really need this! I admire you for in the midst of all that is happening, looking on the bright side of life! This article is the first I have heard of the car trip to see Miss Saigon. I do wonder how that came about and if someone was trying to encourage Clay as to career possibilities around him. Or if it was just a trip with church friends to see "Miss Saigon".

I could use some edification here. What is current Southern Baptist dogma on dancing? Some do, some don't? Is it like Catholics and birth control?

As someone said, that might just be why Clay doesn't mention this a lot. It seems to me that Clay is one of those people you either love to deal with (he's a charming bastard) or you can't stand (the charm doesn't work on you) I've been rather perplexed by the discussion on the Terrence Mann article. I saw no Clay diss whatsoever. I thought it was a huge compliment that Mann even remembered Clay and I thought it was purely a "I remember them from when" type of mention and that Mann was proud that he was a part of Clay's formation as a performer (even though the process of teaching Clay may have had its trying moments), proud enough to mention him all these years later. Someone, either Mann or the writer used the expression "American Idol sensation"; that, to me, was an indication of respect, not an attempt to disparage. I even posted at Clayversity that I thought Mann might see Clay as a protégé and linked some YouTubes of Mann, as follows: Cats From his current job with a university and his linked stint with the Broadway Theater Project mentoring newbies, I have a hard time thinking that Mann was making a negative comment about Clay. As far as this quote; I thought Mann was talking about himself! My default position is that most interviewees are talking about themselves and not about someone they knew briefly over a dozen years ago. I also think many would agree that luck sometimes has more relevance than talent when it comes to success.

With Clay and Tyra, I saw instantaneous compatibility. I remember when Phil Donahue interviewed Marlo Thomas on his show years ago. Those two had a definite spark and the same simpatico of two people who just found each other interesting. Arguably, Clay and Kimmel had the same type of reaction of two people realizing that they can play well off each other. As Rick said in Casablanca, it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Maybe eHarmony would match Clay and Tyra if they both applied?

On the Ripa/Ringo matter, I, too, think it is very interesting how Ringo is pointedly ignoring Ripa, by saying he still loves Regis. Ripa evidently felt that she could take on Clay with no repercussions, but I haven't heard her say anything about Ringo. Maybe she has enough sense not to take on a former Beatle, or she actually learned something from the fall-out with Clay, or TPTB have muzzled her! Clay's latest "movie star" photos do remind me of someone and my mind has been churning to figure out whom. In addition to Leslie Howard, Peter O'Toole, Beau Bridges, Bill Holden, etc., I would now add to the mix George Peppard (I saw "The Carpetbaggers" when I was a small child and just beginning to realize the concept of a risqué movie, without knowing why it was risqué, but I remember thinking even then that George Peppard was stunning).

{{{{{Claygasm}}}}} , I hope your many memories of a life well-lived sustain and comfort you at this difficult time.

You left out the "Tonight's the Knight" (paying homage to the thread title!).

To dance belt or not to dance belt, that is the question? Whether 'tis nobler......... My cryptic read, anyway. ETA: A recap of tonight's show from MLK973 at the CH:

Where do I apply for the appropriate eHP sticker? I didn't know of this fan club perk! I'm still trying to find a use for that rubber band bracelet. *g* I think the words bolded are a new addition to the fan lexicon.

My bolding - and hee! I love your third-hand attribution! Great sourcing to let us know where the info came from in this instance. I think it is often impossible to track down such specifics, but I got a kick out of your valiant effort.

In regards to self-described reports of Clay struggling, there is the often used political strategy of "lowering expectations". Often used because it works and it makes the final result seem even more remarkable than it already is. Maybe Clay isn't self-deprecating as much as a "lowering expectations" practitioner? Interesting spin, anyway! I didn't mind the report. I try to take any first, second, or third hand reports with a grain of salt. I think it is quite the compliment to Clay if this rehearsal watcher thought he was struggling and then amazed at the actual performance.

How interesting! I didn't know that Charlotte Church, another singer, had a TV show on in other parts of the world. My impression of her was that she grew up too fast. That is, despite her great voice, a slower career trajectory may have been a better move. I agree that while Spamalot may not represent a seismic move in Clay's career, it is still an extremely astute move. A lot can be said for having your mug (in a good way) all over NYC. Just having a long gig in one of the top two entertainment places in the country and raising the general public awareness of whom Clay Aiken is and what his capabilities are, has to enhance Clay's rep. Broadway arguably reaches a different and perhaps older and more educated audience than the traditional popstar radio MTV demographic, and means a greater dissemination into pop culture. It's a another rung on the entertainment ladder. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for more TV gigs besides The View. I'm would hope for an appearance on Mike and Juliet (I'm not a betting woman on Regis and Kelly, given the last encounter), GMA seems like a safe bet, and keeping fingers crossed for Letterman, Ferguson, and would love, love a Charlie Rose appearance!

I thought someone would zero in on that with laser-like intensity.

Clay's ET stint got publicity for two Broadway shows. Smart. I bet he would kill in Jersey Boys (and I do wonder if that has been offered).

{{{{{{Couchie and mom}}}}}}} Please keep us posted. I think the rule of thumb is to add 50% to whatever timetable a contractor gives you . So if Clay is saying the album is four months away, I will extrapolate accordingly. We need our own casino to host concerts.