Couch Tomato

As for the picture, I think it's an attempt at "arty" - more of a caricature than a portrait, similar in style to the cartoons that festoon the walls of so many NYC eating places.

I think so too. When I saw it online I went WTF. And while it may look strange and out of place all by itself it probably fits right into the magazine.

In the past week or so I remember Clay doin the "we" "us" thing and for the first time I went ... explain it Clay. I can't even remember where it was..but I seem to think it was live..so one of the interviews last week. I know he's talking about his management or some part of team clay but does everybody? My whole entire family is from the south and I've never heard anyone speak like that. To me it's uniquely Clay and I love Clay the way he is and don't want him to change. That means some folks won't get him. So be it.

Still not upset by the article. I guess because I read a lot of alternative type stuff and this would seem to fit right into something like the SF Guardian - photo and all. I tend to think Clay and his "we" knew what they were dealing with and I think the fans take things harder than Clay. What's really there that is an indictment. He's smarter than he pretends to be? Anybody who reads the article will have everything in context - he's focusing on his career, not his love life.

The comments - yeah I read some last night. More agendas in the comments than in the article. IT's sad that we've learned absolutely nothing in five years. Oh well. I need to accept that some things won't change.

As for any psychoanalysis of Clay - I'm sorry but I roll my eyes at it. What the hell does anyone know. If the woman can't present Clay from today because of what she read in LTS, neither should the fans analyze him based on what they read in LTS. As for therapy. Pfft. It's not for everyone. Some people turn therapy into a lifelong event. And some people culturally just don't do the therapy thing. I know one person in my family that ever sought therapy and most of them have had some hard knocks. Clay seems to be thriving to me so I'll leave it to him to decide what works.

Nothing like going for a doctor's appoint for a little dose of reality. I've got to get serious about losing weight stat, before my doctor kills me.

http://nymag.com/arts/tv/features/43266/

So digging around the NY Mag I found this article on Leno. The picture cracked me up. I think the readership of that mag will understand that the picture of Clay is distorted. This morning I'm still going eh. Ansa, agree with you on why there was no major print interviews for ATDW.... I've always thought they had only one question on their mind so they had the choice to do it or not. And they chose not to. Can't really say for sure but I also agree that's another reason spamalot will be important. Clay won't be stepping out of a vacuum of lies and rumor with the next album. I know people think you can just control the press and tell them what to write but it doesn't work that way. I'd really like to see more articles in all sorts of print media for the next album. It's a risky proposition but we just have to go in knowing they might not be fluff peices or the most flattering. Some writers will have an agenda but I think it's the body of info out there that's important.

I mostly hate that she used LTS to shore up her story because five years is a long time between any opinion on something, espcially when Clay's life has taken has gone through such monumental changes.

Anyway, happy Monday.

There are some interesting tidbits about the other Idols when she was on the show and on tour, including some fond memories of bonding with Clay about religion/modesty stuff

Sooooooooooooo Carman has a book out... pulled this from TWoP..... so who is taking one for the team and buying the book

Regarding the part of the article about church -- so how many people think those were fans that popped into church when Clay was in town. I actually think that's shameful. I hope he can find a place to workship in NYC if that is what he wants.

So exactly what is New York Magazine and who is the audience for it.

I really love that opinion is all over the place on this articles --certainly makes for good discussion.

I am convinced this city is going to crack Clay Aiken like an egg. Then I see him on Broadway.

I had forgotten: Between Eighth Avenue and Broadway, there's a little patch of regular America, right in the center of Manhattan. Regular America loves Clay Aiken exactly the way he is. (They voted for him.) "Watch out," says the guy at the box office who hands me my tickets for Spamalot. "Those Clay Aiken fans are insane. They scream like teenagers, but they're middle-aged women!" Everyone manages to keep her underwear on during the performance I see, but they do make a joyful noise every time Aiken appears onstage in the role originated by David Hyde Pierce.

In a Broadway musical, Aiken is perfect—he can throw that cheesy, octave-spanning man-voice of his around all he wants and hit all those honky gospel notes. It sounds great! He can slowly, slowly raise his arms in the air as he holds a note for 45 minutes. He can make his corny, cartoony facial expressions, and onstage, they're utterly appropriate. Also, musical theater takes place in a land only slightly more erotically charged than Smurf Village, so here Aiken's suppressed, indeterminate sexuality seems logical, usual, male. And he doesn't seem hick. Partly because the twang is replaced by an equally theatrical Cockney and partly because he's in a funny show. (The theme of his big number is "You won't succeed on Broadway if you don't have any Jews.") Every joke gets a roar. "When I'm up here onstage, I'll be the idol of my age," he sings, and the women go crazy. You can almost feel them sucked toward him by some unholy mix of maternal yearning and abject horniness.

I liked this part of the article. She thought he would crack. And then she saw him on Broadway. The last line cracked me up. Clay is one strong dude ..I think she gets that if nothing else.

Now the picture, somebody needs to be horsewhipped.

Play, I agree with you that he likes to keep his personal life private. And of course she could have totally misquoted him. But it seemed to me she said he paused before answering. Right now I tend to think it wasn't subterfuge although I'm surprised he answered it. And I know it's tough for those in a relationship to understand that you can live and be perfectly happy without a significant other. But you really can. And I can see his worldwind of a life adding and sudden fame making it hard for him to get a handle on his private life.

Interesting article. And I guess I don't write it off totolly as too cool for school. I thought she had him pretty well pegged on some things and I thought she admitted some of her preconceived notions were kinda wrong. I think he probably walked away impressed by Clay..at least least that's my impression. Clay won't crack. That's one thing I know. And she knows it too. Definitely could have done without some of it. I'll be surprised if this article doesn't get some mileage.

Yes Muski, that leaped out at me too. As long as he's happy that's ok. It's not what I want for him but it's his life. I don't get the same impression is you. I don't think shutting that part of him has anything to do with his perceived sexuality. In fact, it's the opposite of what one would expect him to say I think. I've often suspected that Clay wasn't secretly dating (not that this is definitive) and we know he isn't dating publicly. It's been five years since we've known him. I'm surprised he chose to answer it at all but he knew what he was doing. I'm frankly more surprised he spoke so openly about wooing men was one of the reasons he took spamalot. I'll have to read in the morning when I'm more alert.

feature article

NY Magazine..haven't read it yet...but it's long!

well as I mentioned yesterday..to me one or two months is not enough time to promote CD. He can't be in Wisconsin in July if something comes up. He needs to be available even if we see less of him. And yes he needs to rest at some point this year. So I'm actually with you CG on a tour happening some time next year. Now if he forgoes xmas and tours say in sept oct and nov..I'd be all for that...but Clay hasn't texted me lately heee. It's a good problem to have isn't it. This year is going to be off the chain.

I am curious about the type of music on it, though. I have a feeling it won't be what some expect it to be.

What? REALLY? In this fandom? No way!

hee well I can honestly say I have no idea what to expect and it gives me a rush. I hope he keeps on surprising me forever.

Well personally for me it's he significance of Spamalot. Yeah it's only January but he's in the show straight through May. And in that time I expect he will erase a lot of preconceived notions. That alone makes spamalot a wonderful lead in to an album. And having followed fantasia, she didn't get good press at the start of her run..she got it the entire length of the run and wrap ups when it was over. It's adding a layer, a new and different layer to Clay and that can only help when the album is released. It's a great jumping off point IMO. And if it comes out in May I can so see him being on Idol in a triumphant return from his Spamalot run. I'm not putting a number to this..just think it will be much better than coming out of nowhere like ATDW.

oh yay what a nice review. Yay Kandre started her recap. I think I Have been jonsing for it.

Solo is shy and retiring alright..she sure can hurt a person when the situation calls for it. LOL. Scarlett isn't the only one who has seen her wrath.

Thanks for your review Cindilu2. I hope you haven't been made to feel here like your review wasn't wanted. I've beenw waiting for it. 3 months and counting for me.

I agree that the appreciation by his fans is part and parcel of having Clay. I do understand why it would be puzzling. I think Clay fans respond to things that are Clay, not necessarily Sir Robin if that makes any sense. like just him saying a dirty word or dancing maybe? It's like they are left out of a joke.

Thanks for sharing!!

waves to Jazzgirl...

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I personally hope there is no summer tour. If he has album out in May or June he needs time to promote it properly. ANd squeezing in a tour before Xmas, because you know he is doing that, just seems like to much. I'd rather see him pour everything into album promotion and then tour in 2009. Of course if there is one..I'll be there in a new york minute.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

My Spamalot pins arrived with no postage due.

LOL

yay, one down 149 to go. Hmmm if I was A101 X8 I'd auction off a few and go to about 20 more shows LOL.

So the A101 8 seat buyer is the new Ethel. Whatever. From what I understand it's a number of different seats that they choose from anyway.

It's hard to sit here and work work work but I just think about NYC in April and not sleeping in central park and amazingly I go straight back to work.

Spamalot representing list

hey I know more people have tickets than is posted here...can you please add your name so Lucky or one of the mods can update...

YAY finally Jason told that harpy shrew off. BEYOTCH!

From reading the Variety article January is what it is on Broadway. The most important thing here is for people to go when they can - and for Clay to take out of this experience everything he can to move on in his career to other exciting projects. To me it's more important than Clay being number one! Yes it's important that when the week is over, nice numbers be posted in the Broadway mags. I don't think they care if most of the attendance is on the weekends. Tourist and locals will continue to do their part for this show.

LOL I was not smuttin' PINS PINS PINS heee

FromClaygary..can you post the information about this donation thing. I haven't donated yet and I think I can afford $10 this week.

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

It's Friday after 5 PM.

Ok ya'll..I pulled a Couchie. So when I went to the post office to mail pins on Wednesday... I went to the clerk and she told me how much 1 pin, 2 pins, 3 pins etc. Then I bought stamps. Welllllllllllllllllllllllll. It didn't hit me until today..after I had put the last of the pins in the big bucket and they took them away, that the Finding Sir Robin pins are heavier so slightly more expensive. Most orders should be ok since most folks bought equal number of each. Canada's also ok. But I imagine there might be oh about 10 - 20 packages that arrive with postage due. SOWWWWWY. YOu know where I am. If you want your twenty cents I'll paypal ya..or I can buy you a drink next time I see you or give you discount on the 2009 version of the Doing pine

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee I get to meet Keeping Faith. Damn I'm stoked.

Speaking of Fantasia I heard box office plumeted after she left and The Color Purple will be closing in Feb. I have to say I didn't think she could even act well enough to do this but she proved me wrong. I wasn't as worried about Clay heee..but had some worries before opening night. So proud.

I sometimes wonder what he sees when he looks in the mirror with all these different looks. The brown hair with bangs made him look a good 5 years younger than he was. Now, I think he actually looks his age. I think this is the first time I've actually thought he looked his age. He's always looked so young to me. But, hey, I'm not complaining. I like older looking Clay. :29:

good question. I wonder what he thinks as well. I kinda like the new pics. Serious? Tired? Ticked? who knows. How early did he have to get up.

I'm so excited about going to NYC. Back before 9/11 I used to go evey other year. I love that city. I'm staying for 10 days. I have friends and family there so it won't be all Clay 24/7 but heeee I'm sure I'll squeeze him in once or twice or 5 times.