Couch Tomato

heee you can take that question mark off my name..I have a ticket!!

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee I bought my first Spamalot ticket -- to closing night. eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

this made me giggle..just the bit of a google alert I Could see.

He called himself "The black Clay Aiken." Black, I'll give him. Aiken, not so much

So is Perez in the studio or on satellite. I'd hate for Clay to breathe the same air as him.

But yay for Clay on my tv... thanks for the download link.

well he looks great but can't hear anything. Is it just me?

ok was able to watch the new report on the website here: http://cw11.trb.com/

no reports on Mike and Juliet?

apparantly I'm the only one here so I'll keep editing

For those interested RCA and music biz in general..I found this interesting: but apparantly Clive has scrapped Jennifer Hudson's entire album and she's starting all over. I guess the songs were more in the style of old school R&B (which I would have freakin' loved but if you look at the landscape, those kind of artists are rare)...

Just as I suspected, there were hold-ups to Jennifer Hudson’s much anticipated debut album. Apparently, 2007 was supposed to be her year, but the label has scrapped the album that she’s previously recorded and Clive Davis has put the J. Records signee back into the studio to trade up. It seems as though the team didn’t think that the material was strong enough and that consumers wouldn’t purchase the project.

Ryan Tedder, front man of Mosley Music Group band OneRepublic, has spoken out about the state of Hudson’s album, considering that he’s been signed on to helm some writing credits now that Clive is taking the album in a new direction.

“They made half an album and ended up scrapping it. Clive — wisely, I think — said, ‘No one’s going to buy this. We’re trying to turn her into Aretha Franklin, and that’s not realistic,’ ” Tedder said. “They scrapped a bunch of songs and started fresh. I heard a Timbaland song that was by far the best song she’s done. I do wish, and I know the label wishes, that this album had come out six months ago. But Clive’s smart. He didn’t want to just put out a crap album just because of the momentum.

Wow, Lucky..well the good news is that you know what's going on. Sometimes not knowing can be worse. And he was taking medication that he didn't need? Full coverage that helps too. But I totally understand your son. I need to get myself together for the simple fact is that I never want to have to do an insulin stick every day. How are you. YOu must be overwhelmed. Good luck with the treatment.

Please don't make anything about this but after some PM's with a v. good friend who helps take care of the vaults, my XviD of The View was v. repectfully declined. I'll be self-hosting and this is the link to the 139MB XviD file. -- Right-click & Save! But only if you're sure that your computer can handle XviD's.

Thanks Scarlett! Oooh maybe I can finally watch your great vids on my laptop.

The end is near. SFGate has posted the entire AP wire story on Clay. weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

It looks like you all like the pix we added to the gallery at ClayAikenPix tonight.

I love these new ones!

Hey Meesa..will you guys be opening up for new membership soon? I missed out!!

exactly... on Taylor's thread at twop they are pissed because AI seems like they are trying to forget he exists. For better or worst, that will NEVER happen with Clay. I just can't get worked up about it. Things are to good for this to become the talk of the nation. I hope that doesn't happen. Hmmmm wonder if Clay will go on to push Spamalot..or I heard they were doing where are they nows this year. Have they done that yet?

I don't care about Simon... what a great day. That article was fabulous..not one bit of snark anywhere. Not to say he hasn't had stuff this good, he has, but this is just extra special. I must go read that again. Lokoed like he had a new phoito shoot..maybe for the OFC? Don't care why...loving this...and to think we just be getting all kinds of goodies for the next few months. So tomorrow is Mike and Juliet right?

best article ever. Just wow.

Can I just put the word out that I'm looking for a closing night ticket if anyone is perusing other boards? Help a sistah out.

what a cutie pie... did I mention I loved the View? I thought he looked adorable..but damn the cross talk is annoying. I'm glad he spoke to that with his..uh which one do i answer first LOL..very funny.

Play is back. Play is back. Play, how was the play? heee

what a great day..Clay on my TV... I thought he was so cute and charming ..and talking a mile a minute. I hope he comes back sometimes during their run...

I loved that Clay's debut has helped the box office... was the entire article posted? I don't think I saw it.

Money talks, bullshit walks. Is that the saying?

</h1>

<h1>Broadway box office bounces back

'Spamalot' surges in post-holiday upswing

Variety article

After a rough post-holiday frame that saw receipts plummet, Broadway sales got a welcome uptick last week. Grosses rose by about $700,000 to an estimated $17.5 million for 31 shows on the boards -- a tally that also compares favorably with the $14.7 million for 28 shows reported over the same week last year.One of the largest week-to-week gains was seen by "Monty Python's Spamalot" ($797,390), which looks to have benefited from the debut Jan. 18 of "American Idol" alum Clay Aiken. Both "Spamalot" and "Legally Blonde" ($668,409), seemingly correcting a bit after steep dips the prior sesh, rose by $138,000 each.

Up about $88,000, "The Color Purple" ($477,153) began to climb back up from the major slide it took in the wake of star Fantasia's recent departure. "Hairspray" ($640,692) rose by about the same amount.

The January doldrums didn't much chill the usual slate of top performers, officially led by "Wicked" ($1,371,768) and "Jersey Boys" ($1,157,164) as estimates for "Young Frankenstein" dipped to $1.26 million. Clumped together in the top 10, all three Disney offerings stayed strong, with newly opened tuner "The Little Mermaid" ($950,655) not quite hitting the same highs as long-runner "The Lion King" ($1,050,324).

"August: Osage County" ($609,017) continued to log the heftiest totals of the many plays now running, although "Rock 'n' Roll" ($437,824) and "November" ($415,166) also reported relatively healthy numbers for nontuners.

Long-runner "Rent" ($333,226) got a bump last week, during which the show announced a closing date of June 1, while the profitable run of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" ($282,053) played its final perf Sunday.

The pins are gorgeous. Thank you Cindilu for your fine work. I'm going to start mailing tomorrow..it will be in batches of 50 over the next few days. Sorry but I'm on the bus LOL.

Now, off to watch CLAY on my TV.

pins have arrived!!

cute banner.

bwah..

sooooo everybody all Clayed out?

and it starts all over again tomorrow.

Yay I put in my vacation request today.... April 25th until May 5th whooooooooooooooooooo...hold on Clay, I'm coming heee.

I forgot to mention..that the only thing that made me smile on the bus stop was 3 big rigs going by one after the other -- KNIGHT TRANSPORTATION. heee.

gulp..yeah that helps.

wait a minute..why are people leaving before curtain call...to be first at the stage door? Now that is tacky.

I don't care about blinky lights...never have. Clay has concerts not church services.

well crap... I just stood in the rain for 1 1/2 hour and the bus never came. I'm dripping wet and cold and pissed..and late. Finally I just said F it and went home. Now I'm waiting for my sister to take me.

Least I have someone cute to look at..and that's my favorite picture too Keeping faith - just adorable.

My thoughts exactlly. LOL I laughed at the fact that even from ten people back, while his head was down signing stuff he knew her voice and knew her well enough to snark on her. Her style may never be mine, but I like her...I'm editing because I decided I don't know if 'like' is the right word. I don't know Ethel personally well enough to either register like or dislike...but to me she's like a part of this Clay family...like the aunt who comes to the holiday dinners and maybe talks too loud or pinches your cheeks every time. You might roll your eyes when you hear she's coming, but you know damn well there'd be something missing without her. LOL. I love her for being that part of the fandom for me.

I like that description. She reminds me of my aunt. I understand those that have a probelm if she interrupts their concert experience. But her personality and her interactions with clay on theclack - freakin' hilarious and really don't care about Clay spreading it around. Anyway, when the bruhaha hit at the end of DCAT, at least Ethel had the good sense to recognzie her part in creating the problem and apologizing.

Well Clay has the day off but I don't. hee Better go get ready. Happy Monday. What a wonderful wonderful weekend.

Does anyone know which day Diane was there...was it yesterday...matinee or evening show.

ya'll are cracking me up. I'm nervous for everyone. what is the final roadblock...

I think everyone should assume an IMO because no one post or no two posts are going to change board policy ..which hmmmm ok yes we do have board policies

I really hope people continue to bring over assorted and sundry items because I find out 99% of my Clay news here. I don't have the time these days to be a multiple board person so I really appreciate it. If you have concerns about a source it's ok to express it but consider the info - if it's pretty innocuous most folks really won't care. If it's some of the more crazy crap we found about not long ago that's a different story and that info shoudl be openly mocked before it takes root.

Back to work..I swear I'm feeling the pressure cuz I am determined to go see Clay. I must see my boyfriend in Spamalot. Maybe I'll write that in sentences every day as inspiration.

There are so many comparisons made, based on record sales and who's in "first place" ... and what is the best course of action for which particular career path and on and on. Each of these singers must find his or her own "grail" and follow it, and arguments can be made (by me, anyway) that Clay is in a league of his own, and not just regarding former idol winners and contestants. When I say he has the whole package, I mean it in every

I know. God we really should understand that all of the idols are in the same boat with a lot of this stuff. Clay gets a lot of crap. And "we" give other idols crap. If you're not a fan of Fantasia, why in hell should you care what she's up to. Oh, because Clive gave her attention for a hot minute. But Clive will always move on to what he thinks will make him money. So now it's JHud. I know I used to be caught up in all the comparison stuff -- now I just don't care. I just care about what Clay is doing. Of course every idol that comes out of the gate will get a full run of promotion. Why does it hurt anew when some new idol gets something that Clay damn well got in 2003. I used to tell my brother in law who thought Clay was stealing Ruben's thunder that they are out in the real world. It doesn't matter who won, or how you placed because now you're competing with every artist out there not just idols. And it's true. Clay's career is up to him. And look, five years later he is still around and doing great. He's not Carrie Underwood but so damn what. She's talented and deserves her success and is working hard too. I agree that all the comparison articles spur a lot of this stuff. I still read the other idol threads at twop because they are fun but I try not to post in them unless I have something positive or neutral to say. OK OK i had one little zing over the past 2 years LOL. Anyway, I know that anything Clay does there will be folks who will spin it itno something ugly. I don't need to see it personally or know about it..they just live for that crap. So I really don't expect it to stop now. But there' sjust way too much goodness here. I think the fandom is pretty darn united over this for the first time in a long time. That turmps everything.

Ah more cute pictures. I love the one with jerome and Clay. I just really really trust Jerome to take care of Clay's safety. It will be interesting to see how long he's there with him. I know absolutely nothing about Jerome's situation (and don't want to know) but maybe he will just live in NYC until April. I would think it's just like being on tour with him in a way.

ETA: Jamar you are so right. The sports boards are damn nasty with regards to hating on teams that aren't yours. And I wouldn't go near a political site LOL.

Yes! This is exactly how I feel as well. We live in a world where very few appeal to all and I truly believe it takes time and effort to build a long lasting career as an entertainer. Pop stars come and go but real entertainers build that foundation and are around for a very long time. They also have many ups and downs. Sinatra is a good example of that. So, with all Clay has already accomplished, and all that is to come, I think he is heading for a long multimedia career if he chooses.

Images can change pretty quickly in this world. Clay has a very decent image if people are willing to look more closely rather than follow the sound bytes of tabloid press. He is a lightening rod and even that will serve him well in the long run. The majority of our world is not "kewl". The "kewl" just get a great deal of attention.

Okay, off my soapbox now. I was just thinking out loud.

Oh I agree with all of this. I figured Clay and his pepole would have to think outside the box a bit. I've always thought some duet with someone you wouldn't expect or a funny commercial or a talk show would be the way to lead people back to his singing. Well this is definitely thinking outside of the box and it's a great start for him.