• 'Idol' runner-up Clay Aiken's original goal? 'The Amazing Race'

  October 21, 2003
  Add American Idol 2 runner-up Clay Aiken to the fans of CBS's The Amazing Race. In an interview with MTV, Clay said that his original reality-show goal was to compete in Jerry Bruckheimer's Emmy-winning round-the-world competition.

• Single from 'Idol' finalist Vanessa Olivarez tumbles down Canadian charts

  October 20, 2003
  Looks like one week in the Canadian Top 10 was the limit for the first single from American Idol 2 finalist Vanessa Olivarez. In its second week of release, her single, "The One," plunged down the Nielsen Sound Scan Canadian Singles Sales chart, ending up at #48 for the week ended October 12.

• Clay Aiken's "Measure of a Man" album generates enormous sales but mixed reviews

  October 20, 2003
  The first CD from American Idol 2 runner-up Clay Aiken, entitled Measure of a Man, opened on October 14 with huge sales despite mixed reviews from critics. According to WRAL.com in Raleigh-Durham, NC, an RCA executive estimated that sales during the first two days of the CD's release had totaled 230,000 -- already equivalent to the total sales of the #1 CD on the Nielsen SoundScan Album Sales chart during the prior week.

• 'American Idol' alumni to perform Christmas special on Fox to support new CD

  October 17, 2003
  Is it to help sell the new American Idol Christmas CD? Or is it to build anticipation for the third season of Idol, which will debut in January 2004? Or, just maybe, is it an effort to help the Fox network during the November sweeps?

• Clay Aiken's hometown fans party the night away in Raleigh, NC

  October 13, 2003
  Greetings, Claymates! Reality TV World's on-the-spot correspondent Andrea Sellers here, reporting from where the magic started - Raleigh, North Carolina. With the release of Clay Aiken's "Measure of a Man" album just hours away, you may wonder if Clay's hometown is getting a litte excited about the event. Ha! Does Randy say "Dawg"?

• Clay Aiken hits the media circuit to promote "Measure of a Man" debut album

  October 13, 2003
  With American Idol 2 runner-up Clay Aiken's debut album getting released tomorrow, Tuesday, October 14, the media blitzkrieg has begun, and unless you live under a rock (or don't own a television) then odds are that you'll soon be seeing Clay appearing on a television near you.

• Vanessa Olivarez becomes third 'American Idol' finalist to reach Canadian Top 10

  October 9, 2003
  After Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken, which American Idol 2 finalist would be most likely to have a Top 10 single? Would you believe ... the pink-haired Vanessa Olivarez, who was the first member of the FInal 12 to be eliminated ... and who was the only Idol 2 finalist excluded from the live tour?

• Simon Cowell proposes hybrid scripted-reality performance show to Fox

  October 8, 2003
  You have to admire the chutzpah of Simon Cowell, American Idol judge and Cupid executive producer. As part of Cowell's new contract, Fox gets first look at the next three show ideas from Cowell and his production company, simcow Ltd. The first one looks extremely familiar.

• Clay Aiken fights to keep sexual "edge" out of 'Measure of a Man' CD - and wins

  October 7, 2003
  Time magazine reports that American Idol runner-up Clay Aiken and his record label, RCA Records, battled continually during the making of his debut CD Measure of a Man over both content and career direction. Clay’s goal, to produce an album free from both sexual innuendo and “edge,” was strongly resisted by RCA executives led by label chairman and music industry legend Clive Davis. However, Clay's CD, scheduled for release on October 14, ultimately came out "clean" -- the way that Clay wanted it.

• 'Idol' singles sink, as Clay Aiken's album nears release amidst re-repackaging

  September 26, 2003
  Last week, the King of Rock and Roll rose from the dead to end American Idol 2 runner-up Clay Aiken's double-digit run at #1 on the Nielsen SoundScan Singles Sales charts in the U.S. and Canada. This week, another legend used a satanic twist to drive both Clay and Idol winner Ruben Studdard further away from the top.

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