Author Topic: AIKEN NEWS NETWORK MAY 25 (Read 1453 times)
clayMaine-iac
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AIKEN NEWS NETWORK MAY 25
« on: May 25, 2004, 04:47:59 AM »
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GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE!!!![/i]
I have to start the day with this story---A good chuckle to wake up the vocal cords and tickle the funny bone:
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Men buying pink women's shoes
Milwaukee, WI, May. 24 (UPI) -- Pink is the hot color in hip-hop and urban wear for men, but finding pink shoes in men's sizes is almost impossible to find in the United States.
"It's the hot thing to have," said Curtis Jackson.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported Monday Jackson joined dozens of other men in a long line at 8 a.m. Saturday outside the Finish Line at Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa, Wis., to buy a pair of large pink women's shoes.
Lady Foot Locker store clerk Frank Cunningham is getting tired of disappointing women who want pink for their size 11 feet.
"I have to say, 'Ma'am, we don't have your size. We sold it to a young man,'" he said.
Several famous men have been seen in pink this season -- Ashton Kutcher wore a pale pink suit, Larry King wore pink suspenders and Clay Aiken wore pink shoelaces.
But hip-hop style experts said pink's popularity can be traced to rapper Cam'ron, who wears signature pink jumpsuits, pink minks and sold a pink Range Rover on eBay for $160,000 last month.
WASHTIMES
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clayMaine-iac
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AIKEN NEWS NETWORK MAY 25
« Reply #1 on: May 25, 2004, 04:51:56 AM »
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For The Record: Quick News On 'American Idol,' Eminem, Courtney Love, Foxy Brown, Slipknot, Soul Asylum & More
05.24.2004 5:05 PM EDT
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Past "American Idol" contestants Clay Aiken, Kimberly Caldwell and Christina Christian will play a special part in this season's "Idol" finale on Wednesday. Aiken will host the Fantasia Barrino hometown celebration from Greensboro, North Carolina; Caldwell will host the Diana DeGarmo hometown celebration in Atlanta; and Christian will host the red-carpet arrivals at the Kodak Theatre. Jennifer Love Hewitt will introduce the opening of the show, which airs live on FOX at 8 p.m. ET. ... In other "American Idol" news, the producers of the show have teamed with Dick Clark's production company to bring "American Bandstand" back to the airwaves for the summer of 2005. The show, which ran from 1957 to 1987, will feature music performances. ...
MTV
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clayMaine-iac
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AIKEN NEWS NETWORK MAY 25
« Reply #2 on: May 25, 2004, 05:01:26 AM »
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Quote
American idolatry
By JACOB TOOTALIAN
In the opening scene of Raiders of the Lost Arc, Indiana Jones braved the pitfalls and perils of a South American temple in search of a golden idol that lay within. For three seasons in a row now, the good people at FOX have mounted a similar effort in the hunt for the nation's next top pop star who can serve as an idol of its own.
Donning the fedora and cracking the whip, Simon Cowell - with his leading lady Paula Abdul on his arm and his faithful companion Randy Jackson at his side - has taken on the task of searching for the rare treasure that is talent.
While "American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken may bear more than a slight resemblance to Dr. Jones's shiny smiling statuette, this trio of musical adventurers faces a force far more lethal than angry Nazis. They are subjected to enduring the sieg heil-like dance moves and shrill achtung-shouting voices of the tone-deaf, rhythmically challenged William Hung clones. Worse yet, they have to listen to that tool Ryan Seacrest.
But the latest adventure of Cowell and company has neared its climax. The next two days mark the final showdown between the two remaining contenders: Diana DeGarmo and Fantasia Barrino.
While having the name of a Disney movie seems like a sure bet to me, I've been wrong before. Just last Wednesday, I was flabbergasted at the loss of the Hawaiian hottie Jasmine Trias, who was cut despite her enticing hula abilities. America, you clearly wouldn't know talent if it shook its fine ass right in front of you.
Still, the idols and runners-up of the past have had talents of their own. Kelly Clarkson, the victor of the first season, actually deserved the number-one position. Miss Independent, ironically with the help of a team of producers like Clive Davis and several song writers, put together a rather successful debut album.
Season two winner Ruben Studdard, however, is known less for his music and more for the fact that he looks like what would happen if Wayne Brady ate Fat Joe. Though the R&B stylings of the Velvet Teddy Bear were enough to garner him an "Idol" victory, in the hearts of many fans and according to record sales charts he wasn't exactly the champion.
Silver medalist Clay Aiken has found far more commercial success. His hit single "Invisible" has earned itself a place on the list of top-10 stalker songs, right below The Police's "Every Breath You Take." Despite that, Clay has been the butt of plenty of late-night monologue jokes, which have done a great job of emasculating him. I guess he had it coming, though, considering he titled his album "Measure of a Man."
So it seems despite who wins this time around, both Diana and Fantasia have an equal chance of post-"Idol" success. And they also will be happy to know that they won't be the last of their kind. The show itself looks forward to subsequent seasons.
(snip)
CALIFORNIA AGIE
Does anyone know how to give a computer mouse some coffee this morning??? Mine is dying!!!
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clayMaine-iac
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AIKEN
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Clay's Maine Squeeze
AIKEN NEWS NETWORK MAY 25
« Reply #3 on: May 25, 2004, 05:05:37 AM »
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Quote
Girl scouts band together to help sick kids
By Wendy Bigham The Herald
(Published May 24‚ 2004)
FORT MILL -- Some Fort Mill girl scouts are trying to make life a little easier for a fellow scout and other children being treated for serious illnesses at an area hospital.
The Junior Girl Scouts in Troop 2727 and their troop leader, Alice McClain, wanted to help when they heard doctors discovered a golf-ball sized tumor in 9-year-old Jenna Witherspoon's brain in late March. Jenna, a member of Troop 401, is being treated at the Children's Hospital at Carolinas Medical Center.
Over the last several weeks, the junior girl scouts distributed fliers in Fort Mill schools asking for toys for the program that helped Jenna through treatment -- the Child Life Program at the Children's Hospital at CMC.
The Child Life Program has specialists that use creative education for children being treated for accidents and illnesses at the hospital. Daily activities and a play room at the hospital are meant to help minimize family stress. Siblings of sick children also are involved, according to the Carolinas Medical Center Web site.
Troopers will take the toys to the children's floor today. Tuesday, the girls will travel to Carolinas Medical Center and make crafts with the children at The Children's Hospital.
Inside McClain's garage in the Knights Bridge neighborhood in Fort Mill are boxes of toys and books for all ages of children. The girls estimate they have a couple hundred movie videos, some in Spanish.
They were amazed at the items people bought new and donated. Other girl scouts from various troops also donated toys.
"Old Nintendos could have been traded in for a lot of money," said 12-year-old girl scout Alexis McClain.
Well-wishers from South Carolina to Wisconsin left positive notes for Jenna on her Web site at
www.caringbridge.org/sc/jennawit. Jenna, who's a big fan of American Idol and Clay Aiken, even got an autographed photo of Aiken.
"You don't really realize it when you put a flier out. People gave even if they didn't know her," said 11-year-old Laura Watkins.
HERALDONLINE
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clayMaine-iac
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AIKEN NEWS NETWORK MAY 25
« Reply #4 on: May 25, 2004, 05:10:10 AM »
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Tuesday 25th May, 2004
Stars come out for 'Idol' finale
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Big News Network.com Tuesday 25th May, 2004
Fox-TV said Monday that three past American Idol performers will join Jennifer Love Hewitt on the telecast of the American Idol season finale.
Clay Aiken, Kimberly Caldwell and Christina Christian will join Hewitt as hosts for several live events during Wednesday's broadcast.
Aiken will host a party for fans of finalist Fantasia Barrino in her hometown of Greensboro, N.C., and Caldwell will host a party for the other finalist, Diana DeGarmo, in her hometown, Atlanta.
Hewitt will host the concert opening of the season finale, which will feature contestants from this season singing during a free show at the Hollywood & Highland complex in Hollywood. Christian will handle the hosting chores for the red-carpet arrivals at the Kodak Theater on Hollywood Blvd.
BIGNEWSNETWORK
When Words Fail--Let Music Speak
clayMaine-iac
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AIKEN NEWS NETWORK MAY 25
« Reply #5 on: May 25, 2004, 05:17:25 AM »
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`Idol' wishes: Fox's hit talent show needs a tuneup
By Sarah Rodman
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
As the nation prepares for the final “American Idol” competition of the season (tonight at 8 on WFXT, Ch. 25) between Fantasia Barrino and Diana DeGarmo, here's a radical thought for for restless fans:
It doesn't matter who wins.
Few competitions have mattered less.
The winner is irrelevant because, as in past seasons, the best singer - La Toya London - has already been voted off the show.
In the microcosm of “Idol,” the runner-up doesn't do too shabbily. Just ask season 2 runner-up Clay Aiken, whose bland debut album has outsold the bland debut album of winner Ruben Studdard. For everyone else, there are always cruise ships and Disneyland. And whoever wins is not likely to making a lasting contribution to music.
And that's OK. By its very nature, “Idol” defines the disposability of a certain kind of just-for-fun pop music. It's not seeking the next Bob Dylan (more on him later). But that doesn't mean that this little talent show couldn't use a tune-up. In fact, things are getting downright “pitchy” over there.
A few suggestions:
# Raise the age eligibility. Jon Stevens was not a good singer, but the redhead was only 16 years old, far too young to be subjected to the scorn heaped upon him. Conversely, allowing older singers with more experience would raise everyone's game.
# Enough with cheesy “guest judges.” Forget the Barry Manilows. Dylan is reportedly interested in getting involved with “Idol.” If better songwriters came on board, the challenges could become more intense and less like karaoke.
# Seek a diverse range of singers. The producers should cast a wider net for singers who don't fit the boring molds of Celine Dion and Luther Vandross.
# Stop stuffing the ballot box. One phone, one vote.
# Stop killing us with oversaturation. From reject retrospectives to padded clip shows, Fox has overdone it with substance-free programming.
# Add a fourth judge who represents the viewers. How about rotating in an amateur judge each week? It could be a viewer who vows honesty without cruelty, a vocal coach who can pinpoint technical issues or a deejay who could discuss airplay. Anything to mitigate the witless blather that the main trio passes off as insight.
# Force the final four to compose a song. You don't have to be a great songwriter to be a great singer, but it might be fun to hear what contenders could share.
As for the fans:
# Dial up or shut up. The first rule of the “Idol” viewership club should be you can't talk about the show unless you attempted at least once to get through to support your favorite.
# Calm down. As London told reporters last week, “I didn't die.” Life's way too short to get this aggravated by an amateur talent show where everyone's getting paid except the viewer. If you want to be ticked off about something on “Idol,” let it be the bizarre homophobia that occasionally floats between Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell or the reality that Paula Abdul will be able to retire comfortably by the time she's 50 and you'll still be working. (Somewhere, Emilio Estevez seethes.)
Finally a personal pet peeve: Cowell, Abdul and Randy Jackson all have music industry credentials. Jackson plays and composes music. Abdul knows plenty about singing out of tune. They know enough to be more precise with their criticism. Can we please declare a moratorium on the word pitchy? Is it that hard to say sharp, flat or off key?
Rodman, out.
THE EDGE
