WAIT! IT GETS WORSE! Clay knew that Ruben was going to win five minutes before Ryan announced it! Read on...
The Real American Idol Scandal: Clay Knew
by Sting7 -- 05/22/2003
The day after American Idol's finale, we learn more about some surprising things that happened behind the scenes, the voting scandal, the future of Simon and Randy, and... did Clay know before the results were read?
The day after the American Idol finale, and all the magazine shows have some exclusive or another. But, some fascinating facts are coming out!
Fox’s Good Day Live had Randy Jackson as the guest for the whole show. Randy admitted that most of those involved in the show partied the whole night at Sky Bar in Los Angeles, including Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard (a female contestant who shall remain nameless who was really drunk!). Clay teased a much more animated Ruben that he will actually get to get some sleep, while Ruben has more interviews to do. Both headed to New York, including a certain stop at MTV’s TRL. Clay’s schedule is not as hectic as Ruben’s but he will be working awfully hard in the next couple of weeks.
Clay also said that his mother and Ruben’s mother have become very close while doing the enormous amount of press just for being the finalists’ mothers. While Ruben was singing “Flying Without Wings” to close out the show, wonder where Clay went? He went through the audience to hug his mother... and got a big hug and a kiss on the cheek and a “you did good, baby!” from Ruben’s Mom.
Of course, the voting scandal that has Clay Nation spitting nails was discussed. Randy said it is ridiculous, the only thing that went wrong was that Ryan Seacrest, who was so sick and medicated (so he could get through the show), misread the cards. First card said 130,000, second said 133,500. Did he think he saw a decimal point? Maybe. Reportedly an “anonymous head network executive” thinks the vote was bogus. Randy said some people should go get a life. No word on the alleged “anomaly” that had been reported, but yesterday’s Good Day Live had been reporting an extremely close vote that was being double and triple checked.
So what about this mysterious network executive, who went on to call American Idol’s vote “a modern day $64,000 Question scandal?” Would a rival network want to rain on a Fox’s parade, not to mention the monster rating American Idol pulled last night? (Idol almost doubled the rating of its nearest competition, with nearly 40 million people watching the final half-hour. Meanwhile, ABC’s “The Final Rose,” the Bachelor aftermath show, was beaten to tar, much to ABC‘s horror.) Nooo, certainly not!
By the way, Ryan was too sick to go to the wrap party, and Ryan Seacrest missing a party is a sure sign that he must be near death!
Later, on Good Day Live, an amusingly hungover Simon Cowell phoned in with what he called the real American Idol scandal; Clay told Simon that he saw the results a few minutes before Ryan read them! In that droll voice Simon says, "Ryan is so brilliant, he had to see Clay and Ruben's names on a card, like he doesn't know who they are!” The story goes like this: during the commercial break after Clay, Ruben, and Kimberley sang their medley. Clay was backstage with Ryan, and simply glanced down at Ryan’s card while he was distracted, and saw that Ruben had won! “What's amusing is Clay was trying to convince Ruben of this while Ryan was talking!" (They showed a clip of Clay chattering away at Ruben, and they slowed it down, Clay’s lips seemed to say, "You won, I saw it!" Ruben's answer, the only time he actually responded to Clay, was "I what?" Then Clay went on saying he didn't want to look at the camera, then he thinks he saw it right, but he's sure Ruben won, ‘you did it, you're the American Idol!’) Randy called Clay a sneaky little cuss! The hosts commented that Clay sure did seem to have a lot to say, Simon said he was “prattling like a schoolgirl through the whole thing!”
Speaking of Simon, any truth to the rumors that he won’t be back? Will Simon return for American Idol 3? "I wish I could say ‘yes’… but I can't." Why? Randy bellows for Simon to tell the truth, pause, “I can't." One of the hosts asked if it was about money, Simon said it honestly is not about money, Randy offered that Simon is about to fly out to start Pop Idol 2 in England, which will be almost a solid year of judging and “it's starting to get a bit old for him.” Simon didn't disagree with that, or agree. Of course, Cupid, Simon’s solo jaunt into reality TV, will be starting up soon as well. Is Simon spreading himself too thin? There were also reports that Simon wants to go back to his record label chores, and get out from under the spotlight. Hmmm.
Then the topic shifted to the British press accusing him of going soft on the Americans this year, Simon’s answer is, “I think they want me to carry an Uzi out on stage, or something,” but admits he was not as mean this year, because the contestants were more talented and he didn’t have as much to complain about.
Well, at least we’ll still have Randy won’t we? Randy, you’re returning right? Big pause... "probably." Jillian Barberie and Dorothy Lucey shriek in anguish, Randy continues that he intends to return, but you never know what could happen. Hmmmm. Randy will be working on the Mariah Carey tour this summer.
Then, EXTRA clued us in on what Ruben said to Clay on Tuesday night as the show was closing. Many assumed he said “I think you won” but, Clay says Ruben actually said, “look at those women!” Ruben agrees, “I was like, dawg! Look at all them girls screaming for you! And, they were looking good!”
A former idol in his own right, Neil Sedaka, says Clive Davis spoke with him about Clay recording “Solitaire” on Clay’s album! It looks like it’s going to happen!
I forgot today was a work day!!
Coming?
dont know why?
Respect to Lyns. It's a bit like that Likely Lads sketch where they didn't want anyone to tell them the footie result. Someone always does! At least it's not set Britain abuzz like Pop Idol did, so she might just make it.
Last year's Tamyra vote out was tinged with racism too.
No solo Kelly