Saturday, June 12, 2010

Chicago Premieres 'Clay Aiken Live!'


BACK IN TOWN -- Clay Aiken returned to his hometown of Raleigh, NC, to tape a PBS Special in March. Tonight the concert premieres on Chicago's WTTW-11, largest PBS station in America. Graphic by Fountaindawg, photos by Jim R. Bounds/AP.

Clay Aiken: Tried & True - LIVE!

WTTW-11 To Debut PBS Special

Whether you live in the Chicago area or not, you can participate in Saturday's debut telecast of the concert special Clay Aiken: Tried & True - Live! through a live chat on PBS station WTTW-11's website.

Fans fortunate enough to reside within PBS station's viewing area can watch the special concert from 7-9 p.m. CDT. WTTW-11 reaches 1.5 million weekly households over a four-state area (all of Chicago and parts of Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan), making it the most-watched public television station in America.

Others can share the experience by participating in a live web chat, hosted in the studio by WTTW Manager of Media Relations Julia Maishin, known to CA fans by her PinkArmchair screen name. In addition to a play-by-play of the two-hour program, the chat will be a place people can ask questions and talk about what they are seeing.

Clay To Take Calls on Breaks

Saturday's special premiere of Clay Aiken: Tried & True - Live! will consist of the Raleigh concert taped in March with scheduled live breaks during which fans and patrons can ask questions and make donations to the public television station. Here are the specifics:

LIVE BREAKS (Revised)

Break #1: 7:16-7:24 pm CDT
Break #2: 7:43-7:53 pm CDT
Break #3: 8:13-8:25 pm CDT

PHONE NUMBER: 1 (773) 588-1111

According to Pink, during these times, Clay may circulate and pick up calls from people who pledge. Viewers and those following along can begin calling the station a couple of minutes before 7:16, throughout the broadcast, and afterwards. Calls during these breaks will be especially welcome.


Clay Aiken's Tried & True CD
Double clickable cover photo by Vincent Soyez

Pledge Gifts Feature CD, DVD, Concert

Thank you gifts associated with the pledge drive program include:

Tried & True CD - $55. Clay Aiken's brand new CD features 11 tracks including "Moon River," "Suspicious Minds, and "Can't take My Eyes Off of You." A PBS-exclusive audio track for "Build Me Up Buttercup," physical or digital download, is part of this package.

Tried & True DVD - $75. The special and DVD feature Clay performing 16 songs live including "Build Me Up Buttercup," "Who's Sorry Now," and "Breaking Up is Hard to Do," with special guest Ruben Studdard. This DVD also has a behind the scenes documentary on the making of the special.

Tried & True Combo - $125. CD (physical or digital) and DVD.

Special Chicago Premium - $250. On Oct. 14th, Clay will present a special, one-night only, intimate benefit concert in Chicago at a 650-seat (accessible) venue. Seating is general admission. Phone pledges only so the station can track the numbers.

Supporters may group pledges into one call. Pledges for the CD and DVD can also be made online at WTTW-Clay. The station ships to Canada.


Clay Aiken: Tried & True Live! DVD
Double clickable

Local PBS Pledges Important

Other PBS stations will program Clay Aiken: Tried & True - Live! during August fund-raising drives. Fans are encouraged to make donations to their local station. However, to insure that the special makes a good showing in its debut airing, token pledges ($20, $30, etc.) are suggested for those outside the Chicago viewing area.

According to Pink, WTTW pledges, membership or token, will show other stations in the PBS system currently scheduling August pledge drives that there is much of interest in the program. "Nothing communicates that better than a lot of buzz and phones ringing when the hosts and guest are live on camera," she added.

Clay Aiken: Tried & True - Live! was produced by International Media with executive producers David Novik, Senior VP of A&R of Decca/UMG, and Gustavo Sagastume of Intl Media. Musical arrangements are by Chris Walden, Jesse Vargas and Ben Cohn.

PHOTO INTERLUDE: Below are clickable graphics featuring photos from the concert taping. Artists include Fountaindawg, 1, 2, 3, 4, and AmazingCA, 5.









Clay Steps Out on 'PARADE'

Clay Aiken will appears in the celebrity question section of Sunday's PARADE. Ironically, the singer is the third personality down just below Monty Python's Eric Idle, who has been anything but idle since Spamalot.

An Idaho resident asks what's new with Clay and will he be touring soon in the western states. The Tried & True CD, as well as the Timeless Tour, are in the reply. Parade used a photo by David Foster & Friends that is featured in AmazingCA's graphic below.

If you missed Clay on Access Hollywood, you can view the video at the AH website.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

SATURDAY, JUNE 12: WTTW-Chicago PBS, 7 PM CDT
* Preview of Clay Aiken Tried & True Live! at Chicago PBS station ONLY.

SUNDAY, June 13: Chelsea Lately on E! 11:30 PM (rerun)
* Clay Aiken is here, seriously, with his new CD Tried and True. Comedians Ben Gleib, Loni Love, and Gary Valentine also guest.

Monday, June 14: Siriusly Sinatra 6 PM ET
* Clay Aiken stops by to play some of his new recordings along with performances by our stars that he loves. Sirius XM Radio.

OTHER Chelsea Lately Reruns: Monday, June 14, 3 AM; Tuesday, June 22, 12 AM and 3 AM.

SATURDAY, JUNE 21: Bringing Broadway Home, 8 PM
* One Night Only, Raleigh Memorial Auditorium
Ticket Info

July 27: Release of Clay Aiken: Tried & True Live! DVD
* Pre-order at
Amazon now.

Have a wonderful weekend, Clay Nation!

Caro

15 comments:

Lisa said...

I'm so excited about tonight! I'm definitely going to make a pledge, not only because I want to have the DVD, but also because I used to live in the northern suburbs of Chicago and grew up with WTTW 11. :) We used to be members.

I loved the blog as always!! Can't wait to read the next one!

Lisa

Unknown said...

The PBS special is a milestone for Clay, and it's about damn time! - tm Clay Aiken.

Thanks for all of the calendar planning info, don't want to miss any opportunity to see, hear, read, Clay!

Anonymous said...

Hi Caro,
How I wish I'm residing in USA. There's just so much happenings now and I really want to be a part of all this. Thanks for the usual beautiful blends and the latest update on OMC. Things are really getting pretty HOT!!! Well done!

Love,
Sally

Anonymous said...

Hi Caro,

Thank You for keeping us all up to date, just what ever would we do without you? You are THE BEST!!!!

My DVD is pre-ordered with Amazon and I am going to have to order with my local station. I can't wait, what an exciting summer this is going to be.

Hope all is well with your air conditioning, I've been thinking about you.

Big Hugs to You,
Marlyne

musicfan said...

This is the day that I wish I lived in Chicago. I would love to see the PBS special tonight.

Caro...........I always enjoy my visit at your blog. You have so many fun things to see and read.

What a fun time to be a Clay AIken fan!!

clayam said...

This is a very exciting night for Clay Aiken fans and Clay himself, I wish I lived in Chicago so I could see this PBS special on WTTW11.

Anonymous said...

Wish I were in Chicago tonite but will try to join the chat. Cannot wait until August so I can see this Special. The cd Tried & True is awesome.

Hunter

T said...

Caro, I'm thrilled always to check your blog. Wonderful! I lose track of what's going on and it's always here that keeps me up-to-date on Clay.

Wish I lived in Chicago to watch the PBS special. It's going to be great.

All the graphics are stunning and thanks so much also for featuring the ones that I did. It's always a blessing to be a part of your blog.

I've enjoyed the AH interview. Clay is looking so good and you could see he's happy!

As I said before, your blogs are always a delight and can't wait for more to come.

Have a nice weekend.

((Hugs))
T

Sandy said...

What a great time to be living in Chicago! Clay is going to live up and beyond everyone's expectations tonight! I am very thrilled and excited for him in his first big TV production!(I won't count his Christmas one) I just received his deluxe CD today and loved watching the making of "Tried and True" and to catch a glimpse of what the viewing audience is going to see tonight!
Have a wonderful weekend!

Sandy

Anonymous said...

Nice blog and love that U take care of Us with all the info!!! Clay , I wish him the best with this new cd, and pbs...and concerts and hope he just keeps singing! Donna in Wi.

Anonymous said...

I'm loving all the positive press and lots of Clay news! The pictures you posted are so pretty! Thanks Caro.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the blog. I am anxiously waiting for the PBS to come to WETA. Hurry up August!

jbc4clay said...

I am crossing my fingers that it will broadcast out of Savannah! All reports from Chicago say it was fantastic!

katy said...

I'm hoping that it is broadcast in my area!! Caro, take care of yourself. :-)

ImGranny said...

Thanks for another great blog! I hope the PBS special is broadcast in my area. From all reports, the one in Chicago was fabulous!