(First off, sorry for the spoilers. But because Clay Aiken lives here, we've been following this every week and if the outcome of "Celebrity Apprentice" was that important to you, you'd have watched it live!)
Sigh. I call foul. Foul!!
But it's Donald Trump's world, we just live in it, right? He can pick whoever he wants for his stupid show...
Okay, here's the stupid recap.
Well, this came from out of nowhere: Raleigh native Clay Aiken, a singer and Broadway actor who got his start on "American Idol," got a random name-check in yesterday's Kathy Taft murder trial.
Jason K. Williford, 32, is on trial for raping and murdering Taft in 2010, but apparently, Williford also had a sort of run-in with Aiken at some point in his past (both Aiken and Williford attended Leesville Road High School at about the same time in Raleigh, but it's unclear when the following incident took place or if the two even knew each other).
According to the story by The N&O's Josh Shaffer, Williford's lawyer chronicled the man's lifelong pattern of drug abuse and bizarre behavior:
Hallelujah! In the first five minutes of tonight's "Celebrity Apprentice," Donald Trump fired the insufferably bratty Aubrey O'Day. Yes!!
Not only did that mean Aubrey couldn't possibly win the competition, it meant Clay Aiken was a finalist -- against his pal Arsenio Hall.
"I'm having a little deja vu," Clay said, referencing the 2003 season of "American Idol" when he was a finalist on that show with Ruben Studdard. Arsenio joked that he's "not that heavy."
Trump asked Clay if "Celebrity Apprentice" was harder than "American Idol." "Oh, it's so much harder than American Idol," Clay answered.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm guessing Clay Aiken is the first "American Idol" contestant to appear as a guest on CBS's "Face the Nation."
Clay, who is also a finalist on the current season of "The Celebrity Apprentice," was in-studio this morning on the Sunday morning news issues program to discuss gay marriage and the passing of North Carolina's constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman.
Host Bob Schieffer identified Clay as "American Idol singer and activist," and his first question to Clay was if he believed President Obama's recent statement supporting gay marriage "pretty much ensures" that he's going to lose North Carolina in the presidential election.
Once Upon a Time (8pm, ABC) - In the Season 1 finale, Emma and Regina become unlikely allies in an attempt to save Henry's life. In the fairy-tale world, Prince Charming hopes to reunite with Snow White, but he isn't aware that she's bitten the Queen's poison apple.
Survivor: One World (8pm, CBS) - The finalists are questioned by the jury members, who then vote fot the winner. The winner is revealed during the 10 o'clock reunion show.
Desperate Housewives (9pm, ABC) - Tonight's 2-hour series finale ends the show's 8 year run on ABC. The finale wraps up Bree's trial on a trumped-up murder charge, and her relationship with her lawyer becomes more than business. Also, expect a deathbed confession.
The Celebrity Apprentice (9pm, NBC) - First, we'll find out who else Trump fired in last week's boardroom, then the final two contestants must create, host and sell tickets to a celebrity charity event that comes complete with a variety show and charity-awareness ad. Eight previously eliminated stars return to help in the challenge.
Masterpiece Mystery: Sherlock (9pm, UNC-TV) - Sherlock and Watson investigate a murder that occurred 20 years earlier. It was witnessed by the victim's son, who claims his father was killed by a monstrous hound. The case takes the pair to the British moors, where a top-secret military base is said to be the site of animal-mutilation experiments.
American Dad (9:30pm, Fox) - In the Season 7 finale, Stan takes Steve to Mexico to help his teen son grow up. When they get there, they are kidnapped by a drug cartel and it turns out that only Steve has a chance to free them.
Mad Men (10pm, AMC) - Don's competitive nature comes to the fore and Roger pursues new clients.
Girls (10:30pm, HBO) - Hannah tries a different tack with her boss to counter his inappropriate office behavior -- she propositions him. Meanwhile, Marnie does some soul-searching about her relationship with Charlie and Jessa wants the last word with her ex.
Raleigh native and current Durham resident Clay Aiken, a runner-up on the second season of "American Idol," is currently a favorite (at least by the way I call it!) to win the top spot in this season's "Celebrity Apprentice" show on NBC.
Clay's time on the show has served him -- and his charity -- well (he is playing to earn money for The National Inclusion Project, a charity he helped form). Viewers this season have discovered that Clay is pretty proficient at a lot of things besides singing and acting. For many of the tasks he and his teammates have been charged with, Clay has written, produced, directed, managed and designed. And he wowed us during one project with his puppetry skills -- skills he said he learned attending Vacation Bible School while growing up in Raleigh.
Earlier this week I got a chance to talk to Clay by phone about his experiences on the show. The interview is below. "Celebrity Apprentice" airs this Sunday night at 9 on NBC, and the season finale will air next Sunday at 9.
There's a lot of great TV on Sunday night but I'll wager nothing was more entertaining in the 9 o'clock hour than Lisa Lampanelli negotiating for models against Teresa Guidice on "The Celebrity Apprentice."
Each team (Lisa & Clay Aiken vs. Teresa, Aubrey O'Day & Arsenio Hall) needed four models each for an Elle magazine ad campaign for a touchscreen hair dryer, and Lisa and Clay had no real preference as far as models. But as soon as project manager Teresa revealed her desperation for the only redheaded model, project manager Lisa proceeded to hilariously eat her lunch. It was something to behold.
Even though Clay wasn't the project manager this week, he did an awful lot of the work. Lisa went shopping with her models because, according to her, "Clay is the only gay guy in the world who doesn't know anything about fashion," and Clay supervised the photography.
Amazing Race 20 (8pm, CBS) - In the two-hour finale, the final four teams race through Japan before traveling to Honolulu, where the winners claim the $1 million prize.
Between Two Ferns (8:30pm, Comedy Central) - Zach Galifianakis interviews Comedy Awards nominees in "Between Two Ferns: A Fairytale of New York," with appearances by Tina Fey, Jon Stewart and Sir Richard Branson.
Masterpiece Mystery: Sherlock (9pm, UNC-TV) - The second series of Masterpiece Mystery's excellent "Sherlock" opens with "A Scandal in Belgravia," in which idiosyncratic sleuth becomes a media sensation because of Watson's blog. Sherlock is asked by his brother to retrieve scandalous photos ofa British royal from a dominatrix. The case soon involves international terrorism, CIA agents, and a matter Holmes is decidedly unfamiliar with: love.
The Celebrity Apprentice (9pm, NBC) - The remaining contestants (that includes Clay Aiken) produce a four-page print ad for a digital touch-screen hair dryer. Returning apprentices John Rich and Marlee Matlin then interview the final four and Donald Trump fires two.
The Big C (9:30, Showtime) - Cathy goes all out to impress the birth parents of the child she hopes to adopt and Joy wants Paul to go before a live audience and relate his near-death experience.
Veep (10pm, HBO) - Selina celebrates 20 years in Washington but tries to keep a low profile after a newspaper article paints her as a diva.
GCB (10pm, ABC) - The first season concludes with Carlene taking the GCBs to a groundbreaking ceremony for the Condos for Christian Living, and Amanda's suspicions concerning Luke lead to a surprising discovery about Ripp.
Meet Mrs. Eastwood (10:30pm, E!) - A preview of the new reality show that chronicles the lives of Clint Eastwood's wife, Dina, and their two daughters Francesca and Morgan.
Filling in for Brooke on "The Celebrity Apprentice" recap this week -- the first episode since Clay Aiken's brush with firing. And our North Carolina home boy has another rough go of it as he gets caught between the ever-battling Bickersons -- comedian Lisa Lampanelli and former Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza.
This week's task is to come up with a jingle for the Good Sam Club, which is apparently for RV enthusiasts. (We'll pause briefly for you to conjure up the highly unlikely image of Donald Trump cruising the backroads in some sort of gold-plated Winnebago with a big ole "T" on it.)
Because Clay, center, was project manager last week, he agrees to let Dayana, right, handle it this week. Hmmm, this could be a problem, seeing as how he's a professional singer and she knows so little about music that Clay actually has to explain to her that a jingle has nothing to do with "Jingle Bells." Still, he and Lisa, left, try to teach her. And for a while, they listen patiently while Dayana suggests a jingle that sounds like Duran Duran. Cause we all know RV drivers can't get enough "Hungry Like the Wolf."
The Good Wife (9pm, CBS) - The third season ends with Lockhart and Gardner facing bankruptcy as Louis Canning (Michael J. Fox) and Patti Hyholm (Martha Plimpton) join forces to sink the firm. Meanwhile, Alicia faces her conflicted feelings about Peter, and Kalinda's past catches up with her.
Breakout Kings (9pm, A&E) - In the Season 2 finale, the gang track a fugitive who used to perform in the circus as an escape artist. Later, they have a difficult choice when a case they're barred from being involved in turns personal.
Mad Men (9pm, AMC) - Don, Roger and Pete team up to recruit new clients, and Sally lends a hand to a relative.
Game of Thrones (9pm, HBO) - The Baratheon rivalry ends, drawing different reactions from Catelyn and Littlefinger. Also Tyrion finds Joffrey's defense plan at King's Landing lacking, but also learns of a mysterious secret weapon.
TV Land Awards (9pm, TV Land) - Kelly Ripa hosts the 10th annual ceremony, which honors revered shows and stars from TV's past. Tonight, the show receiving the Impact Award is my all-time favorite, "Murphy Brown" (cast at left). Also honored, "One Day at a Time," "Laverne & Shirley," "In Living Color," and "Pee-wee's Playhouse."
The Celebrity Apprentice (9pm, NBC) - A very close call for Clay Aiken in the boardroom last week. Tonight, Clay clashes with Dayana Mendoza and loses it. Should be fun to watch.
The Big C (9:30pm, Showtime) - Cathy embraces new changes in her personal life, and Adam and Andrea deal with their personal issues in their own way.
GCB (10pm, ABC) - Amanda assemblese an all-female barbecue team for a cook-off. Meanwhile, Heather meets a handsome butcher and Sharon helps Zack with his dealership problems.
Veep (10pm, HBO) - The Veep is unexpectedly called to the White House Situation Room and later falls victim to a stomach bug that's going around.
