Clay Aiken came in second again on a network reality competition.
The “American Idol” runner up came in second to Arsenio Hall, whose win as the fifth “Celebrity Apprentice” was seen as a part of his own comeback to TV. His $250,000 prize will go to his charity, the Magic Johnson Foundation.
Both Aiken and Hall did well in their challenge – a little entertainment charity event in which Hall presented comedy and Aiken presented music. And both finalists maintained a respect for one another.
Not even the ousted contestants could be prodded into saying anything negative about either of them.
In the end, Donald Trump had them both make their cases as well as join together for a duet on Bill Withers’ “Lean On Me.” Hall proved he was no singer, but this wasn’t a singing competition, like the one on which Aiken famously fell second to Reuben Studdard.