A Clay Aiken Christmas
American Idolrunner-up Clay Aiken still needs a hair stylist and better wardrobe, but his silvern vocals are handsomely rewarding on this holiday television special. For reasons never quite explained, the unusual production actually deconstructs the illusion of a seamless TV show by showing cast and crew buzzing about between songs. But this gimmick is easily overlooked whenever Aiken breaks into one of his clear-as-a-bell renditions of a Yuletide classic. Highlights include "Christmas Waltz," with particularly thoughtful lyrics; the touching "Merry Christmas with Love"; and a sassy "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," the last shared with Barry Manilow and Yolanda Adams. Showman Manilow delivers a pleasant medley, and Adams is strong on her pop-gospel turn, "O Holy Night." A cute scene features all the performers talking about unusual gifts, and the finale finds Aiken and friends bringing down the house with "Because It's Christmas (For All the Children."--Tom Keogh