American Idle

In news that is only surprising in that it took this long to happen, Clay Aiken is heading to the Great White Way.

The American Idol runner-up will soon be starring in Monty Python's Spamalot, the Mike Nichols directed/Eric Idle penned/Tony Award-winning extravaganza based on (of course) the cult movie classic Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Aiken will take over (in January) the role of brave Sir Robin, the part originally created on stage by David Hyde Pierce and played in the movie by Idle himself.

Aiken follows other such Idols to Broadway as Fantasia Barrino (The Color Purple), Frenchie Davis (Rent) and Constantine Maroulis (The Wedding Singer). Could Justin Guarini as Pippin be far behind?

Links via Playbill.com and Imdb.com.