Colin and Gordy Clemens will be traveling to California this week to tape an episode of Ricki Lake’s daytime talk show “Ricki.” Their appearance on the television show stems from them being in the documentary “American Teen” shot in Warsaw and at Warsaw Community High School. It was released in 2008. In a telephone interview this morning, Colin said he received confirmation of the appearance at just before midnight Monday night. Colin’s birthday was yesterday, and he was getting all sorts of birthday wishes on Facebook, he said. He also received several friend requests including one from TeamRikki Heather. About a minute after accepting the friend request, Colin received a message about being on the talk show with his dad. Gordy said it all happened so fast with a series of e-mails and telephone calls. He hasn’t seen an itenary or anything yet, but understood they were flying out Wednesday for the show’s taping Thursday. The episode will be about children and their unique or “embarrassing” parents. Because Colin just shrugged off Gordy being an Elvis impersonator in “American Teen”, “Ricki” wants the Clemens on the episode to show kids how to deal positively with their parents and accept them for who they are. “They’re shooting with several different families. They chose my dad and I last night,” said Colin. He said they will fly out Wednesday afternoon to California. They will shoot the episode Thursday and fly back that evening. The show is providing the flight and all the accommodations. The show also has asked for Colin’s and Gordy’s clothing and shoe sizes. “I’m not complaining,” joked Colin. He said he thinks he and his dad will be on the show for the entire episode. Gordy will be wearing his Elvis costume on stage for the full episode, with Colin by his side. Also, as part of the show, Gordy will sing “Amazing Grace.” As of this morning, Colin was not sure when the episode will air. However, as soon as he finds out, he said he would provide that information. Since “American Teen” was released five years ago, Colin said the movie still has an effect on his life. He’s had several opportunities to speak about the film, his life and its effect. The film, he said, is shown in high schools and colleges around the world, and he’s been contacted by schools in 20 of the 50 states to let him known they’ve shown the film at their school. Colin also has traveled to several movie theaters it’s played at, signed posters and talked to kids about it. He’s done newspaper and television interviews about “American Teen.” “It’s definitely amounted to more than I ever thought it would,” Colin said. Ricki Lake’s daytime talk show is in its first season, but it was announced Feb. 5 that it has been canceled after this season, according to “The Hollywood Reporter” and “TV Guide.”
