ESQUIRE NETWORK FOLLOWS CLAY AIKEN'S 2014 BID FOR CONGRESS IN THE UNFILTERED, ALL-ACCESS DOCUMENTARY SERIES "THE RUNNER-UP"

- Produced by Award-Winning Documentarians Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn, Original Four-Hour Series to Premiere April 7 at 10/9c -

LOS ANGELES - March 11, 2015 - Esquire Network will premiere an exclusive, all-access look at one of the most unique political campaigns of the 2014 mid-term elections - the improbable Congressional run of American Idol star Clay Aiken. Produced by Academy Award-winner Simon Chinn (Man On Wire, Searching for Sugar Man) and Emmy Award-winner Jonathan Chinn (30 Days, American High) through their company Lightbox, the four-hour original documentary series THE RUNNER-UP is set to premiere on Esquire Network on Tuesday, April 7 at 10/9c.

With exclusive access, Lightbox embedded inside Aiken's campaign to represent North Carolina's 2nd Congressional District - from his candidacy decision through the shocking primary election (which ended in the death of Aiken's Democratic opponent), and his defeat this past November to incumbent Republican Congresswoman Renee Ellmers. Throughout, the documentary series shows Aiken, a gay Democrat and single father, working through strategy sessions with his team, prepping for debates and meeting with voters via town halls, bus tours and door-to-door canvassing.

THE RUNNER-UP spotlights what it takes to run an American campaign from the perspective of a candidate who is a newcomer to the political scene with few resources and little support. Throughout the campaign, Aiken struggles to convince voters - and America - to take him seriously as a political contender against those who would write him off as simply a reality TV star.

THE RUNNER-UP is produced by Lightbox for Esquire Network. Jonathan Chinn, Simon Chinn and Mitchell Tanen serve as executive producers for Lightbox.