This week was the big “American Idol” benefit show, Idol Gives Back. This show is sort of mini telethon that asks for donations to help the poor in both America (including those in Louisiana affected by Hurricane Katrina and living in the Appalachian Mountains) and Africa (including children who have lost parents due to AIDS). The six charities that will receive the already $60 million raised are Children’s Defense Fund, The Children’s Health Fund, The Global Fund, Make It Right, Malaria No More and Save the Children’s U.S. Programs.
As usual, the show offered a plethora of stars. The two usual suspects leading the way with the charity flag – Brad Pitt and Bono – were there. Oddly, I don’t remember seeing George Clooney – another big celebrity name in charity lately. He must have been in Darfur. There were plenty of sports stars – Kobe Bryant, WWE stars HHH and John Cena, football brother Eli and Peyton Manning, and NASCAR driver Jimmy Johnson.
To lighten the mood a bit, there were comedians. Jimmy Kimmel did a good bit where he said they should save some of the money to buy Simon a shirt that fit. His girlfriend, Sarah Silverman, also appeared on the show. Robin Williams showed up as the Russian Idol “Ivan Popinoff,” manic as usual.
In addition, there were Oscar winners. Forest Whitaker and his wife Keisha visited children with Malaria while Reese Witherspoon visited a Freedom School in New Orleans that is trying to teach children to be community leaders. You know in an election year, the politicians also got involved. We saw Hillary Clinton, John McCain, and Barack Obama and even British Prime Minister Gordon Brown got in on it, pledging 20 million mosquito nets to African families.
Of course, there were singers – Mariah Carey, Miley Cyrus, Snoop Dog, Carrie Underwood, Fergie, Heart (Ann and Nancy Wilson) – and one notable non-singer, Teri Hatcher who butchered Carrie Underwood’s hit “Before He Cheats.”
Yet, while Idol was feeling charitable towards the poor, they weren’t feeling that way towards this season’s contestants. Unlike last year, when the bottom vote getter was told they would stay until the votes were tallied up again the next week, this week, someone had to go. And, it was a shocking, shocking elimination. I was stunned to find Aussie Michael Johns in the bottom three, but when Ryan Seacrest told Syesha and Carly they were safe, it didn’t quite seem to sink in with everyone. When Ryan said Michael was the bottom vote getter, the crowd booed. Paula Abdul’s mouth just dropped. Even Simon, who usually has harsh words even for those leaving, told Michael was a “very, very good singer.”
The only hope for Michael is to come back as a wildcard contestant (if they decide to do that this year), but you can still give to the deserving charities by called 1-877-IDOL-AID or going to the AI website. http://www.americanidol.com.