Last night there were no results, no judging and no messing around. Okay, maybe a bit of messing around, to make the show entertaining. It was the second annual “Idol Gives Back,” a telethon in which “American Idol” uses its global popularity to try and give back to the world–i.e., raise money to help poverty both in this country and worldwide.
All in all, the show moved nicely and was well put together. There were a few group numbers by the current Idol finalists, and some others that were really pretty cool. My favorite was Teri Hatcher singing a Carrie Underwood song with a band of TV stars behind her, including her “Desperate Housewives” co-star Jamie Denton. Of course, Underwood herself also performed, and I’m not going to say who I liked better because this is about the charity, right? (Bo, I got your back…oops!).
Ben Stiller made an appearance but not like last year when he tried to sing. Stars randomly gave videotaped messages, including Kobe Bryant (what was with the white dot on his face?), Keith Urban and Adam Sandler. Other performers included Snoop Dogg with Charlie Wilson, which was really pretty awesome; Fergie with Heart; Annie Lennox; Gloria Estefan with Sheila E.; and Mariah Carey with Randy Jackson on bass.
Also, some of the pre-taped stuff from the other night included Eli and Peyton Manning visiting a town near New Orleans still reeling from Hurricane Katrina. Really now, would Eli have been invited if it weren’t for that incredible run to the Super Bowl win a few months ago? (I’m a Giants fan, and I still have to pinch myself).
Some of the others who made appearances were Jimmy Kimmel, Daughtry, Ellen DeGeneres, Sarah Silverman, and Robin Williams, who was posing as some sort of “Russsian Idol.” I normally don’t think he is funny and he kind of gets under my skin, but he was hilarious last night. And more than one comedian made references to Simon’s man boobs…ha!
Most importantly, they raised millions of dollars…I haven’t seen the exact numbers, but I know at one point early in the show it was $18 million. That’s awesome, and overall it’s a really cool thing the producers of the show came up with.
Now, unlike last season when they lumped the results into the charity event, the results show is tonight, so Ryan Seacrest will not be charitable as he announces someone getting booted off. I still say it will be Carly Smithson, but we’ll see. Talk you all on Friday….
