American Idol's feel good show, Idol Gives Back took up 2.5 hours of our schedule today. Naturally the show was full of "Give Now" videos, some stupid, some funny, many mercifully brief. Somehow this had the feel of a Jerry Lewis Telethon, just slower, longer, and more boring. But it's for a good cause so we'll put up with it.
This recap is going to be extremely brief and feature little in the way of opinion. We opened the show with an awesome performance by the American Idols singing "Please Don't Stop The Music" and featuring the dance stylings of the So You Think You Can Dance crews. It was a great way to start out.
We will naturally have tons of "give now" videos. The first three featured Jimmy Johnson, George Lopez and Kylie Minogue. Maria Shriver was actually at the theatre with a pimp for volunteering (which is a good thing I might add). Ben Stiller tried "humor" in his video. I don't like stupid humor so I didn't find him funny. We then got a video about clean water featuring lots of gas cans.
Snoop Dogg and Charlie Wilson performed a song that I assume is called "Can't Say Goodbye" as rap songs usually have unimaginative titles (which I like). They performed with the Snoop Youth Football League swaying in the background.
We were treated to videos from Kobe Bryant and Triple H (who is funny). Then Randy Jackson and Paula Abdul introduce a video about poor children in California being helped by an organization called Save the Children.
The next cute moment features Carrie Underwood, Terri Hatcher and that guy from Desperate Housewives (don't watch the show, sorry), Terri tells Carrie that if Carrie steals her husband she will steal her song. Then Terri comes out and sings "Before He Cheats" and does a decent job (though she should keep her day job). Carrie comes out clapping and tells her she did a nice job.
Mary Murphey gives a scream in her "give now" video. I missed those screams. Nigel is sitting there with his ears plugged. Mary is going to scream until someone gives.
The Jonas Brothers have their give now video. Billy Crystal comes out to introduce a young girl who wants to sing on American Idol, Miley Cyrus. After a cute exchange between the two she performs "Good and Broken." Ryan Seacrest is back in the Idols studio with the Top 12 onstage taking calls.
Then we have a report from Bono in Africa and the Global Fund. He talks about HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Julianne Moore is on with her give now video. Fergie comes out to perform "Finally." Dusty thinks she had plastic surgery on her face somehow, cheeks or lips or something. John Legend was accompanying her on piano. Fergie introduces her idols - Heart. Heart performs "Barracuda." Ann Wilson has seen better days but her voice is still good. Fergie comes back out to sing the second verse with the group. Okay I can admit it, Fergie is hot as hell.
John Cena appears with his give now video, and after the commercial we get an Adam Sandler give now video. Back in the studio with Ryan and the Top 12. Ryan says you can download the songs from iTunes to donate too. Football brothers Eli and Peyton Manning are at the show to introduce a video about their hometown of New Orleans where kids are still effected by Hurricane Katrina. The brothers visit some of the kids.
David and Victoria Beckham have a duet give now video. Then we head back to Ryan with the Top 12 taking calls and off again to Bono in Africa talking to kids about their family who have died. Annie Lennox is also in Africa with a video about AIDS. She comes to the show to perform "Many Rivers to Cross." Her voice is a lot better than the last time I heard her.
Keifer Sutherland have a brief give now video. Celine Dion is in South Africa with orphans who have been getting support from last year's Idol Gives Back. I think someone needs to donate to Celine, some food perhaps or a reverse liposuction.
Jimmy Kimmel is at the show to introduce Simon Cowell because no one else would do it. Jimmy jokes about his attitude and his wardrobe, his nipples, his haircut. Simon takes it all very well. Simon's video is about Americans without healthcare, 50 million of them children. He goes to New York to visit doctors and nurses who treat those without healthcare with mobile health clinics. Back on the show, Simon talks about his trip, and tells Jimmy how much he loves the Jay Leno show. Simon introduces Carrie Underwood, pointing out that he was right about how many albums he sold. Carrie performs "Praying for Time" originally by George Michael. Naturally she is wonderful.
Whoppi Goldberg and Ellen DeGeneres have give now videos. Then Gloria Estefan comes to perform "Get On Your Feet" with Sheila E on drums and the SYTYCD dancers. Sarah Silverman is there doing her "funny" thing, I really don't like her at all. She talks about malaria and introduces a video from Forrest Whittaker who went to Africa. Gordon Brown the Prime Minister of Britain, who says Britain will donate to the malaria cause $200 million. Ryan says they are up to $20 million donated (including thecorporate sponsors of course).
Keith Urban does a give now video then Reese Witherspoon comes out to spotlight another charity. She introduces a charity called Children's Defense Fund. Reese went to New Orleans to visit families and highlight Freedom Schools. Ryan introduces the Top 8 singing "Seasons of Love."
Dane Cook talks about Alicia Keys and her trip to Africa. Dane announces that if you go to the website and donate you can download Alicia's entire trip. Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale have their give now video.
Miley Cyrus returns for another performance, this time "See You Again." Does anyone else think it's wrong for a 15 year old to be writhing on the floor? Will stop thinking that, she's jailbait! Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus went to Kentucky, where the Idols Give Back crew was last year where nearly half of the kids live below the poverty line.
Ryan introduces the "Russian Idol" and Robin Williams comes out. After a conversation, he "auditions" for the judges. Randy calls it pitchy. Paula likes the shirt. Simon thought he was brilliant. "Bob" as Robin calls himself, says he loves Simon in a Brokeback way then hugs and gropes Simon. Rob Schneider then has his give now video and after the break we get a video from Tyra Banks.
David Spade comes out to talk about New Orleans and how Brad Pitt is working to get people back into their homes after Hurricane Katrina. Brad Pitt then comes out but has microphone difficulties. A crew person comes out to fix it and says she just wanted a reason to touch him. Brad introduces a clip of Daughtry in Uganda singing "What About Now." Mariah Carey comes out to sing "Fly Like a Bird." Randy is playing bass for Mariah. Mariah looks really good, did she have a reduced boob job? Or perhaps she's just keeping the twins sheathed tonight since it's a charity show.
The American Idols close the show with "Shout to the Lord." They're dressed all in white for the performance. Syesha is the only one showing leg, the rest are all completely covered. It looks out of place somehow.
If you are still interested in donating, donations can be given through the American Idol Website. Naturally the performances are available on iTunes, with proceeds going to charity as well.
All I heard leading up to this years Idol Gives BAck was how it was going to top last years show. ok, how can you top Elvis Pressley and Celine Dion doing a duet from beyond the grave? It COULD NOT BE DONE!!!!!! Last years show was WAY BETTER than this years. This year was boring, and it did not have the same feel as last years. I hope they raise a lot of money for the causes but it will be because of America's generosity not because we were blown away by this years show.
I agree last year was awesome and this year failed .. They had good entertainment but last year was better by far.. Carrie was beautiful as always and saw Elliott in the audience.. It was a bit more humorous But hey it is for a Great Cause.... God Bless..
We are in a recession. How can we donate money when we ourselves are being pinched by the rising cost of everything? Good try American Idol, but without your corporate sponsors Idol Gives Back would have failed even more.
Someone PLZ tell me the music that was playing during Forest Whitikers video about Malaria. It sounded Classical with female vocals. Thats all I could get from it, but, I am SO eager to know who sang and/or what song it was. Thank you! Much love, Sali
Along with the give now messages, the mega-wealthy stars should make contributions. Their messages were quite boring and repetitive. Wish there was more entertainment that deserved donations.
Guest said: All I heard leading up to this years Idol Gives BAck was how it was going to top last years show. ok, how can you top Elvis Pressley and Celine Dion doing a duet from beyond the grave? It COULD NOT BE DONE!!!!!! Last years show was WAY BETTER than this years. This year was boring, and it did not have the same feel as last years. I hope they raise a lot of money for the causes but it will be because of America's generosity not because we were blown away by this years show.
I agree totally! I was very disappointed and bored with this year's show. I was so excited to see the dancers from "So You Think You Can Dance" at the very first and it went downhill from there. I didn't believe they could top last year's show, but I at least thought it would be equally as good.
Guest said: Someone PLZ tell me the music that was playing during Forest Whitikers video about Malaria. It sounded Classical with female vocals. Thats all I could get from it, but, I am SO eager to know who sang and/or what song it was. Thank you! Much love, Sali
Took a smidge of work, but I managed to catch enough words to look it up It's by Sia and the song is called "Breathe Me."
I was very bored with the show yesterday. I stopped watching after Fergie. I see I didn't miss much. I would have liked to have seen Annie Lennox. Perhaps on YouTube.
Mariah has been on a major diet. She is 1995 hot right now. Purr!
Does anyone know who played back up for Teri Hatcher? I recognized Bachelor Bob and Greg Grunberg, the guy from Heroes, but that is about it.
I commend American Idol and it's willingness to give money. However, I thought that they were giving money to one too many charities. When you do that, then the money obviously spreads thin. But then, there can be administrative problems as well. What percentage of money is going to which charity, how much money is going to AI to fund trips to Africa and Kentucky, how is the money being allocated to a particular region, etc. Someone mentioned that we are in a recession right now and cannot give. I think we can give, but not the kind of money AI is expecting. And if you are into politics, you have probably given plenty of money and just are tapped out right now.
I'll bet Simon could write a really big check to satisfy all this Idol begging...all those stars should write big checks and quit writing off their weak performances.
Action always speaks louder than words, so how much did they actually pull out of their pockets to give to charity? Probably not a nickel. Give me a break.
An angel, lovely flowing white dress, goddess, felicity hair, lovely woman/girl/hiking buddy, Kristy Lee, Kristy Lee oh, my Kristy Leeeee........!!!! An angel, lovely flowing white dress, goddess, felicity hair, lovely woman/girl/hiking buddy, Kristy Lee, Kristy Lee oh, my Kristy Leeeee........!!!! An angel, lovely flowing white dress, goddess, felicity hair, lovely woman/girl/hiking buddy, Kristy Lee, Kristy Lee oh, my Kristy Leeeee........!!!! An angel, lovely flowing white dress, goddess, felicity hair, lovely woman/girl/hiking buddy, Kristy Lee, Kristy Lee oh, my Kristy Leeeee........!!!!
I live in India, have been watching American Idol for more than 5 years, never thought I would need aid. My nephew is 40 days old. He has immunity deficiency. Cure bone marrow, treatment in US will cost over 350,000 USD, if untreated he will die within two years. His sibling before him died at 14 months. Family needs help. Is there a way American Idol can help me
How about next year we have "Curlio Aid"? It would be far more entertaining.
I basicly flew through the beg-a-thon and just watched the music. Loved the opening, loved Heart, (they are playing locally in a few weeks with Journey and Cheap Trick and I may go see them now) love Gloria Estefan, I even enjoyed the Miley Cyrus/Billy Crystal shtick. But the rest of it was lame, lame, lame...worse than last year.
And just how gorgeous is Carrie Underwood. Wow!
If you can't be a good example, then be a horrible warning!
Oh and I just read that TiVo is now getting into the forecasting of who goes off AI first. They look at who people watch more than once.
They have been right, so they say, the last four weeks. I won't spoil who they say will go tonight, but I will let you know if they were right tomorrow!
If you can't be a good example, then be a horrible warning!
American Idol's feel good show, Idol Gives Back took up 2.5 hours of our schedule today. Naturally the show was full of "Give Now" videos, some stupid, some funny, many mercifully brief. Somehow this had the feel of a Jerry Lewis Telethon, just slower, longer, and more boring. But it's for a good cause so we'll put up with it.
This recap is going to be extremely brief and feature little in the way of opinion. We opened the show with an awesome performance by the American Idols singing "Please Don't Stop The Music" and featuring the dance stylings of the So You Think You Can Dance crews. It was a great way to start out.
We will naturally have tons of "give now" videos. The first three featured Jimmy Johnson, George Lopez and Kylie Minogue. Maria Shriver was actually at the theatre with a pimp for volunteering (which is a good thing I might add). Ben Stiller tried "humor" in his video. I don't like stupid humor so I didn't find him funny. We then got a video about clean water featuring lots of gas cans.
Snoop Dogg and Charlie Wilson performed a song that I assume is called "Can't Say Goodbye" as rap songs usually have unimaginative titles (which I like). They performed with the Snoop Youth Football League swaying in the background.
The next cute moment features Carrie Underwood, Terri Hatcher and that guy from Desperate Housewives (don't watch the show, sorry), Terri tells Carrie that if Carrie steals her husband she will steal her song. Then Terri comes out and sings "Before He Cheats" and does a decent job (though she should keep her day job). Carrie comes out clapping and tells her she did a nice job.
The Jonas Brothers have their give now video. Billy Crystal comes out to introduce a young girl who wants to sing on American Idol, Miley Cyrus. After a cute exchange between the two she performs "Good and Broken." Ryan Seacrest is back in the Idols studio with the Top 12 onstage taking calls.
Julianne Moore is on with her give now video. Fergie comes out to perform "Finally." Dusty thinks she had plastic surgery on her face somehow, cheeks or lips or something. 
John Legend was accompanying her on piano. Fergie introduces her idols - Heart. Heart performs "Barracuda." Ann Wilson has seen better days but her voice is still good. Fergie comes back out to sing the second verse with the group. Okay I can admit it, Fergie is hot as hell.
John Cena appears with his give now video, and after the commercial we get an Adam Sandler give now video. Back in the studio with Ryan and the Top 12. Ryan says you can download the songs from iTunes to donate too. Football brothers Eli and Peyton Manning are at the show to introduce a video about their hometown of New Orleans where kids are still effected by Hurricane Katrina. The brothers visit some of the kids.
David and Victoria Beckham have a duet give now video. Then we head back to Ryan with the Top 12 taking calls and off again to Bono in Africa talking to kids about their family who have died. Annie Lennox is also in Africa with a video about AIDS. She comes to the show to perform "Many Rivers to Cross." Her voice is a lot better than the last time I heard her.
Jimmy Kimmel is at the show to introduce Simon Cowell because no one else would do it. Jimmy jokes about his attitude and his wardrobe, his nipples, his haircut. Simon takes it all very well. Simon's video is about Americans without healthcare, 50 million of them children. He goes to New York to visit doctors and nurses who treat those without healthcare with mobile health clinics. 
Back on the show, Simon talks about his trip, and tells Jimmy how much he loves the Jay Leno show. Simon introduces Carrie Underwood, pointing out that he was right about how many albums he sold. Carrie performs "Praying for Time" originally by George Michael. Naturally she is wonderful.
Whoppi Goldberg and Ellen DeGeneres have give now videos. Then Gloria Estefan comes to perform "Get On Your Feet" with Sheila E on drums and the SYTYCD dancers. Sarah Silverman is there doing her "funny" thing, I really don't like her at all. She talks about malaria and introduces a video from Forrest Whittaker who went to Africa. 
Gordon Brown the Prime Minister of Britain, who says Britain will donate to the malaria cause $200 million. Ryan says they are up to $20 million donated (including thecorporate sponsors of course).
Keith Urban does a give now video then Reese Witherspoon comes out to spotlight another charity. She introduces a charity called Children's Defense Fund. Reese went to New Orleans to visit families and highlight Freedom Schools. Ryan introduces the Top 8 singing "Seasons of Love."
Miley Cyrus returns for another performance, this time "See You Again." Does anyone else think it's wrong for a 15 year old to be writhing on the floor? Will stop thinking that, she's jailbait! Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus went to Kentucky, where the Idols Give Back crew was last year where nearly half of the kids live below the poverty line.
Ryan introduces the "Russian Idol" and Robin Williams comes out. After a conversation, he "auditions" for the judges. Randy calls it pitchy. Paula likes the shirt. Simon thought he was brilliant. "Bob" as Robin calls himself, says he loves Simon in a Brokeback way then hugs and gropes Simon. Rob Schneider then has his give now video and after the break we get a video from Tyra Banks.
David Spade comes out to talk about New Orleans and how Brad Pitt is working to get people back into their homes after Hurricane Katrina. Brad Pitt then comes out but has microphone difficulties. A crew person comes out to fix it and says she just wanted a reason to touch him. Brad introduces a clip of Daughtry in Uganda singing "What About Now." Mariah Carey comes out to sing "Fly Like a Bird." Randy is playing bass for Mariah. Mariah looks really good, did she have a reduced boob job? Or perhaps she's just keeping the twins sheathed tonight since it's a charity show.
The American Idols close the show with "Shout to the Lord." They're dressed all in white for the performance. Syesha is the only one showing leg, the rest are all completely covered. It looks out of place somehow.
It's by Sia and the song is called "Breathe Me."
