What to look forward to tonight:
Update: Ryan just announced that tonight’s elimination will be THE MOST SHOCKING IN IDOL HISTORY….Plus, they got over 70 million votes last night.
- Kelly Clarkson singing with Jeff Beck on Guitar
- Annie Lenox singing “Bridge Over Troubled Water
- A taped message from Madonna
- Celine Dion and Elvis Presley (well, that’s the rumor anyway)
- Bono surprises the kids as they rehearse his song “American Prayer”
Nigel said on Ryan Seacrest’s radio program this morning that they had more than 65 million votes by 10 pm PDT last night. They broke the previous record of 65.5 million votes that came in for the Season 3 finale…
Update: Tonight’s big shocking boot? There was no boot. Nobody was eliminated tonight. As Ryan said, “Who could eliminate someone at the end of a charity special?”
It was hardly shocking however…
All of the votes from this week will carry over to next, and TWO people will be eliminated next Wednesday.
Also, the show ran about 5 minutes over the 2 hour mark for those who are tivoing.
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Why would Simon know about poverty in America? He may work there and have a home there, but he doesn’t actually live there and see day to day life.
I’m not a Simon lover by any means, but I will say in my experience usually when asked he gives very generously to charity (espescially if filmed/taped doing so).
He and Sharon Osbourne normally jokingly try to shame each other into making very large donations.
So credit where credit is due, he does share his wealth, let’s face it he can afford to.
RenaRF, thanks for the link to give.org. The annual salary of some of the CEOs bothers me.
I have mixed feelings about last night’s show. I agree that making people aware of problems is always a good thing. At the same time, I get tired of millionaires telling me that I should give while they own multiple mansions and expensive cars. However, I realize they aren’t all like that. I applaud Ellen for encouraging other celebrities to donate.
A few years ago, my youngest daughter spent 9 months volunteering in an orphanage in Cambodia. She said that Angelina Jolie visited the orphanages even when the cameras weren’t there. I think her desire to make a difference is very genuine.
I didn’t donate last night because I like to know where my money is going. However, I know that some people only give when there are big events so I think the big events serve a great purpose.
My oldest daughter is going to Uganda and Rwanda this summer. She is volunteering with a small organization that operates on a shoe-string, but does wonderful work. They provide medical treatment to people with AIDS, conduct AIDS education programs, operate 5 orphanages for AIDS orphans and help to provide AIDS widows with income making opportunities by giving them things like sewing machines. There are a lot of wonderful organizations like that, but people don’t usually know about them.
I still can’t get the image of Paula’s boobies out of my mind. Where did THOSE come from?
We did give money because most of our charities are diseases in the U.S. so it was good to donate to Africa and here. I wasn’t surprised what I saw in Africa or even New Orleans but one video that did was the one from Kentucky. It’s crazy that in this country there can be schools that can’t afford enough for books yet others like my kid’s schools have everything including computers.
Thanks for the link to give.org, Rena. I’ll be checking out our charities there.
I wonder if Simon was more shocked that there was the need for a food bank so close to where he lives than the fact that there are such places. In the films in Africa you could tell that Simon was moved by the people and children. He does have a heart, after all.
Did anyone else notice that Taylor seems to have disappeared from the introduction? Until last week there was a good long shot of him after Carrie, and the last two weeks I couldn’t even see him. I need to watch it back to see.
I still think that an organization like World Vision is your best channel to give through. They have an excellent reputation and their administrative costs are less than 5%. I was disappointed that they didn’t eliminate anyone last night since that was the only reason I continued to keep the program on to the bitter end. And then a cop-out at the end. I should have followed my instincts and watched Criminal Minds.
kjc,
it is gone. I looked when someone mentioned it on Tuesday. poof.
Totally agree Angelia - there were other things I could have been doing last night. If they were going to do what they did - wouldn’t it have been just as okay to say that right in the beginning and just leave the show to the donations and messages, etc.? It felt very uncomfortable and awkward - especially for Jordin - I thought it just mean-spirited and completely unneccessary. IMO - and based on the “accuracy” of Dial Idol - I think that Jordin had the most votes and Chris had the least. If you paid attention, Ryan told people they were “safe” in the exact order that Dial Idol showed - although he started with Phil instead of Jordin. Unless Chris really pulls out a winner next week (and with Rock - that may not happen), I think he’s going home. But, with the “totalling” of votes, I suppose anything could happen.
We live in a world of cynics and that is why so much that needs to get done, doesn’t. When ER was the biggest show on TV did they use that to help others? When Friends was the juggernaut what did they do? They just fought season after season for more money, bigger raises. So what does this silly, cheesy ass show do? It just attempts to raise money for people less fortunate. Shame on it, how could they? Was it an attempt to boost ratings or gain an Emmy? Perhaps. But in the long run this show raised some money for people who need it. Yes, maybe some feel uncomfortable watching millionaires with little African kids. But guess what, those kids need help. PERIOD.
Explanations for the conditions in Africa vary so a two hour show was not the forum to discuss tribal feuds, colonialism, and that kinda stuff. I am glad they did this whatever the motive.
The show had some wonderful performances. Nobody was cheated, two will go home next week. I am a Taylor fan, but I could give two craps about him being mentioned. This show was about charity, not spotlighting past winners, so mission accomplished as far as I am concerned. Kelly was awesome, Carrie made me actually like her, and the remaining 6 looked and sounded wonderful last night. White and Black are colors for Phil, who has the best voice of the remaining men. He should have Chris’ confidence, and Blake’s flair and he would be a force to be reckoned with. He sorta is like a Clay Aiken, but with some soul thrown in. Just no charisma. Anyway. I love this blog, it’s entertaining, and I love this show.
marco5ny:
Absolutely. And when she said “this is ridiculous” (referring to children dying of Malaria and people living in such abject poverty) I totally saw her conviction.
WVFan:
I was actually really freaked out by it and fast-forwarded after 30 seconds!! LOL!! I don’t know why, because I love Celine. It just totally weirded me out.
colette:
A little story: The way I found the ONE Campaign was from watching an HBO original movie about an English finance barrister and his mistress attending a G-8 meeting. As trite as that overview sounds, the message was profound. I always knew about poverty and some of the systemic causes but I wouldn’t have considered myself conversant on the subject. But at the end of the movie they pimped ONE.org and I went there - I read and I learned. It took one small thing to send me to the right place and learn about it. So while I hear what you’re saying in what I quoted, I’ll throw an ism at you as I think it applies here: “Long journeys begin with just one step.” Last night’s show may have been that single step for people who would have never otherwise gotten engaged.
Cathy - It’s so wonderful to hear of a family that is giving in an ultimately meaningful way. I have nothing but respect for you and what you and your family is doing. I hear you about the $$. Personal example: in the immediate days following Katrina, I did a LOT of fundraising for organizations I thought (and I had researched it) were best able to directly help with relief in the present and into the future. I raised for Habitat for Humanity, Noah’s Wish, and America’s Second Harvest most extensively. I didn’t give money to the Red Cross, however - I didn’t like how much went to organizational expenses. Rather, I personally volunteered with the Red Cross and continue to do so today. It wasn’t that I felt they didn’t ultimately do good work - it was just that I thought being a volunteer was a better way to ensure the “resources” were applied correctly. ;-) Give.org, it seems, really does a good job of helping people make good choices in their donations. I will say also that I believe strongly in both of the charities they highlighted during the show (ONE and Second Harvest).
Ok - I think I’m all caught up!!
I have to say, this is one of the most interesting discussions I’ve seen on this board! I think the nexus of charity, celebrity and music is a fascinating one, and I really like hearing everyone’s thoughts on it.
Cathy:
Good on your kids, you raised some fine daughters that is for sure!
RenaF:
The movie you refer to I think is “The Girl in the Cafe” starring the fantastic British actor Bill Nighy, and the very talented young actress Kelly MacDonald.
Interesting connection: Richard Curtis wrote and directed it for the BBC (also shown on American cabe and available on DVD). Curtis is a close friend and collaborator of Hugh Grant, and also wrote “Love, Actually” and (my favorite modern screwball comedy) “Four Weddings and a Funeral.” He was very involved in creating last night’s AI show, and his involvement eased my concern about where the money was going, etc.
I heartily recommend “Girl in the Cafe” as an example of how a compelling human story, can gracefully fold in profound ethical dilemmas and sophisticated information about global poverty. Not simplistic at all.
On another note, all reverence aside: anyone heard of the Dead Elvises band? How could they not pop into my mind during that necrophilia duet with Celine Dion and the ghost of The King? Creeeepy.
audio and video right here of the Dead Elvises tune “The Creature Stole My Surfboard” and other gems:
http://www.youtube.com/thedeadelvi
I am sorry to sound like some uncaring person but the whole show disgusted me. I am tired of charities begging for & trying to guilt me out of my money by using sad images of the less fortunate when the donations never seem to make it to those in need. Did anybody not ask themselves where all the millions already donated to help New Orleans has gone? Absolutely nothing has been done there & I don’t see how throwing more money at some charitable organization is going to help when none of the money seems to get to the people who need it. You would be better off driving down to New Orleans, pulling up to a FEMA trailer & handing the money to the trailer occupant. Also, while I know we need to help all the poor & starving children of other nations I think we need to clean up our own US backyard 1st.
They did. They frequently tried to raise awareness about many issues such as the health care crisis for the working poor in the US, torture, assistance for those in the Congo, and the crisis in Darfur. Some people even started complaining that the show was no fun because they were dealing with so many social issues. The actors are also very active with various charitable organizations.
But, back to IGB, it’s good that they are trying. Is there going to be a charity CD? I think it would do quite well. Carrie’s single is already selling like hot cakes.
I usually love charity-type shows. For example, I think Oprah does an excellent job with that sort of presentation. I loved the celebrity tribute telethons after 9-11, the tsunami and Hurricane Katrina.
However, I thought last night’s show was a train wreck. It just seemed phony and forced. I kept changing the channel during the many cringe-worthy moments (exp: Il Divo).
Finally I landed on the PBS special about the media “Buying the War”. Absolutely rivetting. The best thing I’ve seen on television in years. I hope they rebroadcast it because I only got to see the last half.
Needless to say I never went back to Idol.
To be clear — my criticism is of the overall presentation and not the cause. I believe in giving money to charitable organizations.
The little girl who broke down when she was talking to Paula broke my heart.
I didn’t like how Jordin snatched the tissue out of Lakisha’s hand. Little prima donna. I still like her and I’ll chalk it up to what Randy says: She’s only 17.
Love, love, love Ellen. If anyone can inspire, she can. I hope Ryan was taking notes.
I’m glad Sanjaya was there, though I wasn’t a fan when he was on the show. Even Regis, on his first day back, was talking about him on the show about how Sanjaya was his fav. I really hope he does well and it looks like he is well on his way.
Jack Black rules. ‘You judges aren’t the deciders.” Loved it!
The Elvis/Celine thing was a let-down. I know you can only do so much with a computer but still… They should’ve gone with big names for a duet. Well, with BOTH being alive.
It’s cool they are carrying over the vote totals to next week but it’s going to be WEIRD to go from six to four contestants in one week. Wow. Very strange.
colette - YES! The Girl in the Cafe. I was so moved by it that i wrote an article about it (I write politically at a large community blog). If you’re interested, link here.
What an interesting connection you point out - makes me feel better after-the-fact and I wasn’t feeling bad in the first place!
bamatt - I’ll say this as gently as I can - the only way to ensure money does NOT get to those who need it is NOT to give it. If you scroll upthread, you’ll see I linked www.give.org. You can carefully check charities using this site and make informed decisions about where to send your money (if you choose to send it). And not for nothing (and I’m seriously not trying to be mean) - which do you think is harder - looking at the pictures of poor, desperate children, or BEING a poor, desperate child?
I hear you. But there’s a difference between making informed decisions about charitable giving and throwing all charities under the bus. Habitat for Humanity is actively building and re-building in NOLA with virtually no assistance from government. They’re just doing it. I got a notice today to consider a volunteering vacation down to NOLA to add hands to their invaluable work. America’s Second Harvest continues to feed those who remain displaced and are living in FEMA trailer parks. I dare say they are doing a better job than if I loaded my car with groceries and drove down there. Yet at the same time, it was important to me and my family and our musician friends to have a direct impact with respect to Katrina. Immediately following the disaster we KNEW it would be chaos. We did a benefit (about eight bands) locally and then coordinated with the musician’s union to identify families that needed the money from the benefit and then we sent it to them. Another great organization has been the Tipitina foundation, which is matching musicians who lost everything with people who have instruments and equipment they can spare.
I guess my point is this: those kids on the show last night still need help. So then the onus runs to each of us to find a way to provide that help in a fashion that we find palatable. If your preference is to help those in the US, there are plenty of opportunities to do so - you just have to do the research so that you’re comfortable with whatever gift you provide.
But that event last night raised consciousness, bamatt. Many people don’t spare a thought for those in need - not because they’re mean or selfish, but because they’re attending to their OWN needs. It’s hard to ignore something that’s right in front of you, and regardless of its execution and the relative level of perceived sincerity of various participants, those kids and people were right in front of many who don’t have time to think about it otherwise.
For me, it’s all good.
My hubby is very right wing conservative, and I am more middle, so last night he was rolling his eyes and making snarky comments, while I felt more moved and compelled to donate and make a change, etc.
One thing DH brought up though re Malaria, though, is that some environmentalist campaigned for African nations to stop using DEET to kill the mosquitoes because it was also killing the cranes. So, apparantly, they all stopped using the DEET; as a result, the cranes survived, the mosquitoes flourished, and the children started dying. (Don’t know how accurate that story is….) The mosquito nets are great, and God knows we should be giving those kids the medicine they need, but I kept thinking, “Good Heavens, can’t we send them some Deep-Woods Off”?
I agree that whatever the motive, it is always wonderful to raise awareness and funds. It is not the kids’ fault that there is govenrmental corruption, ineptitude, etc. It’s not their fault what they are born into. And if we are going to improve the future, we have to change the situation for the future generation. But, it is only bandaging the wound and not curing the disease, so to speak.
Africa is still poor because of AFRICA, and not because of the United States.
A whole host of other reasons of course. But we could throw 10 times the money at Africa that we do and there would still be poverty, starvation, disease. You have to fix Africa to fix the problem. One of the Northern African nations (forget which one) greatly lowered the spread of AIDS by teaching abstinance, but got lambasted for teaching moral responsibility instead of just distributing more condoms.
I also think it’s crazy for the celebs to say, just give more money and the problems will go away. Money is not the problem. It is where the moeny is going to It’s just like Mexico–if you want to stop the immigration, then you have to fix Mexico and make it a place where its citizens WANT to live.
I know I am going to get lambasted for this, but geez!
LisaB posted a link to an interesting article in the daily thread about DDT and mosquito nets. I posted a link in the daily thread to a World Health Organization (WHO) press release. Even the environmentalists are changing their views on the use of DDT to help with malaria in Africa. Your DH might be interested in reading it.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2006/pr50/en/index.html
I agree about celebrities oversimplifying the problems in Africa. Money isn’t the answer to the problems in Darfur. Children in Uganda are forced to go into hiding at night so they won’t be abducted by the rebel army and forced to become child soldiers. However, money can help some of the problems.
LoveU, awesome post! No lambasting about it from me!
Not to harp on the cold hearted side of things, but plagues and things like AIDS are much more a symptom of over-population than anything else.
If you put that many people in that small of a space, without proper health care, education and sanitation, there are bound to be massive problems.
IF you could make EVERY child in Africa healthy, that ultimately would lead to further over-population and the cycle would begin again.
Education and population control are as valuable as food and medicine in these areas for long term control of these problems.
Personally, as a decendant of Appalachia, I too wish to “fix” America first….and send my charitable dollars locally.
Inner cities, Appalachia, the Mississippi Delta areas and Native American Reservations are third world areas right here at home.
Personally, I’d let the EU & China play a larger role in Africa….they NEED to do something besides just bitch about us.
LoveU, what you say about throwing money at Africa won’t fix Africa is obviouslt true, however, the problems will take years to fis, in the meantime the people need food and medicine NOW.
Oprah is helping build a school, Madonna is building a health clinic, the money raised on Idol will go towards education,food and medicine. These are all important.
The key is to have some accountability and a plan in regards to hpw and on what the money will be spent. Accountability, which is obviously something this right wing administration knows nothing about. Where is all of the money gifted to Katrina victims? We know that $70 Million is literally in the garbage due to FEMA stocking too much food and then being improperly stored. Who has been fired for that one?
A plan,accountability and the MONEY will and can make a huge difference. The problems did not happen over night and won’t be solved over night but what Idol is doing is terrific and will help tremendously.
I disagree, Shar.
On another subject, I’d forgotten about this until the “Popwatch” article mentioned it, but did anyone else think that Teri Hatcher was trying WAY too hard to be sexy during that song (who’s name I currently forget)? WAY too hard.
Nos, I agree with you about the American poor 1000%….and, by the way, what about India, Europe, the Middle East, all of the former USSR, Asia, etc. Obviously, there are poor all over the world. Why does Africa get all the publicity?
Shar, I never said that education, food and medicine aren’t vital. Of course they are. But it’s just one factor, of course.
I guess what I get tired of is this guilt that we are supposed to feel for being a wealthy nation. The fact that the United States is wealthy does not make another nation poor. (Not to mention which Americans are the among the most generous people–not our government, necessarily, but our people)….There is more and more wealth to create all around. Africa is one of the most blessed places on Earth in terms of natural resources. But do they use those resources wisely or creatively?
It was a wonderful show! I did send in my donation through the Clay Aiken UNICEF website. I still may send another donation through AI.
I still can’t figure out why Celine wore black unless it had something to do with a contrast in color. She did such a nice job. For me, (other than the poverty clips) it was the highlight of the evening! The song was a PERFECT choice with such memorable verses. Elvis remains the World’s Greatest Idol!
It was great seeing Bono on the show. He has gone to Africa I don’t know how many times and met with politicians the world over and done a lot more of the nitty gritty that actually makes things happen.
He is quite the class act and really needed to be on this show. Such a sincere man…
I was very disappointed that Jordin sounded so bad on “American Prayer”. It was a contrast to the others who did such a nice job. I knew she was TCO and at first I was excited. As I learn more and more about this young lady, it makes me want Melinda to win.
From Celebrity Spider:
Simon Cowell Storms British Rich List 4/21/07
Music mogul Simon Cowell has shot up Britain’s Rich List after earning #40 million ($78 million) from last year (06) alone.
The X Factor and American Idol judge - whose bank balance now stands at #100 million ($195 million) - stormed from last year’s 944th place to 700 in the Sunday Times’s annual list.
Cowell even beat troubled singing sensation Robbie Williams whose #95 million ($185 million) wealth left him trailing behind at 755th place.
Despite his prosperous year, Cowell still can’t compete with the highest earning entertainer - former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney whose colossal #725 million ($1.4 billion) fortune places him 102nd in the list.
One of the solutions to world poverty is fair trade. I’ve been to Africa & China & it’s shameful what some countries get for their natural resources.
A cup of white tea in New York costs $35. The white tea growers live in a remote area of China & they’re thrilled if they get $1 for a bag of the same tea.
Grammie Karl, I agree. It was glaring. Go Team Humble!
Don’t you think that the fact that they had just “tricked” her into thinking she was going home maybe had something to do with her “unconnectedness” (new word, cool) to the song? Although, on this site, I know most feel that they already knew ahead of time, but you never know for sure what was going through her head. And, sorry, what is TCO???
The Chosen One, Fotiai.