Even though Idol gives Back rapidly deteriorates into a self-congratulatory advertising festival for Fox, Idol, AT&T, Coca Cola, Ford, and i-tunes….the cause is still worthwhile.  Most of the celebrity appearances are corny or embarrassingly lame, but again, the cause is worthwhile.

 

I’d estimate that about 25-30 minutes contained anything remotely of interest to me, but I watched every minute, made my guilt-ridden donation again this year, and said another silent prayer of thanks that I was lucky enough to be born in the US to a family who wanted me, loved me, and was able to care for me until I became an adult.  It’s easy to take for granted but when you see the conditions that other people (even in the US) manage to survive in, it’s shocking.  I sincerely hope that this grand event raises enough money to make a huge difference in the lives of many deserving children and families.

 

Enough sincerity for this year-the opening number was dreadful, you could see the Idol finalists counting off their steps to their assigned positions on stage. The dance routine was of no interest to me-tiny athletic types flipping about just make me feel very old, very awkward and very clumsy-so I prefer to ignore them all.  Just one thought for all of you athletic types….look at Jim Fixx……CLEARLY, no good can come from a lifetime of healthy eating,  long distance running and fanatic training for many years… if he can drop over and die, I may as well just sit in my recliner in front of the boob tube and await the big one in comfort.

 

Few performances seem worthy of a mention-good intentions and sincere caring are hard to critique….

 

Band from TV (featuring Teri Hatcher) was a mixture of relatively good instrumental efforts and a terrible vocal. If you are already an actor, fairly successful and financially stable…why are you entitled to an additional opportunity to perform poorly in front of the cameras??? And why do we pay attention-that’s the bigger question.

 

I LOVE Billy Crystal but the bits with Miley Cyrus were really stupid. I don’t know why we had to be subjected to Miley Cyrus at all, and to hear her sing twice and go visit some poor family in Kentucky to show us that she cares (although she looked as if she desperately wanted to leave and not be touched) was just torture. 

 

Robin Williams was not funny, not at all-embarrassing

 

Fergie and Heart were far and away the BEST performers of the entire night

 

Jimmy Kimmel’s roast of Simon was funny for a few minutes-“who parts your hair? Moses?” but the endless nipple jokes went too far and were just creepy. Jimmy’s girlfriend Sarah Silverman was remarkably toned down and verging on appropriate for one brief shining moment of her life-I commend her for the effort.

 

As always, Carrie Underwood looked incredibly gorgeous and sounded wonderful. I hate her. Talk about having it ALL.

 

Mariah Carey was painful for me to listen to (I guess I’m the only person in the universe who doesn’t get the hype-I just don’t like her) and watching Randy on the bass made me realize just what a doofus he really is, regardless of how talented he may be.

 

Annie Lennox impressed me-her performance was excellent and her trip to Africa and her reaction to the family of 4 boys raising themselves were really touching.  The impact of AIDS on family life in Africa is horrifying-the grandmother who lost all 4 of her own children and was now raising her 8 orphaned grandchildren by doing odd jobs and digging graves had me on the verge of tears and grabbing for the checkbook again….we all have so much to be grateful for. My worst days are better than the best days most of these people have ever experienced.

 

My biggest beef with the show was the final performance by the Idol finalists/virgins garbed in the mandatory white wardrobe.  Since when is American Idol an appropriate forum for religious performances such as “Shout to the Lord?”  There are lots of moving and inspirational songs out there that do not specifically name Jesus and imply that only Christianity is truth.  Back up on the soapbox….NEWSFLASH…not everyone in the viewing audience is Christian, and not all non-Christians are terrorists, illegal aliens, or any sort of threat to the Christian world.   ARGH   Frankly, I was offended, but ok, I will try to shut up and let it pass since this is Idol Gives Back and some unimaginative schmo probably innocently decided that this was the best song for the finale….just a shocking lack of judgment…..hopefully.