American Idol Charity: American Idol gives again
American Idol Charity: American Idol gives again
The star-maker finds its serious side with millions donated to charities
Longtime ratings juggernaut “American Idol” made headlines of a different kind in 2007 by generating more than $76 million in aid for charities.
Underprivileged children in the U.S. and Africa were helped by “Idol Gives Back,” which united the show’s regulars and remaining contestants — along with celebrities and viewers — to furnish time, attention and money.
The second annual edition airs Wednesday, and Fox has allocated an extra half-hour beyond its normal prime-time lineup.
The massive guest lineup seems to demand it. As of this writing, the roster included Bono, Fergie, Mariah Carey, Brad Pitt, Reese Witherspoon, Miley Cyrus, Snoop Dogg, John Legend, Annie Lennox, Maroon 5, Heart, Gloria Estefan, Boyz II Men and the Clark Brothers, NFL player siblings Eli and Peyton Manning, and “Idol” alumni Carrie Underwood and Chris Daughtry. Ellen DeGeneres will reprise her co-host role.
Simon Cowell admits he never foresaw involvement in an “Idol Gives Back” before 2007. Then, the famously caustic “Idol” judge traveled and witnessed firsthand the beneficiaries’ desperate circumstances, as did fellow judges Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson and series host Ryan Seacrest.
“It worked, I think, because it actually made sense,” Cowell says. “A guy named Richard Curtis (the writer-director of the movie ‘Love Actually’) had pushed for this kind of awareness for years in the U.K., and he wanted to do something similar in America. ‘American Idol’ seemed the obvious place to go for the kind of awareness he wanted. That was his main priority; yes, we want to raise money, but most importantly, we want to raise awareness.”
As a music executive and a television producer and personality, Cowell allows that visiting underdeveloped regions is far from his norm. Still, he deemed it essential for “Idol Gives Back.”
“If you’re going to talk about it, you’ve actually got to witness it. Otherwise, you genuinely don’t know what you’re talking about. That was part of the deal, that we would actually go out and see what the problems were. The second issue was that at least 50 percent of the money raised had to go to American charities. (’Idol’) is an American show supported by American viewers, and everyone was happy to go along with that.”
This year, the charities receiving proceeds from “Idol Gives Back” are: the Children’s Defense Fund; the Children’s Health Fund; the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the Brad Pitt-founded Make It Right, benefiting New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina; Malaria No More; and Save the Children.
The recipient of a Governors’ Emmy for its first round, “Idol Gives Back” is suiting Cowell’s itinerary better this time. “I used to fly back to London once a week and do another show,” he says, “but I’m very good with the schedule while I’m over here now. I have to tell you, it was a nightmare, but I’m pretty much based in the U.S. now (during an ‘American Idol’ season).”
Cowell says that in preparation for “Idol Gives Back,” he, Abdul, Jackson and Seacrest “all have been traveling to different parts of America. We’re working with different charities we’re interested in, but it’s really the same thing again. Without bashing people over the head and making them feel uncomfortable, it’s simply a matter of, ‘Did you know these problems existed, and do you want to do something about it?’
“We were always very clear that we didn’t want to preach on this show,” Cowell adds. ” ‘American Idol’ is an entertainment show, so you’ve got to strike the right balance, but you react in different ways. When I do the filming (of the on-location ‘Idol Gives Back’ segments), that’s a whole different experience from judging singers.”
In that sense, Cowell maintains he would have changed one thing about “Idol Gives Back” last time, “and I hope we do it this year. I think we should still kick somebody off. The charity is one thing, but ‘American Idol’ is still ‘American Idol.” It’s still a competition, and I hope that will be continued this time.”
Admittedly, fitting the regular contest into everything else entailed by “Idol Gives Back” could be tricky. For one thing, there’s the parade of big-name guests, and Cowell isn’t the least bit surprised so many have signed up.
“Artists aren’t stupid,” he says. “When they can reach millions of people, they’re available. I’m being sarcastic there, but it doesn’t do them any harm. It’s not much to ask them to turn up and sing a song, is it?”
Cowell fully realizes and appreciates what “American Idol” fame has afforded him. He has produced such other series as ABC’s “American Inventor” and NBC’s soon-to-return “America’s Got Talent,” and in his native England, the hugely popular “The X Factor.”
“At the end of the day,” Cowell says, “the only reason we do (’American Idol’) is to find artists. One of the biggest stars in the U.K. in the past 10 years, Leona Lewis, came through ‘The X Factor.’ She has the No. 1 record in about 25 countries right now.
“I think ‘American Idol’ was a very good springboard for all of us, but I would have to say ‘The X Factor’ and the ‘Got Talent’ brand — which is now in 50 countries — is equally important (to me). The show you’re on at the time has to become your priority.”
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[...] Iflove Entertainment - Professional review on Showbiz, No Business Like Show Business wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt American Idol Charity: American Idol gives again The star-maker finds its serious side with millions donated to charities Longtime ratings juggernaut “American Idol” made headlines of a different kind in 2007 by generating more than $76 million in aid for charities. Underprivileged children in the U.S. and Africa were helped by “Idol Gives Back,” which united the show’s regulars and remaining contestants — along with celebrities and viewers — to furnish time, attention and money. The second [...]