Idol Gives, so that you can give back

You’ve gotta watch Idol Gives Back Wednesday night! I went to the taping Sunday night at the Kodak Theater and despite initially grumbling about having to venture out on a Sunday night — and miss The Tudors — I had one of those moments where I was really gracious my job allowed me to take part in something like this.

Some of the shouldn’t-miss-highlights are Fergie dueting with John Legend — and then performing with '80s rockers Heart where, wearing a pair of spandex that looked rubber and painted on (forget those rumors of being preggers), she did not one, but TWO effortless one-handed front walkovers — without missing a beat in singing the song! New respect.

Carrie Underwood sat on a perch during her song looking like she was a Disney princess. Brad Pitt — well, he doesn’t say too much, because he couldn’t, because the house went wild every time the man opened his mouth! Simon Cowell’s nipples got a lot of attention from those making fun of him. He turned the tables and told Robin Williams his fairly appalling performance was ‘Brilliant’ and in return Williams, a.k.a. the ficticious winner of Russian Idol, told Simon, “I love you in a Brokeback kind of way.” William’s Russian Idol also said “So You Think You Can Drink” was a hit in his native land — and that he thinks Paula would do really well on the show.

There are also the videos. There’s a video by Bono, Daughtry in Uganda, Forest Whitaker in Rwanda, another by Bono, Reese Witherspoon in New Orleans, Brad Pitt there too, Bono in Africa… Maybe that’s why someone said something to the effect, “Bono doesn’t have the money to save Africa himself… Only half of it. So, for the other half we need your help.”

Charities being helped by Idol Gives Back, which last year raised over $75 million, include the Children's Defense Fund, The Global Fund, Make It Right, Malaria No More, Save the Children, U.S. Programs and the Children's Health Fund.

I plan to watch the televised version Wednesday night and call 1-866-IDOL-AID myself and donate for a good cause. Well, I’m also going to tune in to see who else I missed. Wondering what happened to a Maroon 5 performance I heard about. I later found out — from the bassist Micky who was at Bar Lubitsch later that night before jetting off to Hawaii — that they pre-taped in the afternoon rather than performing live. Wonder who else did that ;) xo

Idol Gives Back will air Wednesday, April 9 (7:30-10 P.M. ET/PT) on FOX

Afterwards you'll want to donate: 1-866-IDOL-AID.