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« American Idol
April 25, 2007: 70 Million Votes and Everyone's Safe!
This is going to be a different kind of blog tonight as I am frankly stunned, shocked and really pleasantly surprised that Idol pulled this little telethon together so quickly and so effectively. Idol is in a position to do something to help others less fortunate, and I am proud they took this opportunity to do it. They have friends in very high places, and scores of Idol-worshiping celebrities offered their services to help spread the message. Not only that, but they partnered with One.org to bring awareness to extreme poverty. And although the show felt pretty much like a long Ford commercial, I am happy and amazed that they did it. A little more than halfway through the show Ryan announced they had raised $30 million! That’s pretty impressive. So if you haven’t donated, do so now!
There were some funny moments, but mostly these were two hours that really touched me. I started to lose it during the segment about New Orleans: After walking back and forth to the bathroom for Kleenex three times I decided to just bring the darn box with me to the viewing area. It was too lengthy a show for a play-by-play, but some of the highlights for me:
Eric McCormack: “If everyone who ever voted for Sanjaya gave just one dollar, we could do so much good.” (You know who you are!)
Ben Stiller: “Mousse it down?”
Ben Stiller singing “Reminiscing” by the Little River Band.
Ben Stiller dancing while singing.
Ben Stiller mentioning Pure Prairie League ("Amie, what you wanna do?")
Paula visiting with the kids at the Boys and Girls Club in Hollywood, listening to the one little aspiring dancer who started telling the story about her mom working “three jobs and sometimes we can’t pay the bills” and breaking down into tears. Another tissue, thank you.
Jack Black as the “audience member who was lucky enough to get to come up on stage.” His rendition of Seal’s “Kiss from a Rose” was nearly as good as Chris Sligh’s! Kyle Gass, the other half of Tenacious D, was holding a rose looking on. It was priceless. And then the judges really threw Jack to the curb, but Seal saved him.
Kelly Clarkson singing “Up to the Mountain” with Jeff Beck playing a beautiful guitar solo along with her. She really has an incredible voice.
Carrie Underwood singing “I’ll Stand by You” was really nice.
The “Stayin' Alive” video was star-studded, and I especially liked seeing Gillian Anderson and Miss Piggy.
Ellen donating $100,000 during the show.
Josh Groban has a remarkably good voice. (I know, I know, but I didn’t know!)
The smiling faces with the missing teeth of the kids from the African Children's Choir. Those toothless grins made me smile.
Ryan and Simon back in Africa where everyone was either dying of AIDS or malaria. I pretty much finished the Kleenex box during that segment.
The Simpsons judging Simon as a contestant. Good to know Simon can have a laugh at himself.
Homer Simpson, the judge, to Simon, the contestant: “Lose the accent, Mary Poppins!”
The duet between Céline and Elvis was pretty cool. I figured they had to have a guy standing on the stage, though it looked as though even Céline wasn’t really there. I think the whole thing was like a holograph and neither of them was there. (I know Elvis wasn’t really there, he works in Vegas.)
Madonna showed up from Malawi and urged us all to donate.
Bono.
As for the results — you probably already know — everyone was safe! The judges felt that since it was a show about charity, the least they could do was keep all six for another week. Jordin was the last to be told she was safe, and the relief of hearing it after everyone else was asked to sit made her burst into tears. Ryan mentioned they had over 70 million votes last night. And so next week, sadly, we’ll lose two.
The kids finished the show singing “American Prayer.” I really have to fix my DVR, because it stopped taping before they had finished. Bummer. Just want to drive it home that this was a grand gesture, and I sincerely hope the producers make it an annual event. Suggestion Box: Rather than spending so much money on the production of it, how about donating even more money to help people in need? So go download some of the songs and videos from tonight’s show on iTunes. You’ll feel so much better knowing that by hitting the “download” button you may have saved a life.
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Apr 26, 2007 3:35 AM
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I was pleasantly surprised (not about the results) and very moved by the show. I thought the producers did a great job and with the comedy and starpower added in, it did not feel "overdone" or too "in your face" for lack of better words.
I agree maybe they could spend a bit less in production costs, though the spectacle may be a part of what makes people tune in and stay. Not sure.
As for the Celine/Elvis "duet," I have mixed emotions. I will just say it was not as horrific as I imagined.
Results - Someone guessed it on yesterday's blog & it sounded reasonable to me, so I had an inkling. I guess I don't care one way or the other, but at the same time I wish I knew who had the lowest votes. I highly doubt it was Jordin!!!
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Apr 26, 2007 4:10 AM
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Thank you, oh mighty TiVo. Thank you for saving me from wasting 2 hours of my life and allowing me to condense it into about 10 minutes.
All hail TiVo.
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Apr 26, 2007 4:16 AM
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Kudos to Stryker for predicting no one would go home. I'll give myself half a point for agreeing with you. It just wasn't all that surprising. On this night, it would have been a bummer to send someone home. Ryan said it was a surprise a couple of times. That was a dead giveaway because I don't think in the history of the show he has said something like that before the announcement.
Good seeing Bono in the end. That was a touching story he told about how he got involved. It was kinda strange that the Idols didn't seem all that excited to meet him though.
I missed Carrie's performance. I am not sure how that happened. Also didn't recognize Scully in the Staying Alive song. Darn it. I liked Kelly singing with Jeff Beck. I am getting kinda worried about her fluctuating weight. That's not healthy.
Always thought Josh Groban had a good voice. He once again brought the goods tonight. Nice touch with the choir.
The Ben Stiller bits were good. I also liked the Simpsons piece. I wonder if Paula enjoyed how they portrayed her there. Just a guess, I don't think she did.
Loved the Jack Black bit. They ruined the surprise though by showing him in the crowd just before they did it. He plays everything to the hilt. Well done. And Seal was there!
The Celine and Elvis thing was better than I thought it would be. I am guessing they filmed that on another day. And then they must have put in a cheering crowd in there as well. That other stuff was odd.
Next week is going to be a tough one for the contestants. 2 people going home. I think the only 2 that are completely safe are Melinda and Jordin. Up in the air among Phil, Chris, Lakisha and Blake. My early prediction would be Chris and Lakisha.
Overall the show went fairly well. Raised a lot of money for people who need it. That was nice that Ellen is donating that much money.
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Apr 26, 2007 4:31 AM
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Yeah, I have to admit I skipped through a few parts with the help of my trusty recorder. Also forgot to mention (saw it in speedy's post)how amazing Josh Groban was and is. He gives me chills every time I hear him. What a talent.
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Apr 26, 2007 4:53 AM
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If AI wants to do a mini-telethon, that's fine and it's their choice. I fast forwarded through most of the show.
I have always been irritated at how they manipulate the whole results thing and tonight was particularly disgusting.
Hanging Jordin out to dry and then pulling that surprise at the end of Jordin staying because, "how can we send anyone home on charity night" was total crap - and I'm being polite about it!
I guess it would have been OK if Jordin was told before the show, but it doesn't look like she was.
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Apr 26, 2007 5:16 AM
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It's not your DVR's fault, the show ran over by several minutes, mine also cut out during the group song at the end, and it was 10:02pm at that time. I wonder if Paula has confused Sarah Michelle Gellar with Gillian Anderson? I wasn't watching the Staying Alive thing that closely, but I didn't notice GA, but I did notice "Buffy" with her naturally brunette hair. I think the producer's just got caught trying to manipulate the votes. They could have just as easily had Ryan tell both ChRis and Jordin that they were both safe at the same time. By leaving Jordin dangling out there by herself, making people gasp that she could be going, and implying that she was in last place for the week, were they trying to galvanize her fans to make sure to vote for her extra often in the coming weeks? Am I a cynic? Maybe. But why else put that 17 year old girl through those looong seconds of doubt. I think the Idols had a pretty good idea that nobody was leaving this week, they were all smiles throughout the narrowing process, but there was probably enough doubt that left Jordin in tears after it was over. And THEN she had to go "sing point" in a high pitch no less in the group song at the end. Boy, I really think the producers made clear last night who they want to win. Not that I blame them.
I was also one of those people who predicted nobody would get the boot, but I don't recall if I posted it here or on another blog (like the AI site.) Ah well, not important as it wasn't that tough to guess. I mean, how can you spend 2 hours raising money for charity and then cap it all off by kicking someone off? Anyway, so now we really know why Madonna was in Ma-Lousy last week. A decent show, but what happened to Daniel "Harry Potter" Radcliffe, Pink, Gwen Stefani, and Michael Bublé? Weren't they all announced as guests? I also just read the other day how Pink filmed her performance ahead of time. Hmm, I guess they ran out of time with Jack Black, Ben Stiller, and having the judges up on the stage repeating what they had just said in the previous video segment they were in. Having Josh Groban and Kelly Clarkson sing back to back really put into perspective just how weak this year's group of Idol contestants really are. Wow, do those 2 got the sang thang or what? Next week 2 will be going...and I highly doubt Jordin will be one of them. And no, she didn't have the lowest amount of votes, remember Ryan said at the start that there wouldn't be any highest or lowest, just a "random" calling of names. Random my patootey. ~ÐL
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Apr 26, 2007 5:21 AM
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I am so proud to watch a jaggernaught tv show like AI to use their influence to help others in need. All of the clips that they showed from here in the US and in Africa were heart breaking. And I didnt know that mining parts of Kentucky had the highest rate of iliteracy.
All of the performances were great. My favorite were, Kelly and Annie Lenox. I absoutly love her. josh gorbin performance with the african childrens choir was also great. And I also smiled at the kids were smiled with missing teeth. All of them were so cute.
Ben Stiller was way too funny. And so was Jack Black. I also loved the "Staying Alive" commercial. But I wanted to see more of Hugh Laurie.
Another tissue moment was when the celebs describing on how many funerals they have been too, and that guy from Africa went to 200(?) funerals that were mostly children. At that point I ran out of tissues and had to use toliet paper.
Kudos to Ellen for donating 100,000. I wonder if the other celebs who performed donated money.
I always will love Bono. But I also wondered why the Idols wasnt all that suprised to see him.
I absoutly loved The Simpsons bit. Lisa as a loopy Paula....Im still laughing at that. And Marge trying to figure out why her fingers are like that.
The Celine/Elvis duet...it wasnt a disaster that I thought it would be. I didnt like it, but it wasnt bad. But it looked weird though.
Finally, next week is going to be a tough one for the idols. Blake, Kiki, Chris and Phil better step it up. What is the theme for next week?
30 million dollars, way to go AI I hope they do this next year.
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Apr 26, 2007 5:32 AM
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280 funerals.
That was unreal.
I can't remember which celebrity said only 2 funerals...that seems to be a pretty low number.
280 though...yeah, I nearly fell out of my chair when the guy said that. Wow.
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Apr 26, 2007 5:46 AM
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I too missed Kelly Clarkson. When did she perform? I was so mad at AI hinting that Jordin was going to be voted off, I wasn't going to help their hype by donating money. I hope this didn't cause others to feel the same.
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Apr 26, 2007 6:01 AM
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Paula was right in seeing Gillian Anderson. She was wearing a black shirt or jacket over a white shirt.
Sara Michelle Gellar was also in the video. She was wearing a white top.
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Apr 26, 2007 6:06 AM
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Ok, I'll have to check the DVR...like I said I didn't pay that much attention to the Staying Alive thing...it was kinda lame. Again, why was that there and no Pink, Gwen, Dan Radcliffe, etc?
Also, I just remembered...how funny was it that Ryan screwed up the start of the show and restarted it, and even then said, "I can't see that." Nothing like Live TV.
Edited to add: I watched the DVR, gee, no wonder I didn't Gillian. She was on screen for all of .002 seconds. I must have blinked. But who was the older blonde woman in the brown jacket?
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Apr 26, 2007 6:12 AM
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I found my self in tears the most at the Carrie Underwood performance with the children in Africa. And even though I have not cared for Josh Grobin in the past, he also had me in tears last night but the kids were so cute that some of those tears were of joy. Those kids looked so proud of themselves for being able to sing with Josh.
I also liked the Celine/Elvis thing. It sounded good but was a little goofy to watch.
When they were telling the contestants whether they were safe or not, I thought that they had all been told they were safe by the grins on Phil and Lakisha's faces when they on the bubble but obviously no one told poor Jordin. And then to have her singing an octive higher right after that didn't seem fair.
I usually TIVO the show so I can skip commercials but I watched it live last night so I didn't lose control of the TV to my son and I didn't mind sitting through the commercials because it gave me a chance to escape some of the touching scenes they showed.
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Apr 26, 2007 7:39 AM
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Yes, that is definitely Gillian Anderson (my twin) for about a second. SMG was in several shots and is back to her natural brunette. Loved the video.
Over all, as hokie as it may have been, I think it was great for AI to take advantage of their ginormous audience and do something good. But besides in keeping with the feel-goodness of the show and not kicking anyone off this week, I think it was taped - therefore they had no way of knowing the voting outcome. Myspace's Tom posted a bulletin yesterday talking about the taping of the AI Gives Back show, and the very beginning when Ryan Seacrest flubbed the opening and they did a second take - although I'm not sure if the flub was meant to air or not.
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Apr 26, 2007 7:44 AM
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I loved Kelly Clarkson's performance. She clearly demonstrated why she was the first and in my book, -the- true American Idol.
I didn't get to catch the whole show though. Does anyone know where we can view episodes or performance segments online? Thanks.
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Apr 26, 2007 7:54 AM
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