Flipping channels on TV a few minutes ago, I accidentally caught a little bit of Idol Gives Back in which Randy Jackson returned to Louisiana and made me cry by interviewing poor mothers and children in the Lower Ninth Ward. This is horribly ironic given that it was my first time watching the infernal show. USA Today on this charitable turn of tax breaks … I mean, events at AI:
Money raised on Idol will go to Charity Projects Entertainment Fund (CPEF) and other groups such as Save the Children and America’s Second Harvest, with relief programs in Africa and the USA … IGB also will feature films showing the people and areas that will be helped with contributions. In one, Idol judge Simon Cowell and host Ryan Seacrest visit Africa. New Orleans, ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, also will be featured.
Is it just me or is Katrina/Flood In New Orleans a popular American theme again?
Now, you know how much I enjoy and respect your thoughts, ideas, and opinions. That said, I have to give credit and praise to AI’s producers for hosting this event. Was it a media spectacle? Sure. The whole show is a media spectacle. I’ve heard “Sanjaya” used as a verb, for heaven’s sake! But the producers’ hearts were in the right place, and I think a lot of money got to a lot of people who need it, both here and in Africa.
Joel, Joel, Joel, are you an AI watcher? OMG! Just kidding, you know how much I like to rag on reality TV and these Compete For Everything From A Record Deal To A Haircut shows.
Whatever happened to Mutual of Omaha?
I confess to nothing, dear lady! My Tuesday evenings, as you can well imagine, are spent pondering the works of Kierkegaard and Nietsche, and other people whose names are very hard to spell. Go, Blake! (Ooh, damn, what a giveaway!)
Mutual of Omaha! “While Jim is wrestling the wild alligator, I’m up here in the helicopter with my high powered binoculars. And many of you at home also wrestle with what is the proper amount of life insurance. Be prepared before catastrophe strikes. Let Mutual of Omaha reps do the wrestling for you. Call them today!”