'Idol:' The Charity Reprieve

Three cheers to the chatters today who predicted tonight's Giant Surprise. Yes, the "most shocking result in our history" turned out to be the fact that no one went home tonight, and two contestants will get the boot next week. My post-mortem question is: Did Jordin really get the lowest number of votes, or was she a decoy for the purposes of false suspense? My guess is the latter, given "Dialidol" and the general rightness of the universe.

Speaking of post-mortem, I was both creeped out and impressed with the Celine Dion-Elvis Presley duet; I loved the way they made Celine and the Idolettes look all fuzzy and low-def. I loved Jack Black and the Simpsons parody. I could have done without the star-studded "Stayin' Alive" video. In general, I was entertained and occasionally moved. But I'll be happy to get my old "Idol" back.

I've been trying very hard to maintain a lack of cynicism about this "Idol" charity venture, though I've wondered about the specific charities involved and the extent of the celebrity contributions, and some readers have raised excellent questions about operating expenses and the commercial nature of the show in general. In general, I feel about "Idol Gives Back" the way I feel about celebrity charity ventures in general: Yes, they might be partially motivated by publicity or self-aggrandizement, but if good causes get real help, who am I to complain? Still, I know, from prior reporting on other stories, that not all celebrity charities are equal; some have absurd operating expenses, cousins on the payroll, etc., etc. etc.

For what it's worth, a little poking around on the "Idol" website reveals that the money collected tonight is going directly to the Charity Projects Entertainment Fund, which will funnel donations to various causes. The fund was formed in December 2, and has filed limited paperwork.

Beneficiaries listed on the website include Unicef, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and America's Second Harvest. Further questions will be asked.