“Idol” goes to Africa as Sanjaya goes to Leno
By Melissa Gentry
HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 4/25/07 — “American Idol” put on a somber, charitable face in the first post-Sanjaya show, making no on-air comment as to the ejection of its media flashpoint last week while the wooly-haired one made the talk show circuit instead.
Perhaps they thought they were charitable enough to keep the often off-pitch singer in the competition as long as they did, but they shifted silently into weightier matters.
“American Idol Gives Back” was the name of the tune this week, with ambitions to change the world one phone call at a time. Each time a voter called, sponsors made a donation to “Charity Projects Entertainment Fund” to help children and young people in the USA and Africa. To support the cause top six finalists sang inspiring “life anthem” songs in hopes to change the world. According to Simon, “The competition starts tonight.”
Throughout the show clips of judges (Randy, Simon, and Paula) and Ryan Seacrest were shown visiting devastated areas in Africa reaching out to their youth. Simon referred to these terrible living conditions as, “Hell on earth.” In the midst of the clips a softer side of Simon was revealed on his visit to a food shelter in downtown LA, where he admitted that he didn’t even know places like this existed in America. He went on to explain how America could make a difference with just one dollar and feed those in need.
The singers gave as touching a performance as they could muster in keeping with the theme. Chris Richardson kicked off the night singing Eric Clapton’s “Change the World,” followed by the dependable Melinda Doolittle. It comes as no surprise that Melinda Doolittle gave another successful performance singing “There Will Come a Day,” by Faith Hill. Paula simply called her, “magical.” Blake Lewis picked one of the most famous songs of hope, John Lennon’s “Imagine.” Unfortunately the performance only got him an “OK” from Randy.
Lakisha Jones took on former Idol Fantasia’s “I Believe,” which didn’t receive positive reviews from the judges. As Paula began to elaborate on how she couldn’t help but think about Fantasia when she heard that song, Simon was quick to chime in, “I think what she is trying to say is that Paula prefers the Fantasia version.” Paula was a little flustered with his interruption, but the show went on to new popular candidate, Phil Stacey who received thumbs up across the board again this week. “Phil, I really like you and you’ve come back with a spring in your step and confidence,” said Simon. Nothing could have prepared the crowd for final candidate Jordin Sparks, who is becoming to one to beat. She blew everyone out of the water with her amazing performance of “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” by Patti LaBelle. She took the stage in confidence delivering a performance that Randy described as the best out of all six seasons, “I think that’s one of the best vocals by any contestant ever on this show, ever in six seasons.”
Now America must wait until tomorrow to find out who will be going home. America’s bloggers are already blogging their predictions, “Our prediction is that the bottom two will be Chris Richardson and Lakisha Jones with Lakisha Jones going home.”
The following U.S. organizations will benefit from “Idols Give Back:” Save the Children, America‘s Second Harvest: The Nation‘s Food Bank Network, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Children‘s Health Fund. In Africa, funds are earmarked for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Malaria No More, Nothing But Nets, Save the Children and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.