In ten years, few Americans will remember tonight’s “Idol Gives Back” show. In ten years, however, hundreds of thousands of citizens in our world will be living very different lives because of it. Some people make fun of or discount shows like this. It’s so easy for us to be jaded, overwhelmed, selfish or discouraged when we look out on the world. It is a small place full of giant canyons.

Tonight, we looked in on some of the places where the great divides are fierce battlegrounds, and ragged bands of foot-soldiers take on formidable foes. Aids orphans in Africa that number in the millions. Kids in gang infested Goshen, California who are scared of drive-bys. The 1-3 million people who die of malaria every year because they don’t have a $10 mosquito net. Hurricane Katrina’s kids in New Orleans, who hang on in the nightmare that their lives have settled into. The crushing poverty of rusted-out Appalachia, the third world country less than 4 hours from my house.

The challenge given, to step into the mess and out of ourselves, is a huge one. Tonight, famous people were the tour guides, reporters, workers and cheerleaders. The biggest star of all, however, was love.

The American Idol goal this year is to raise $100 million dollars to change the lives and futures of children here and around the world. “Idol Gives Back” partners with many well-established charities who are literally on the front lines. This is the best, most efficient way to give the aid that is needed. Many fundraisers are well meaning, but minimally effective: successful looking numbers without successful end results. Idol wisely chose not to reinvent the wheel, and instead supports those who know who, what, where and how to help.

It was a great show tonight! The “So You Think You Can Dance” top dancers were there, and were SO much better than the Idols dancing in the weekly Group Humiliations! Could we keep them, Nigel? The opening number with the Idol “Elite Eight” was banging! Afterwards, the top 12 Idols began answering the phones in the Idolship, while everyone else (30,000 people) was at the Kodak Theater. A long list of celebrities were slated to appear tonight. Some simply did a quick bit and gave out the donation phone number (1-877-IDOL-AID), some performed, and a few went on some incredible journeys.

Snoop Dogg kicked off the performances with “Can’t Say Goodbye”, wearing either the biggest ring I have EVER seen, or had one crazy looking mike! Is there mike bling? Kobe Bryant gave out the digits afterwards, with a strange white dot on his face. Did he get in trouble with his wife again? Just wondering.

The first video package is of Paula and Randy going to the messed up streets of Goshen, CA. They’re checking in with Save the Children’s local after-school program where the kids have tutors, food, and a safe place to play. The average income in Goshen is $9,000 a year.

Carrie Underwood and Jamie Denton (Desperate Housewives) do a plumbing/housewife spoof where Carrie and Jamie are caught under the sink by Terri Hatcher. Terri tells Carrie she’s gonna steal her song! She then busts up “Before He Cheats” while Jamie plays guitar with the band. Terri and Carrie diva hug, and I notice that even when Carrie talks, she taps her mike. Just like when she sings! Digits given out again by Mary Murphy from SYTYCD, and the Jonas Brothers, then Billy Crystal arrives onstage.

Billy is gettin a little old. His bit was about being a relative geezer, and said he’d met a girl in rehearsal who wanted to sing on Idol. He brings out Miley Cyrus. Miley schools Billy on who she is, and how many #1’s she has. Billy rattles off his movies, Tonys and Oscar hosting gigs, and they finally connect over “Monsters, Inc.” Miley says “You’re famous too!” (Kind of a blech moment). Miley does a hair-flying, whiplash-inducing performance of “We Can”, that includes major mike-stand abuse.

Bono is with Idol and Global Fund in Ghana. He’s visiting an Aids care worker who supports 60 Aids orphans by herself, doing odd jobs, digging graves, or borrowing from others. This woman has lost all of her own children to Aids. Global Fund delivers drugs to the people in these remote areas, and educates the caretakers on how to store and administer them.

Fergie is onstage next, with John Legend on piano, giving an awesome performance of “Finally”. Fergie can really sing well, and should stop doing songs like “My Humps”. She proves this again immediately, by tearing UP “Barracuda” with Heart’s Ann and Nancy Wilson. The Wilson girls have still got it. Alot of it! Carly is so jealous right now she’s probably not answering her phone in the Idolship! Amanda is, though! Go girl!

Peyton and Eli Manning show us Save the Children’s work with the kids in their hometown of New Orleans. These kids are working through the severe traumas they’ve experienced: chaos, deaths of family and friends, displacement from home. They are getting much needed counseling, and a place to play and talk. These kids all have each other’s backs, and are becoming a source of community for each other.

After the digits are given out, we go to Dar a Saleem with Annie Lennox. She is spending time with four brothers, orphaned, who have no family whatsoever. The oldest, 15, takes care of them all. The youngest is 3. Annie takes them by van a long distance to be tested for Aids. They have to know, because the oldest brother is all they have. All are blessedly negative. They still live alone together in a remote hut. Annie holds them, plays and talks to them all about their lives. When she must leave, Annie is completely undone. She wants to hide her tears from the boys, because they are so brave, and manage to still live with such dignity. She comes onstage and performs a beautiful, haunting, “Many Rivers to Cross”, while her journey replays on the screens behind her.

Kiefer Sutherland- digits, Celine Dion- short video with some African orphans, Jimmy Kimmell with several Simon man-boob jokes. Simon’s video package of his trip to New York is next, he’s reporting on the mobile medical units there that are helping uninsured, homeless and poor people get treatments they need. “Idol Gives Back” has funded several of these units around the country, resulting in vital medical care for many who would otherwise go without. He says the people he met who were in need were some of the nicest people ever. Back in the Kodak, Simon introduces Carrie Underwood’s performance.

Carrie sings “Praying for Time”, looking beautiful and sounding great. Standing O! Ellen Degeneres gives the digits, then Gloria Estefan and Sheila E do “Get on Your Feet.” Sheila can still bang those drums! She gets ‘em so good she knocks over her high-hat! Does not slow her down at ALL. Legends.

Sarah Silverman introduces the video journey of Forrest Whittaker and his wife in Angola. Malaria is devastating in this part of the world. Every 30 seconds, a child dies. Malaria is Africa’s biggest killer, and is easily preventable. A $10 net will protect a family. $2 pills will cure those who are victims. Most families can’t afford either. 120 million nets are needed. Back home, the Prime Minister of Great Britain announces that Britain will pay for 20 million nets! That is 200 million dollars! Awesome Brits!! Bono is gonna talk about the “One” project some more tonight on the Idol results show.

Reese Witherspoon shows us what the Children’s Defense Fund is doing to further education in New Orleans. Without education, kids are unable to escape the cycle of poverty that in some cases, has gone on for generations. Every 35 seconds a child is born into poverty. One dies every 6 hours from abuse. CDF’s 124 “Freedom Schools” work with 170,000 kids work to stop the cycle, and train up the community’s next leaders.

The Idols come out and perform a good “Seasons of Love” from Rent (”521,600 minutes…”). Archie is miked up too high, though, and is off-key in the beginning! Worth downloading, though, and all proceeds go to charity. Next, Alicia Keys is in Africa, telling us how many kids are being raised by grandparents, because a whole generation has been lost to Aids. What a pair of shoes costs us would forever change someone’s life. It’s crazy. Alicia says we spend too much time thinking about celebutantes and their dramas, and if we used even half of that time giving back, the world would be radically different. There are currently 13 million African orphans.

Digits given out by Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale from “High School Musical”. Miley Cyrus is coming back for another performance. Miley gives us an energetic “Can’t Wait To See You Again”. Man, she sure can whip that head! The dancers are great, and I hate to say it, but Miley is busting out a few early-Britney sexy moves. I really hope she doesn’t go down that road, but I’m a little afraid for her. 15 is so young to have such massive fame. It will be a challenge for her parents to keep the bad influences away from her. I really hope they can.

Miley and dad Billy Ray visit Clay County Kentucky, where Billy’s roots are. 50 percent of kids here are born to families below the poverty line, and most of them don’t finish high school. This is typical Appalachia, where some have no electricity, sewage systems or running water. They visit a family who live in a busted up trailer, with 3 kids the parents hope will have a different outcome. After-school programs funded by IGB provide a place for the kids to go, develop their reading and comprehension skills, and improve their fitness. They are having dramatic results: 70% of the kids are reading at or above grade levels. As the Cyruses leave, Billy Ray states that despite the tough circumstances faced by the family they visited, there is hope in their home.

Robin Williams comes onstage in character as the newly crowned “Russian Idol”! He looks like a cross between Borat and Liberace. Just call him Bob. Bob lists some of the other reality shows in Russia, like “Survivor Siberia”, “Meal or No Meal” and “So You Think You Can Drink”! He riffs on the judges, dissing out Randy’s Dracula coat and Simon’s man-boobs. Simon will probably be in surgery soon, having been called out so much for his boobage on this show! Robin ends with a plea to Brangelina to adopt him. Digits from Rob Schneider and Ty-Ty Banks. Giving back is fierce!

David Spade introduces Brad Pitt’s video showing the work he’s doing with the “One” project in New Orleans, building houses where there currently are none. This is work that Brad has been heavily involved with, from architectural design to hands on building. 275,000 people lost not just houses, but homes. 200,000 are still displaced and scattered around the country, or living in tent cities in New Orleans. Brad is fighting for the renaissance of New Orleans. The kids are fighters who genuinely smile despite their challenges. Brad comes onstage and challenges America to travel outside of our comfort zones. Standing O in the Kodak! He introduces Daughtry, who are in Uganda with “One”. They’re singing “What About Now” while the frail kids surround and playfully hang on the band as they sing. Gorgeous, precious people who are desperately needy. Chris gives out the digits with a plea for help for these innocent ones.

Mariah Carey in the house! She’s singing “Fly like a Bird”, with Randy playing bass with the band. The Idol choir joins in and cuts loose with the gospel! Mariah gives us some glass-shattering runs that she nails, spot-on. Brava! Ryan reminds us that the people we help will never meet us. That’s not the point, or the goal. We have thousands of opportunities to bless them, and their futures can be altered by our aid.

The Elite Eight come onstage to sing us out with fantastic worship leader Darlene Zscheon’s “Shout to the Lord”. This song is sung by more than 25 million people each week in their places of worship. I’ve sung this song hundreds of times, and have yet to make it through without tears of thanks. Darlene wrote this song during a time of burdens and doubt. She chose to praise God with this song despite her circumstances. “My Comfort, my Shelter, Tower of Refuge and Strength”. Ultimately, this is what everyone needs, whether rich or poor. Love winning out over disease, poverty, disaster, cynicism and hopelessness.

Money’s just a vehicle, service is just a vehicle, because giving back multiplies exponentially. Love wins for the receiver AND the giver who chooses to unplug, engage and serve. We still have this opportunity to give, at www.americanidol.com. We will always have opportunities to give back.

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