Idol Gives Back

OK. I know I will come off like a jerk, but the whole "Idol Gives Back" thing kind of makes me want to gag. I can't quite put my finger on why I want to gag, but I do.

Yes, I know this raises money to help people that really need help. I thought I was going to choke up when Annie Lennox started crying. It was very sad seeing those children in Africa that had no one to take care of them because their entire family was lost to AIDS. But . . . I think that's why it makes me feel icky.

Now, stay with me here before you let me have it with both barrels . . .

It just seems to me that American Idol started this whole "Idol Gives Back" as a way for Idol to "get back" some viewers who were getting tired of the same-old same old. I feel a bit exploited . . . they suck me in to watch their show and say, "look how socially conscious we are." That's not to say that some of the people on the show aren't totally, wonderful people. I think Bono and Annie Lennox really want to help people, for example.

I had been a loyal Idol viewer every year the show has been on, but last year I thought was lackluster. This year is kind of BLAH, too. I used to call and vote a zillion times for my favorite - Clay was ROBBED by the way - but now it's just "who cares?" for me. Sure there are some great singers, but we've seen this crap before, haven't we?

OK . . . Simon was just on with a family that doesn't have health insurance. He's being all nice and what not. It's just not right. Now, I'm not saying that he isn't nice. I am sure he is. He gave money to charity on Celebrity Apprentice. But, I don't watch American Idol to see him be a loving, caring teddy bear. I watch it to see what brutal truth he is going to serve up . . . and, he is almost always right.

I don't know. I don't mean to offend if you like "Idol Gives Back." I do think it is absolutely wonderful that money is being raised to help needy people. But, this medium makes me feel all "gaggy" inside. Maybe my real "gagginess" is that people must not give enough under ordinary circumstances. If people were really generous and caring, would we need "Idol Gives Back"? I don't think so . . . it would be just a nice, low-key, additional fundraiser.

That's my two cents. All my time and money go to the American Cancer Society and my church (sometimes ASPCA and the World Wildlife Fund, too). So, sorry Simon . . . I gave in my own community. But, I applaud the effort made by FOX in spite of the sense of icky-ness it inspires in me.