American Idol To Hold Benefit
Bono, Gwen Stefani, Pink, Borat will perform at fundraiser
Idol Gives Back, scheduled for April 24, 25, designed to aid charities in U.S. and Africa
The most popular reality show on TV is going to hold a charity event to benefit children in Africa and the U.S. Undoubtedly it will be a smash hit.
On Wednesday night’s edition of American Idol, host Ryan Seacrest announced that Fox has teamed with the Charity Projects Entertainment Fund on a star-studded two-night special. It’s designed to raise awareness and funds for poverty-relief organizations that help children and young people in the U.S. and Africa.
Seacrest said the special, Idol Gives Back, will be encrusted with world-renowned celebrities including Gwen Stefani, Pink, Josh Groban, Michael Buble, Annie Lennox and Il Divo. U2's Bono also is also expected to perform. Oddly, Sacha Baron Cohen will appear in character as Borat. Seacrest joked that judge Randy Jackson will wrestle in the nude with Borat.
The fundraising episode will air on April 24 episodes with the top six finalists singing songs about compassion and hope. Music producer Quincy Jones is reportedly writing the songs.
For every vote cast via phone or text message, Idol sponsors Coca-Cola, AT&T and others will donate money to charity. The expanded results show, airing from 8-10 p.m. on April 25, will feature the celebrities. During that episode, viewers will be able to make their own donations via toll-free lines and the Internet. The Ford Motor Co. also intends to contribute, but details have yet to be announced.
Wednesday’s American Idol episode also featured a video vignette of Seacrest and prickly judge Simon Cowell touring an unnamed African country. They were serenaded by school children and Cowell talked about the “appalling conditions” in which the children live.
Jackson talked about the charity assisting children in Louisiana, which is still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. And judge Paula Abdul talked about “putting smiles back” on the faces of children living in the Mississippi Basin.
Simon Fuller, American Idol creator and executive producer told The Hollywood Reporter that, naturally said that he hopes the event is a big success, "allowing us to continue to make these important, world-changing shows for many years to come."
The money raised by the event will equally benefit the U.S. and Africa, aiding such organizations as the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, the Global Fund, Save the Children, Nothing but Nets and Malaria No More.
