"Idol Gives Back" Cuts The Presidential Candidates, Gives Miley Cyrus Two Spots And Gordon Brown One

The juggernaut that is "American Idol" aired their two and half hour "Idol Gives Back" special Wednesday, with a bevy of celebrities (Watch "Idol Gives Back" clips), but cut Senators Obama, McCain and Clinton for time. Despite two segments with Miley Cyrus, including a long, painful exchange with Billy Crystal, ones with UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Maria Shriver, and dozens of other celebrity appearances, the presidential candidates' touted cameos got the ax.
The NYT reports:

Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain made taped appeals for charity on a special edition of "American Idol" on Wednesday night that didn't make the cut. The telethon for needy children around the world entitled "Idol Gives Back" drew the likes of Fergie, Bono, Brad Pitt, Mariah Carey and Miley Cyrus, and went too long. The candidates' contributions were kicked back to Thursday night's episode.

It was Simon Cowell, the "Idol" judge, who admonished the nation about the health care crisis in the United States, narrating a short, gauzy film that showed him visiting and consoling a low-income family with no insurance. It was Reese Witherspoon who spoke on behalf of the Children's Defense Fund, the organization for whom Mrs. Clinton worked as a young lawyer. It was Brad Pitt who praised the American can-do spirit in rebuilding New Orleans and received a standing ovation.

Daughtry in Uganda closed the show.

Comments

[Caolas]

As curious as I was about them dropping the Candidates (irrelevance of the President in our society?), I was "curiouser" about the motivations behind the choice of the song sung for the Grand Finale; "Shout to the Lord"...a Christian song thats typically sung on Sunday morning inside Church (only other place i've ever heard it).

[jalapeno]

The Christian song at the end and all the gospel singers made me want to HURL.
As an Atheist, I do not need fake inspiring songs to lift my "spirit," nor does America.

Songs like this are used to lead us into a war with Muslims, sung by 14 year old virgin brides at the Poligamy compound in Texas, and sung by Larry Craig before darting off to troll the church bathroom!!!

[Mysticalsister]

Amen, jalapeno -- it was a real low point. But I've noticed more pandering to the Jesus crowd this year than ever before. I guess that's what the mute button is for.

[edva]

Kudos to TV for doing something with a significant pupose, beyond mere "entertainment".
This is at least similar to the purpose envisioned for TV by its inventor, before he was lied to and basically tricked into selling the rights to it.
BTW, anybody know who invented TV, perhaps the most important invention of our era?
Didn't think so.
It was Philo T. Farnsworth. He wanted TV to be used for the betterment of humankind, not for commercial purposes. Which is why you never hear about him.
Remember, we the people own the airwaves..­..........­.....

[buddhistMonkey]

They cut the future President of the United States, but gave two segments to Miley Cyrus? That's a metaphor which perfectly captures the vapid essence of American Idol.

[FDRbyGodDemocrat]

On the other hand, Miley Cyrus might be the best choice for President.

(As long as it doesn't lead to a resurgence of "Achy Breaky Heart").

[buddhistMonkey]

If it were a choice between Miley Cyrus and John McCain, Miley's got my vote. She's infinitely more talented and charismatic, and I'd be willing to bet that she knows more than McCain about economics and the differences between Shia and Sunni Muslims (she certainly couldn't know any LESS than he does). Also, unlike John McCain, Miley Cyrus hasn't broken any campaign finance laws or sold her influence to a lobbyist.

[cBc]

The thought of Simon "I Own a Million Dollar Car" Cowell empathizing will poor people is a bit of a stretch to me. Glad some $$/awareness was raised for a worthy cause, but I couldn't stomach watching all the posturing on TV.

[hepwa]

That's because you're too cynical. Look inside yourself and find that place that says, yes, a rich person can help make a difference and I shouldn't judge them by their ability to make money. A lot of them haven't been rich all their lives.

[BlackLeatherRain]

From the bits I'd seen, Cowell looked genuinely shocked and humbled by the fact that yes - real people do live like that on a day to day basis. Not because they're lazy or stupid, but because that's where they were born, and where they'll likely die.

I tip my hat to anyone who can remove themselves from their own reality to enter into a place that's uncomfortable to learn about other people, or to help them. I think Simon's reaction was very touching, and genuine - something rare that we don't see from him.

[BardEric]

Be carefull of judging a celebrities true moral fibre based on their public personna.. Simon Cowell is not entirely the unfeeling narcissistic monster that he often portrayed in the name of A/I ratings.

[Wildcatdiva]

Politics is in everything for the ninny who doesn't have a clue. American Idol got a boost because of the announcement. I damn sure WOULDN'T have watched it had I known they weren’t going to air their segments. It was no more than a telethon with dreadful sketches. It was a ploy to get the varied demographics for ratings. So they say that the candidates will appear tonight. I'll pass.

[Mysticalsister]

wow. angry much?

[Grunty1]

That's good, I really didn't want to hear McCain sing "Bomb Iran" again.

[rinpochet]

I can say with pride that I've never watched the show. From what I've heard though, it's not so much a true talent show as a theatrical event. So-called "reality" shows have never been on my must-watch list.

[Mysticalsister]

Pride is a very cheap thing these days -- so many of us have to swollow it, in order to survive. The show raises a lot of money for important charities. Perhaps you should take a look at that before you pat yourself on the back for being so self-righteous.

[NoFactsJustTruth]

If they'd have said up front they were cutting them I would have watched. As it was, I consider two of those candidates BIG FAT LIARS and I don't like watching them, so I didn't watch the show.

[kellygrrrl]

The ONLY downside to last night's show was Miley Cyrus. (Robin Williams was a close second)

I'm sure I'm not the only one who sees the handwriting on the wall with 15 y/o Miley.

[rojo7449]

You might be. I'm doubting more than a handful of people are thinking about her future.

[happycat]

No you are not alone. She is sooooooo annoying!

[BardEric]

Wish Miley's 5-min of fame would hurry up and run out., & I doubt very much that she would have made it past the initial audition phase of A/I.

[loper2008]

Maria Shriver endorshed Barack Obama. I'm not sure about Reese Witherspoon, although her ex-husband, Ryan Phillipe, was in the "We are the Ones" Obama music video. I think I read that her current boyfriend Jake Gyllenhall was an Obama supporter, too.

[rojo7449]

Well, see if you can find out, because how young Hollywood is voting is of critical import to the future of this country.

[BardEric]

LOL-

[dora rice]

it was cool that American Idol did not want to practice politics. execellent. We hear enough on TV all day and all night . Thank you American Idol.

[wkitwizard]

The underlying message of the show was: America has lousy priorities. Rather than spend $4 BILLION dollars a MONTH on the Iraq-nam rat hole, we could be housing the homeless in New Orleans, feeding the children of Africa, and giving health care to the 14 MILLION American children who have none.
Our society needs a WAKE UP CALL!

[2008WakingFromaNightmare]

Let us not forget how willing so many are to send these politicians millions in order to spew lies and distortions. Talk about a colossal distortion of priorities.

[NoFactsJustTruth]

I don't know if it was a typo, but the latest reports say we're spending $14 BILLION a month staying in Iraq, not just 4.

[Raisean]

I was always taught that you have no right to go out and fix someone else's problems when you haven't even fixed your own... I take that to heart in all aspects of my life. I truly believed that we should be anywhere until we fix the problems that we have here in the United States, other wise people will see us as a bunch of Hypocrites. Think about it, how can we show people how their country should work when ours is not working right?

[rojo7449]

Well, nice on a really narrow scale, but nothing more than an excuse for refusing to help your neighbors, friends, allies, and others in greater need. I don't think I'd go around boasting your philosophy, it's not very kind or generous.

[Wildcatdiva]

Exactly!

[rojo7449]

WE should be, or China should be? Or, if we're going to borrow all this money from China, we should be spending it on those charities? WE can't even afford our own war.

[BlackLeatherRain]

Housing homeless in New Orleans is hardly a *charity,* it's the restoration of an American city which suffered a catastrophic event that the federal government has yet to seriously address.

"WE can't even afford our own war."

...yet another reason we shouldn't be over there. The Big Bank of China will let us charge all we'd like to their Visa card, but come time when the payments are due, I don't think we're going to be able to afford them.

[NuttyProf]

It was Reese Witherspoon who spoke on behalf of the Children's Defense Fund, the organization for whom Mrs. Clinton worked as a young lawyer.

I thought I saw Reese Witherspoon in an Obama commercial recently? divided we fail or something like that?

[NC4Obama]

The divided we fail commercials are from AARP if i recall correctly.

[JanetE]

Yes, the Divided We Fail commercials are sponsored by AARP (American whatever of Retired Persons) and you know what they say, with age comes wisdom. Well, there are exceptions (McCain) (Cheney) (Bushy).

[kellygrrrl]

"Divided We Fall" is not affiliated with any candidate.