"Idol Gives Back" Guilt, Pandering, And The Exploitation of Charity For Personal Gain
So I was watching American Idol's "charity" show last night...
I have a few problems with the whole concept. "Idol Gives Back"
True charity is anonymous... What American Idol did is just pathetic pandering, self-promotion, and exploitation of those in hardship for their gain.
My first thought when American Idol began promoting its "Idol Gives Back" episode a few months ago is can't we get ANY pure entertainment anymore? Does everything have to be tied to a 'cause'... Whether its breast cancer, child abuse, hunger, illiteracy, or any one of a couple thousand 'causes of the hour'.
My second thought was what is the motivation of the producers for something like this? And I think its guilt. I think all these people who've made MILLIONS off of American Idol feel guilty. And I think "Idol Gives Back" is there way to feel good about themselves, while in the end, benefiting from their 'charitable' venture and instead of being charitable themselves, they merely exploit other people's charitable nature while having a FANTASTIC PR stunt in the process.
Think about it... "Idol Gives Back"
What was the first thing they did when they announced this endeavor... They asked for corporate sponsors... Exxon-Mobile stepped up... AT&T stepped up... Ford Motor Company stepped up... News Corp, parent company of Fox Stepped up...
Shouldn't the first part of "Idol Gives Back" be an announcement of what those who make up American Idol are going to 'give'????
This whole thing SHOULD have been called "America gives back while Idol self-promotes"
Again... I believe this whole thing was rooted in guilt. But for all those who've made millions off of idol. Creator Simon Fuller, Producer Simon Jones, Directors Bruce Gowers, Nigel Lythgoe (principal of 19 entertainment) and Ken Warwick... Damir Kovacevic, and the judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Paula Abdul...
Guilt does not overshadow greed. And guilty as they feel for their success... Rather than just turn around and write a personal check anonymously to REALLY be charitable... The "new" charity is using your celebrity (which costs you nothing) to ask OTHER people to be charitable. And that makes these celebs feel better about themselves...
If Idol's primary goal was to 'give back' Why don't each of these American Idol Multi-Millionaires pen a big fat check anonymously?
Anyway... by any means, not to belittle the people they showed in the video's and their hardships, in Africa, in Kentucky, in New Orleans but 'true' charity seems to be lost by celebs and those whose primary interest is selfish in nature.
So Simon Fuller, Simon Jones, Simon Cowell, Ken Warwick, Randy Jackson, Ryan Seacrest, Paula Abdul, Nigel Lythgoe, Bruce Gowers and Damir Kovacevic... Idol has made you all what you are today... Lets see YOU give back as much as you ask America too.
I have a few problems with the whole concept. "Idol Gives Back"
True charity is anonymous... What American Idol did is just pathetic pandering, self-promotion, and exploitation of those in hardship for their gain.
My first thought when American Idol began promoting its "Idol Gives Back" episode a few months ago is can't we get ANY pure entertainment anymore? Does everything have to be tied to a 'cause'... Whether its breast cancer, child abuse, hunger, illiteracy, or any one of a couple thousand 'causes of the hour'.
My second thought was what is the motivation of the producers for something like this? And I think its guilt. I think all these people who've made MILLIONS off of American Idol feel guilty. And I think "Idol Gives Back" is there way to feel good about themselves, while in the end, benefiting from their 'charitable' venture and instead of being charitable themselves, they merely exploit other people's charitable nature while having a FANTASTIC PR stunt in the process.
Think about it... "Idol Gives Back"
What was the first thing they did when they announced this endeavor... They asked for corporate sponsors... Exxon-Mobile stepped up... AT&T stepped up... Ford Motor Company stepped up... News Corp, parent company of Fox Stepped up...
Shouldn't the first part of "Idol Gives Back" be an announcement of what those who make up American Idol are going to 'give'????
This whole thing SHOULD have been called "America gives back while Idol self-promotes"
Again... I believe this whole thing was rooted in guilt. But for all those who've made millions off of idol. Creator Simon Fuller, Producer Simon Jones, Directors Bruce Gowers, Nigel Lythgoe (principal of 19 entertainment) and Ken Warwick... Damir Kovacevic, and the judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, and Paula Abdul...
Guilt does not overshadow greed. And guilty as they feel for their success... Rather than just turn around and write a personal check anonymously to REALLY be charitable... The "new" charity is using your celebrity (which costs you nothing) to ask OTHER people to be charitable. And that makes these celebs feel better about themselves...
If Idol's primary goal was to 'give back' Why don't each of these American Idol Multi-Millionaires pen a big fat check anonymously?
Anyway... by any means, not to belittle the people they showed in the video's and their hardships, in Africa, in Kentucky, in New Orleans but 'true' charity seems to be lost by celebs and those whose primary interest is selfish in nature.
So Simon Fuller, Simon Jones, Simon Cowell, Ken Warwick, Randy Jackson, Ryan Seacrest, Paula Abdul, Nigel Lythgoe, Bruce Gowers and Damir Kovacevic... Idol has made you all what you are today... Lets see YOU give back as much as you ask America too.
posted by N1K | 7:56 AM
6 Comments:
"If Idol's primary goal was to 'give back' Why don't each of these American Idol Multi-Millionaires pen a big fat check anonymously?"
In our world "the not a celeb world" that's what we do when we donate to a charity. I guess when it's your career to make money from your image you forget to seperate the making money for yourself and doing something charitable and not benefitting from it. I mean think about it, what a great idea, we can be charitable and also profit from it, sounds like a win win situation for everyone doesn't it? LOL.
I might be a little jaded from the media cramming everything celeb down my throat the last 15-20 years "Anna Nicole for exe." and I really don't follow show's like Idol but I agree with your point but just because they make alot of money doesn't mean they can buy any class. Just my .02
--I mean think about it, what a great idea, we can be charitable and also profit from it, sounds like a win win situation for everyone doesn't it? LOL.--
Exactly... Or even one step better. Get OTHER people to be charitable and also profit from it...
I truly admire those people who make charitable donations anonymously... Not so they can brag about what a great thing they did. Not so they can have a wristband so everyone knows they gave money to charity. Not so they can have a building on campus named after them. Not so others will shower them with praise. Just give anonymous.
True charity it anonymous?
I am assuming that is your opinion>>>
as a noun, refers to a non-profit organization that solicits and is able to accept donations or gifts from individual and corporate donors. A registered charity is a charity which has successfully applied to the federal government under the Income Tax Act for charitable status. An organization benefits from obtaining chartiable status because it possesses the privilege of issuing official receipts to donors for their monetary contribution....
Webster makes no mention of anonymous. Welcome to the real world folks.
What American Idol did is just pathetic pandering, self-promotion, and exploitation of those in hardship for their gain.
Who gives a crap as long as people are being helped. Guess you forgot that it is actually helping people at the end of the day. How narrow minded.
--True charity it anonymous?
I am assuming that is your opinion?
Of course... doesn't that go without saying?
Who gives a crap as long as people are being helped. Guess you forgot that it is actually helping people at the end of the day. How narrow minded.
Exactly... And if the rich puppet-masters who are asking everyone ELSE to give, gave in the same way, MORE people would be helped. That was my point. Sorry you couldn't see it. Who's narrow minded?
It is about helping people... And I'd like to see those I mentioned pony up big fat checks to help to ADD to the monies all the rest contributed, rather than just sit back, having reaped the rewards of "idol" and then blow a snow job in my face and call it "idol gives back"
Ultimately, I like honesty... Not those masquerading around under false pretenses and alterior motives.
But that's just me.
I see your point now. I wasn't before. I do agree that if they really wanted to help what does it matter of you give the company name. How many out there don't give the name when giving a substantial amount, not many I am assuming. Big business will always be big business.
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