Here are a few of my "Idol Gives Back" comments; please add yours:
1) This has been inspirational-song week on "American Idol." I know that the Black Eyed Peas inspired me to rock your body.
2) More specifically, it inspired me to rock Fergie's body.
3) Much of the music tonight was truly magnificent. Carrie Underwood ... Alicia Keys ... Elton John ... Joss Stone (backed by Jeff Beck) ... Mary J. Blige (backed by, well, everyone) -- these people sing sensationally. They packed power and emotion.
4) But I'm not knocking true fun, either. The Peas got the show off to a fun start. If anything, "Idol Gives Back" needed more of that. If it had more entertainment, it probably could do a better job of holding its audience and gathering donations.
5) The filmed bits were well-made, emotional and involving. It's just that the show would have been better with fewer of them.
6) And yes, any song has to be good. That opening number -- 12 "Idol" contestants in white, singing a bland, white song -- did nothing.
7) The show did try some humor, which is tricky. It works if the comedian really knows "Idol"; Jimmy Kimmel, for instance, has been great at that. Wanda Sykes had some good lines; George Lopez didn't. The first Russell Brand/Jonah Hill bit was OK; the second was one too many.
8) OK, I almost pegged the bottom three (see previous blog). I'd predicted Casey James, Tim Urban and Michael Lynche; it turned out to be Casey, Tim and Aaron Kelly.
9) Casey survived, barely, proving me wrong. Tim was ousted; still displaying the best smile "Idol" has ever had. This week, his song was only so-so. The smile was as good as ever.
10) Occasionally, "Idol" runs four or five minutes long. This time, it ran 25 minutes long. And it still didn't have time for the pre-taped Justin Bieber song. Or for Tim's farewell song. It did, however, have time for Tim's smile, which is the best part.