Hey Gasmii, I was on a conference call with Nigel Lythgoe, Executive Producer of American Idol talking about the Idol Gives Back Special last week. He was very nice and very quick to the point like a nice Brit.
The Idol Gives Back Special will air this Wednesday April 9, 7:30-10:00 PM ET/PT on Fox
Here is the interview:
Nads: So what's the word on Ellen? She can't co-host anymore?
Nigel: Ellen, we were told couldn't do it due to personal production pressure. So it's going to be taken over by Ryan.
Nads: Is it stressful getting the production together and getting all the pieces of the puzzle to fit?
Nigel: I've been getting footage in from Africa and America for the last month and just piecing that together, the jigsaw puzzle of what those stories are. And all these wonderful people filming for us from Bono, Alicia Keys to Forrest Whitaker. Daughtry went out there and we are just getting that footage in now and starting to edit. We haven't gotten Bono's piece in yet, but Annie Lennox did a remarkable piece, we cry our eyes out every time we come to look at it.
Its working on a project as big as this is and trying to inform and educate with this remarkable footage coming in from Africa and from here in America.
Miley Cyrus went to Kentucky for us, you would be just shocked at the level of poverty that exists in this country...and trying to bring that together along with great performances and performers: Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, Maroon 5, Fergie, Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, and its trying to bring all of this together and present it in one night that says: hey we are here to help!
Nads: Where do the proceeds go to this year?
Nigel: There are six major characters this year which is the American Save the Children, Americans Make it Right, Children's Defense Fund, the Children's Health Fund, Malaria No More and the Global Fund. Malaria No More and the Gobal fund were not chosen by me, they were chosen by the committee which formed itself last year with Comic Relief, Fox, Freemantle and 19.
Nads: Who will physically be there, and who will be via satellite?
Nigel: Alicia Keys will be on film, Bono will be on film, everybody else is basically there.
Nads: Who are you looking forward to seeing perform?
Nigel: I am looking forward to Robin Williams. But we're bringing Heart back with Fergie. I never really see Heart because I'm from the UK and there were a couple of records that were pitched over there but nothing that we really knew about. So they are sort of iconic on Idol because every girl who comes on here wants to sing "Alone" or "American Girl" or something and I say who's that by and its Heart I'm really delighted that they're coming on the show.
Nads: Will people be able to donate beyond the show this year?
Nigel: I'm not sure about the year, I know that the lines are going to be open for a number of weeks, we will obviously update everybody live on the night as to how things are going and then they will remain open. There's a number of downloads like we did with Elvis and Celine last year that are going to be available and exclusive. Alicia Keys' film although we are showing a small part of it, is going to be an exclusive download on the American Idol site in its entirety. It will be absolutely free, but then if you feel like it, you can donate. So there's lots of little goodies I think will come out of it so people will keep donating throughout the month.
Don't forget to watch, Idol Gives Back this Wednesday at 7:30 ET/PT on Fox
Last year Idol Gives Back raised $76 million dollars, and the anticipated amount/goal for this year is $100 million.