they're giving back...

So say what you want. Give if you want. Skip if you want.

There will be no play-by-play commentary from me, because it's a break in the action, while we await tomorrow night's execution.

They're good causes. I hope they raise tons of money. And, more importantly, tons of awareness so that people give because they want to. Not just because they're feeling compelled to.

See you tomorrow night. 8 p.m. Sharp.

idol gave back...

Idol Gives Back, the Wednesday extravaganza that will be bookended by Tuesday's competition featuring "inspirational" songs and Thursday's 8 p.m. results, featuring reigning champ Jordin Sparks with Chris Brown, was taped over the weekend.

If you want to know, the live and in-person details are here. I think I'll catch the first hour. At least this season we know we're not sitting around waiting for something that isn't going to happen.

So, are you going to watch?

time to give back...

Next week, in case you haven't heard because the cave you're living in doesn't get cable, is Idol Gives Back, part two. No word that I can find on a theme, but if last year was any indication, the field will be wide open as long as the lyrics are "inspirational."

Tuesday is the regular performance episode. Wednesday will be the extravaganza where you will be asked to pitch in your pennies. The regular execution, though, will be on Thursday, from 8-9 p.m. unlike last year when they kept us waiting for two days only to be told everybody was escaping until the double kill the following week.

Thank you Nigel for the heads up.

So set those VCRs accordingly.

where's the dog? I like dogs...

My new favorite Idol is Lisa Simpson, the only star from the non-elimination.

it's a SHOCKER!...

Yes, Ryan uttered the "S" word at the end of last night's performance episode. Tonight we're in for the ultimate SHOCKER.

Goody.

But, of course, any hardcore Idol viewer knows that what they consider a "shocker" and what we consider "shocking" are often two very different things.

So what could it be on this night where Nigel, Ken, Ryan, Simon, et. al., will be high-fiving each other over the gazillions of dollars they have raised to save all of the little children all over the globe?

Maybe...

It won't be an elimination night. After all, what a downer way to end such a star-studded show than to kick one of the kids to the curb and make them cry as they watch their funeral footage. So the shocker could be that everybody's safe, because all of the votes were just meant to profit charity, not to crush the dreams of a better life for LaKisha and her kid. (We're saving kids, remember?) The problem with this, as a "shocker", is that they've done it before, in season two, after Corey Clark was disqualified, so technically it's not a shocker.

Perhaps...

They're staying true to the theme of "Idol Gives Back." And so, Idol will give us back Sanjaya!

Or...

They're going to admit that the votes really don't count and that Clay Aiken really won season two. And Jasmine Trias really won season 3.

Possibly...

They're going to announce that Brian Dunkleman is returning. (Okay, that would really be a shocker.)

Maybe...

They're going to reveal that the biggest corporate donors from last night were Chrysler and Pepsi.

How about...

They aren't going to run one single solitary commercial. And instead, they're donating the forfeited ad revenue to feed the starving kids. Yeah, right. And I'm the next Miss USA.

Consider...

The super-duper-top-secret duet will be Donald Trump and Rosie O'Donnell singing You Light Up My Life. Don Imus and Howard Stern will provide back-up vocals. Okay. Maybe not.

Possibly...

Nigel Lythgoe, Ken Warwick and the Three Stooges are going to issue a formal apology for this season. We all get our hours back plus a promise that next year will be better.

Or better yet...

It's gonna be a four-way boot! They just crown Jordin Sparks and Melinda Doolittle co-winners, give each of them a million dollar contract and finish out the rest of the season with a five-way showdown between Justin Guarini, Kimberley Locke, Diana DeGarmo, Bo Bice and Elliott Yamin. Hey. I'm liking that one.

So, what's your idea of a SHOCKER?