Idol Thoughts

"Idol Gives Back" was/is a pretty genius idea. One that is long overdue in prime time television. Over $60 million dollars raised in two days or roughly three hours of air time. That's huge.

In fact, it was so big that ABC did an evening news piece on a FOX show and it's philanthropic endeavor. The piece focused on how American Idol tapped into it's adolescent market to pull out such a huge amount of money. What they found interesting was that the demographic that gave (roughly 13-24 year olds) has long been considered a very selfish generation. But this show demonstrated how generous they could be.

A few thoughts:

1. Those of us that have worked with middle school, high school, and college students long enough know how selfish they can be. It's not particular to this generation or any generation, but every generation. Every adolescent population seems to have this "me streak" in them. Heck, I know my crew in the 80's and early 90's was sure that way. So we can't go around saying that this generation of students is any more selfish than another.

2. Those of us that have worked with students long enough, also know how giving this generation can be given the right communication, vision, and needs that are place before them. And Idol did just that. They marketed this thing masterfully, got the right people/pop-movie-rock stars involved, and communicated over and over again the overwhelming and compelling physical, medical and educational needs that the poor children of the world have.

3. I'm sure there are tons of "money making" agendas in this whole Idol Gives Back thing, but for now I just want to give mad props to corporate America for getting this right: it came to its senses and realized the power for good (and not just greed) that it can influence. Very cool.

My only question is, "What show will jump on this band wagon next?"

p.s. Did you know that Idol Gives Back made more than the Jerry Lewis Telethon? Pretty amazing. Click here, here, here, here, and here for some more news one the show.