I fought back today...Grrrr
After seeing the below segment on Extra TV tonight, I had to put my two cents in and post a comment (ah, rant) on their website. I realize that I may be more sensitive to these things then the average Joe, but whatevs...it must be said:
April 5, 2007
'American Idol': Bringing Hope to Africa
They are the faces you won’t forget and the stories that Simon Cowell wants you to remember.
Only “Extra’s” Terri Seymour traveled to Africa with Simon and Ryan Seacrest to one of the most impoverished villages in the world to witness the pain and the promise of some brave children.
“It’s just unbelievable, it’s just wrong,” Simon professed, admitting that he didn’t expect conditions to be as bad as they were.
Terri’s video diary captured every emotional moment of “Idol Gives Back,” the show’s crusade against worldwide poverty.
“It’s hard to believe these smiling children live in such horrific conditions,” Simon said astonishingly. “This is quite literally hell on Earth; I have never seen anything like it in my life.”
It was in the children’s village where we witnessed Simon’s most emotional moment.
“We just went into a house with one mother who is HIV positive,” Simon told us. “She has 13 children in there and she gets up at 6 in the morning and if there's no work, there's no food… and they are the nicest, sweetest kids you've ever seen in your life.”
“Idol Gives Back” will turn viewer votes into donations from sponsors, with the money helping poor children in Africa as well as here in the U.S.
Organizer Richard Curtis told “Extra” that witnessing the desperate conditions was a real wake up call.
“I think that's what particularly got to Simon, that he just couldn't believe the reality of the situation,” Curtis said.
Fortunately, this is a situation that viewers will be able to change, when “Idol Gives Back” starts on FOX April 24.
For more information on "Idol Gives Back," log on to http://www.americanidol.com/idolgivesback/.
Posted by ExtraTV Staff on April 5, 2007 1:47 PM Permalink
April 5, 2007
'American Idol': Bringing Hope to Africa
They are the faces you won’t forget and the stories that Simon Cowell wants you to remember.
Only “Extra’s” Terri Seymour traveled to Africa with Simon and Ryan Seacrest to one of the most impoverished villages in the world to witness the pain and the promise of some brave children.
“It’s just unbelievable, it’s just wrong,” Simon professed, admitting that he didn’t expect conditions to be as bad as they were.
Terri’s video diary captured every emotional moment of “Idol Gives Back,” the show’s crusade against worldwide poverty.
“It’s hard to believe these smiling children live in such horrific conditions,” Simon said astonishingly. “This is quite literally hell on Earth; I have never seen anything like it in my life.”
It was in the children’s village where we witnessed Simon’s most emotional moment.
“We just went into a house with one mother who is HIV positive,” Simon told us. “She has 13 children in there and she gets up at 6 in the morning and if there's no work, there's no food… and they are the nicest, sweetest kids you've ever seen in your life.”
“Idol Gives Back” will turn viewer votes into donations from sponsors, with the money helping poor children in Africa as well as here in the U.S.
Organizer Richard Curtis told “Extra” that witnessing the desperate conditions was a real wake up call.
“I think that's what particularly got to Simon, that he just couldn't believe the reality of the situation,” Curtis said.
Fortunately, this is a situation that viewers will be able to change, when “Idol Gives Back” starts on FOX April 24.
For more information on "Idol Gives Back," log on to http://www.americanidol.com/idolgivesback/.
Posted by ExtraTV Staff on April 5, 2007 1:47 PM Permalink
Seeing this piece was nice indeed, but it might be good to mention WHERE in "AFRICA" they traveled to.
It's always so frustrating to see stories about events/people/issues in Africa that aren't recognized for where they are. They way you portray it, all of the continent of Africa is the same, with the same issues and concerns.
Take out a map and read the newspaper and you'll see that there are very individual countries within Africa, with individual issues and people, who I'm sure would like to be recognized for their differences.
The only distinctive thing I got from your piece was they were traveling in an English speaking country. But there's a big difference between a county like Ghana and a country like Uganda.
I realize that this is a Hollywood entertainment show, but more people watch this stuff than read the newspaper, and if this is where they get the bulk of their knowledge about the world, then I am definitely concerned.
Thanks.
Me, Boston
PS...and I kid you not, the name of the pic file was "Simon with African Children."
posted by Erin @ 10:21 PM
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