After taking a season off, the Idol Gives Back fundraiser special, will return for American Idol Season 9. The special will air on Wednesday, April 21, and, according to the press release, “the week’s voting results will be revealed, sending one of the finalists home.”
American Idol will once again host Idol Gives Back, the Emmy Award-winning television event and musical celebration raising awareness and funds to benefit various U.S. and international charities, during the Top 7 Results Show Wednesday, April 21 at 8/7c on FOX. Children’s Health Fund, Feeding America, Malaria No More, Save the Children’s U.S. Programs and the United Nations Foundation are confirmed beneficiaries.
‘I am very pleased to announce that we will be doing our third Idol Gives Back on April 21, 2010, ‘ said Simon Fuller, Idol creator and CEO of 19 Entertainment. ‘This is our opportunity to reach out and support the people of America and around the world who need our compassion and generosity to improve or even save their lives. America will undoubtedly prove once again what a remarkable and generous nation it is. For American Idol to be able to facilitate this kind of initiative makes me very proud.’
Viewers will once again be able to make donations during and following the show. In addition, the week’s voting results will be revealed, sending one of the finalists home.
During Season 6’s IGB, results were peppered throughout the broadcast, but at the last minute, nobody was sent home. Season 7, IGB took place on a Wednesday, with a separate elimination episode airing on Thursday.
Sending a contestant home during IGB harshes the feel good vibe of the special, but last year, the 2-hour fundraiser had the lowest ratings of all the Season’s episodes. Folding the results back into IGB would likely attract more viewers. The producers will have to figure out a way to make it work.
Idol Gives Back has raised over $140 million for charity to date.
