On Wednesday, April 9, Idol Gives Back, the historic Emmy Award-winning television event and music celebration, returns for its second year on FOX. This star-studded fundraiser and television event once again calls the world to action. Idol Gives Back began in 2007 as a way for those behind American Idol to "give back" by raising money to support children's causes worldwide. In 2007 Idol Gives Back raised over $70 million - what will Idol Gives Back raise in 2008? ...Stay tuned and this thread will be updated as the numbers are announced.http://www.newser.com/2008 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorThu, 20 Nov 2008 3:00:12 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/80675/idol-gives-back-mixes-laughs-songs-and-appeals-for-cash.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThere are two ways a celebrity summit like Wednesday night's "Idol Gives Back" charity telecast can achieve razzle-dazzle nirvana: through staged spontaneity or grandeur. When the first occurs, as when Fergie did flips across the floor while rocking out with Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, we viewers are plunged into the fun of the moment. Unexpected gestures by our favorite stars collapse the distance between us and them.http://www.newser.com/story/80675/idol-gives-back-mixes-laughs-songs-and-appeals-for-cash.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 10 Apr 2008 12:23:41 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/80780/spears-gives-25000-to-idol-gives-back.html?refid=rss_all_defaultBritney Spears was so moved by the "Idol Gives Back" telethon on Wednesday night, she donated $25,000 to the cause.http://www.newser.com/story/80780/spears-gives-25000-to-idol-gives-back.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 10 Apr 2008 19:38:28 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/80784/foxs-idol-gives-back-drops-in-ratings.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFox's second annual "American Idol" charity fest "Idol Gives Back" dropped significantly from its debut last year. Despite an all-star lineup that included performances by Mariah Carey, Carrie Underwood, Rihanna, Fergie and the promise of appearances by all three presidential candidates, the show was down 34% among adults 18-49 year-to-year. Although the two-hour "Idol Gives Back" was Wednesday's highest-rated program (17.6 million viewers and a 6.7 rating and 18 share), it marks the lowest rating for an "Idol" telecast since the 2005 "American Idol's Worst Auditions" special.http://www.newser.com/story/80784/foxs-idol-gives-back-drops-in-ratings.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 10 Apr 2008 19:46:02 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/80785/idol-gives-back-raises-22-million-for-charity.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFox's "Idol Gives Back" charity telethon raised $22 million for charity last night (April 9), thanks to a combination of corporate sponsorship and donations from viewers who called in to the show and gave via AmericanIdol.comhttp://www.newser.com/story/80785/idol-gives-back-raises-22-million-for-charity.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 10 Apr 2008 19:49:10 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/80786/why-did-idol-bump-presidential-hopefuls.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe presidential candidates all taped appeals for charity for "Idol Gives Back," but when the special telethon edition of the popular singing contest show went on too long, that segment was cut and was bumped to tonight's show.http://www.newser.com/story/80786/why-did-idol-bump-presidential-hopefuls.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 10 Apr 2008 19:58:59 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/23968/meet-tonights-superdelegates.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTonight’s "American Idol" will boast cameos from Miley Cyrus, Brad Pitt, and both the Manning and Jonas brothers—but the most anticipated appearances could be by Hillary Clinton, John McCain, and Barack Obama, the New York Post reports. The charity episode is exhibition-only (no candidate will actually score Paula Abdul’s vote), but there will be much pop-culture popularity at stake.http://www.newser.com/story/23968/meet-tonights-superdelegates.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 10 Apr 2008 12:30:55 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/80458/american-idol-gives-back-with-charity-concert.html?refid=rss_all_defaultLife is good for Nigel Lythgoe. The co-producer of American Idol helped usher in a show that's become a pop-cultural sensation, with an average weekly audience of 40 million. Lythgoe is the president of Idol's parent company, 19 Entertainment, and the creator, producer and a full-time judge of So You Think You Can Dance. Still, something seemed missing. So when Idol creator Simon Fuller and British writer Richard Curtis floated the idea of a charity benefit, modelled after Comic Relief, to combat poverty in Africa and U.S. cities, Lythgoe jumped aboard. The result was Idol Gives Back, a two-hour televised fundraiser that last year raised $76 million for famine victims and needy people in the U.S.http://www.newser.com/story/80458/american-idol-gives-back-with-charity-concert.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 09 Apr 2008 22:04:11 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/80461/exxon-mobil-donates-10-million-through-idol-gives-back-episode.html?refid=rss_all_defaultExxonMobil Corp. has upped the ante this year on tonight's "Idol Gives Back" episode of American Idol with a $10 million donation to support anti-malaria efforts. Last year, the Irving-based company offered a $3 million "challenge grant" that matched viewers' donations to Malaria No More, a nonprofit organization with the mission to end deaths due to malaria.http://www.newser.com/story/80461/exxon-mobil-donates-10-million-through-idol-gives-back-episode.html?refid=rss_all_defaultWed, 09 Apr 2008 22:10:03 CDT