Heroes/Transformers (cont'd)

Last night, I learned about a few more humanitarian Heroes/Transformers. While I'm not a regular viewer of American Idol, I tuned in to their Idol Gives Back episode -- enticed by mentions of Bono and Annie Lennox -- and found myself riveted. I laughed, I cried,...it was better than Cats. This star-studded fundraiser concert supported several charities, including:

One, combating AIDS and extreme poverty around the world. American Idol alum Chris Daughtry and his band were in Uganda a couple of weeks ago and shared a recording from their trip. "What about now? What about today? Before it's too late."

The Children's Defense Fund, highlighted by Board member Reese Witherspoon and which supports Freedom Schools in New Orleans, "a free after school program to inspire a generation of community leaders."

Malaria No More, showcased by Forrest Whitaker and his wife who reported from Angola that "An African child dies every 30 seconds from malaria." Damn. "One net, one pill, one life. $10 per net, $2 for the medication. Let's do it together." Then British PM Gordon Brown came on and committed his country to donating 20 million mosquito nets (or $200 million) to support this cause. Wow!

Save the Children, which, according to NOLA boys Eli and Peyton Manning, is helping young survivors of Hurricane Katrina overcome the trauma and move on with their lives (among other global projects).

Memorable moments? When Annie Lennox's rendition of Too Many Rivers To Cross made me cry...after her video report about the four orphaned boys in South Africa made me cry. When Miley Cyrus (she's 15??) exclaimed to Billy Crystal, "You're famous, too? That's so cool!" When Alicia Keys, in her cool eloquence, said, "It's amazing to think that we can change someone's life forever...for the cost of a pair of shoes. If the media gave half the amount of time to this as it gives to celebrity dramas, we would be well underway." And when the Idol contestants (and a gospel choir) sang Shout to the Lord as the closing song.