Reality Roll Call

Tonight’s show includes more footage from various stars’ visits to Africa last year.  We begin with Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker, best known for his phenomenal portrayal of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin.  Whitaker is joined by his wife, Keisha, in Rwanda where they visited the family of a man who was blinded by a land mine.  This man lives as a beggar on the streets of Rwanda, and is assisted by his 6-year-old son as they walk through the streets begging for coins on a daily basis to pay for food to feed the family.  Whitaker and his wife were invited into the home of this man and his family, three children in all, who sleep in a hut on a dirty mattress.  Whitaker and his wife also visited an orphanage where not enough children are taken in, children who have been orphaned by the ravages of HIV/AIDS.  The people who run the orphanage are angels who have made it their life’s work to make a difference in the lives of children who would have ended up lost.  Idol fans were again encouraged to donate in an effort to also make a difference in the lives of people who are in such great need.

by Deb Porter-Jones

Tonight’s focus is “inspirational themes” and Michael Johns is up first!

His is an inspirational story in that he is from another country and has come to America in search of the American Dream. So far, it seems like he’s close to finding it. He sings “Dream On” by Aerosmith and boy, does he rock it! He even attempted a really high falsetto portion of the song; even though Randy thought he had “some pitch problems”, typical Randy critique. I think he clinched it, and so did Paula. She thought it was a perfect song; she also thought he sounded “as good as he looks”. Simon thought it was “a very good performance.” He also slightly agrees with Randy, but he thought it was a “little bit wannabe-ish,” and he thinks Michael’s really a bluesy singer, not so much a rocker. I think Michael Johns rocks no matter what genre of music he tries his hand at. Great performance. I give him an A.