Now that America is done mourning Sanjaya's departure and dissecting Simon's eye movements, American Idol is ready to move past controversy and begin the business of goodwill.

Tonight marks the first of the two-part fundraising extravaganza Idol Gives Back, which in addition to having the six remaining contestants battling it out will also feature celebs from both sides of the Atlantic seeking to raise awareness and funds for American and African charities.

"You will actually see who could benefit when you vote on American Idol this week, so it's not about keeping some stupid singer in the competition," said Simon Cowell. "It's a bit more important than that this week."

The acerbic judge describes the purpose of the night as "opening your eyes to things that you didn't know existed," saying the producers were taking great pains not to get preachy with their message. Rather, "it's simply there are some problems, maybe this show could help a few people, it's as simple as that."

The star-studded satellite affair, held at Los Angeles' Walt Disney Concert Hall and hosted by daytime's biggest Idol cheerleader, Ellen DeGeneres—usual emcee Ryan Seacrest will join with the wannabe contestants from their usual studio—will showcase performances by Bono, former Idol champs Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood, Gwen Stefani, Josh Groban, Annie Lennox, Pink and Cowell's pop-operatic protégés, Il Divo.

Special appearances will also be made by Gwyneth Paltrow, Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Jack Black, Helen Mirren, Quincy Jones and Sacha Baron Cohen, among others.

"I hope I don't get so involved in the results about who's getting kicked off that I forget to introduce somebody," DeGeneres told E! News' Seacrest on his radio show this morning. "I'm so invested."

If the cavalcade of stars doesn't entice viewers into tuning, the special has another TiVo-worthy hook: the humbling of Mr. Cowell.

During Wednesday's two-hour results show, viewers will see video of the judge visiting a downtown Los Angeles warehouse, which supplies groceries to families living at or below the poverty level.

"I actually didn't know these types of places existed or there were these types of problems, and it goes back to my original point—which is I think a lot of people, along with myself, suddenly realize that there are problems which you may not have known about," Cowell said.

Viewers will also get a peek into a recent trip to Africa by Cowell and his bickering bosom buddy Seacrest, along with sojourns to Louisiana and Atlanta.

"I actually personally had no idea it was going to be as intense and have the impact it did going in," Seacrest said. "It definitely changed me."

During the special results show—in which, despite its altruistic theme, one contestant will nonetheless get the boot—the remaining contenders will also croon a one-off rendition of "American Prayer," a song penned by Bono and former Eurythmic Dave Stewart about the African AIDS epidemic.

Idol Gives Back has already earmarked Charity Projects Entertainment Fund as the recipient of all funds raised over the course of the evening, an organization which provides relief programs to children living in extreme poverty both in the U.S. and in Africa.

Domestically, profits from the show will go toward Save the Children, America's Second Harvest—The Nation's Food Bank Network, Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the Children's Health Fund. In Africa, funds will be directed toward the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, Malaria No More, Nothing But Nets, Save the Children and UNICEF.

While viewers will be given a toll-free number and special Website address during the show through which they can pledge donations of their own, the bulk of the fundraising will be done by corporate sponsors, who will donate set amounts of money to the causes for each text and phone vote received on Tuesday night.

"You see the images of people in third-world countries and, first of all, there's no reason for it. The fact that [poverty is] happening there is appalling, but the fact that it's happening here...we are a country of excess," DeGeneres said. "We can all make a difference. Just a dollar, if you can, will make a difference."

Ford is also producing a special contestant-starring music video that will air during Wednesday night's show and that will, along with other clips of the night, be available for download after the show. All proceeds from the clips will also go toward Idol Gives Back.

The two-night event kicks off tonight, when the six remaining contestants will belt out "life anthems," songs that have personally inspired them, in keeping with the week's theme.