Music of the heart
Mariah Carey has certainly had a tough year - including a widely-publicized emotional and physical meltdown just prior to the release of her feature film debut, Glitter, which - as we all know - wasn't exactly box-office gold. Yet, the diva deserves her due for facing her public these last few months, gracing the America: A Tribute to Heroes telethon, visiting U.S. soldiers overseas and hosting "A Home for the Holidays with Mariah Carey", her third annual TV special celebrating - and promoting - adoption.
Looking happy and healthy, Carey - sporting a Farrah Fawcett-inspired 'do and decked out in an assortment of tight-fitting dresses (what else?) - sings her heart out during the telethon/infomercial-style program, performing stirring renditions of "Reflections", "I'll Be There" and a medley of "Never Too Far" and "Hero". But - to Carey's credit - she shares the spotlight with other big-name acts, including Destiny's Child, Enrique Iglesias, Mandy Moore, classical soprano Charlotte Church and opera singer Josh Groban.
The parade of talent performs on a simple stage in front of a live audience that includes adopted children and their families. Throughout the show, the camera cuts to a close-up of some kid's smiling face. The cynical part of me finds this manipulative. Still, I can't help but be touched by their excitement. After all, who wouldn't be thrilled to have Destiny's Child singing Christmas songs to them?
Of course, stars like Destiny's Child are there to get viewers to tune in. The real goal of this program is to increase awareness of the need for people to adopt children. As Dustin Hoffman - one of the celebrity guests, who also including Everybody Loves Raymond 's Patricia Heaton and skating star Scott Hamilton - notes, the number of children in foster care has doubled in the last five years: There are now over 500,000 kids in the system, and they need permanent homes. Hammering home the point are slickly produced, TV-newsmagazine-meets-Oprah-style segments on adoption interspersed throughout the special. One of the most compelling stories is that of Shane Salter. Salter, who grew up in the foster care system himself, is now a successful businessman who, along with his wife, has eagerly adopted several children, including a 16-year-old boy.
A Home for the Holidays also introduces us to Robert and Maggy Welling, who present a different perspective: They were actually resistant to the idea of adoption at first. But after learning more about the process, they took in two young girls and now have a happy family.
Watch A Home for the Holidays with a hanky in hand. It is, without a doubt, tear-inducing television. But a little pull-at-your-heartstrings TV seems in order these days - especially when it is for a good cause. (TV Guide)
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