Not to put too fine a point on it, but I think this show's integrity jumped the shark last year when they threw that beg-a-thon into the middle of the talent contest for no discernible reason -- except perhaps to salve their rich liberal guilt complexes.
I always maintain, though, that it isn't guilt at all. Instead, it's a form of exhibitionism in which the rich, ultra-privileged celebrities are really saying, "Look at me. See how much I care." The cynic in me never loses sight of the fact that big charitable donations are big tax deductions.
I think you’re right about them jumping the shark with their beg-a-thon. And then their beg-a-thon happened at the time that sangaya got booted and they attributed a decline in viewership to the leaving of sangaya instead of the real reason. People avoiding the beg-a-thon!
IMO, that's how they secured the Beatles' music and other Marquee names. Next week is Neil Diamond. David Cook should WOW us again! ;^)