With a slicker format,  more stars and better jokes , “Idol Gives Back” showed just how to stage a mass charity fundraiser on its second outing on Wednesday. 

 Jimmy Kimmel’s roasting of Simon Cowell’s nipples (!!), his haircut (”Who parted your hair? Moses?”) and wardrobe;  Annie Lennox’s emotional rendering of “Many Rivers To Cross”, and Fergie’s  handstands across the stage made it a night to remember. Then there was the “Idol” stage manager who, when she had to come onstage to adjust Brad Pitt’s microphone, admitted: “I just needed a reason to touch him.”

Even Britney Spears — one of the few celebrities not among the more than 60 singers, actors, sports stars and comedians taking part — was reportedly moved to donate.

Life & Style magazine said the troubled pop star — who thankfully has been out of the headlines for at least two weeks — made a $25,000 donation.  “She watched the show and cried for like two hours over the children in Africa with malaria,” a Spears family insider told the magazine.

But just how much did the American public fork over in pledges and donations to the six featured children’s charities in Africa and the United States? Host Ryan Seacrest gave an early preliminary figure of $18 million during the broadcast.

Here’s hoping it won’t be too long before we get to know if the show reached it’s hoped for $100 million target.