Benefit concert goes from great to ‘wow’

5:34: Harry Connick Jr., New Orleans native, is now on with Matt Lauer and is hoarse. He's been on the air tons in the last few days, talking about his city, trying to raise awareness of all the help the city needs and trying to find out what he can do for it. Good to know a native son cares so much about his city.

5:36: That leads right into a piece narrated by Harry about New Orleans' levees and its history with hurricanes. Sounds like they were used to them. From now on, I'd guess people will be terrified by any hurricane that would even come near the city.

Got this e-mail from Sam at 30 Rock, where they put together Dateline, talking about the response to the concert.

Small crowd has formed on 49^th street outside 30 Rock. I could hear screaming from my 5^th floor window as some fans have smartly decided to wait for the stars exiting the building. I cant make out who’s getting the louder screams, but flashes are going off and it’s caused a little bit of traffic.

5:38: Harry and Wynton together. Stopping to listen to this.

5:41: Mike Myers and Kanye West are on now, talking about the homeless situation. Kanye brings up an important point, talking about how the media portrays white people as seeking food and blacks as looters. He goes into an impassioned speech about the difficulties blacks are having during the Katrina fallout and in the country in general. Mike Myers is with him at the start.

About 10 seconds in, it's clear he's not reading from the prompter. He stumbles a bit on his points, but most of them get across. The basic message to the government? Stop dragging your feet and help the people down there. Myers gives him a couple "oh my God" looks, and then another when Kanye says "They've given them permission to go down and shoot us."

Myers, clearly stressed, goes into another point about the hurricane and how New Orleans is forever changed. Then Kanye drops the biggest bomb.

"George Bush doesn't care about black people," West said. Myers turns to him and clearly has no idea what to say. Then they go to a flabbergasted Chris Tucker.

Kanye was one frustrated man on TV. (And really, I can't do it justice here. Watch the video.)

FREE VIDEO Kanye West off the script Sept: 2: Rapper Kanye West stuns everyone, including actor Mike Myers, when he says "George Bush doesn't care about black people" at the concert to benefit hurricane victims. NBC News

Not sure what kind of flack Kanye's gonna catch for that last bit, but I'm sure he doesn't care. And good for him to bring up a point on the media's portrayal of blacks that can't be said enough. Not sure if I agree, but it's always good to have someone out there, challenging the media to be as fair as possible.

5:47: Missed most of Aaron Neville's last song, "Amazing Grace," trying to figure out exactly what Kanye said. Still can't believe it.

5:48: This Jimmy Smits-narrated piece on evacuees is killing me. This stupid, stupid disaster.

5:49: Claire Danes sounds like she might have some trouble finishing her reading on homeless kids. I don't blame her.

5:50: From Brian Williams to Faith Hill. Glad she can come in with another song. There aren't many better singers today.

5:54: Still can't believe Kanye West ripped Bush. That was great. (Also reminded me of the “Saturday Night Live” skit where Mike Myers plays an infomercial guy who has to deal with a racist Heather Locklear. Totally different message from what Kanye said, but the look on Myers' face was the same.)

5:55: Leo DiCaprio. He seems like the kind of guy who never hesitates to donate time and money to charitable causes. Not sure why it seems like that, but it just does.

5:56: Matt Lauer comes on with one final plea for help and a final segue into everyone on stage — Wynton, Aaron and his brothers, Harry and others — closing with "When the Saints Go Marchin’ In." Very good.

5:59: Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go donate some money to the Red Cross.

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