NBC and its sister cable news channels will be first out of the gate with a Katrina telethon, to air Friday night at 8 p.m. New Orleans native Harry Connick Jr. (far left) organized this one, calling upon fellow area natives Wynton Marsalis and Tim McGraw. (Also on board is Leonardo DiCaprio, near left.) Proceeds will go to the Red Cross‘ hurricane relief drive.
According to Variety, the other broadcast networks have grumbled about NBC’s haste, since NBC was already in talks with CBS, ABC, Fox, UPN, and The WB for a special to be simulcast next Tuesday or Wednesday, with New Orleans-born Ellen De Generes having expressed interest in hosting. Is NBC trying to get a jump on relief efforts, or is it cynically capitalizing on its weak Friday schedule — and possibly diluting next week’s efforts in the process?
Other telethons are also in the works. MTV, VH1, CMT, and their offshoots will air a benefit concert on Sept. 10 featuring Green Day, Alicia Keys, John Mellencamp, Ludacris, Usher, Gretchen Wilson, David Banner, Rob Thomas, Chester Bennington (of Linkin Park), and Dave Matthews Band. Later today, Russell Simmons will announce the lineup for a concert to air on BET on Sept. 9.
Besides playing the MTV show, DMB have added a fourth night to their engagement at Denver’s Red Rocks, with the proceeds going to relief efforts. That’s one of several smaller-scale fundraisers planned. Bowling for Soup is playing a benefit in Shreveport, La. New Orleans rappers Master P and Juvenile have their own relief mini-drives.
Also pitching in: Jerry Lewis has pledged to redirect $1 million from his upcoming Labor Day muscular dystrophy telethon toward Katrina victims. Mississippi resident Morgan Freeman has organized an online auction. And on her website, Louisiana native Britney Spears has reported that her own family (in the affected states) is safe, while offering area residents her ”thoughts and prayers.”
Honestly, I could care less whether NBC has some kind of motive for being hasty in airing a telethon special. I’m an American and as one pundit quipped, I can’t believe that I see thousands of fellow Americans wandering around with no food, clean water, or shoes. I can’t believe that the New Orleans I knew of the past, is basically no longer there and that entire cities in Mississippi have been washed away. This is no time for cynicism…it’s time for action!!
DeeH is right…who cares what NBC’s motives are, let’s get these fundraisers started as soon as possible. These people need help, not politics.
I agree with DeeH and JD. More and more people are going to die form malnutrition and disease if more people don’t get active and help.
I’m watching Jerry Lewis’ big pumpkinhead. I’ve already made my donation to the Red Cross, I just want to see Jerry cart that overripe noggin out on camera.
Does EW just look for ways to diss Britney Spears? If you guys were half as smart and keen on pop culture as you think you are, you’d find another target, or you’d lay off mocking pop stars all together (after all, it’s not like EW is exactly heavy reading). Do you want her to get out and perform while she’s 8 months pregnant?
JB, you must not be the sharpest tool in the shed. EW is not asking her to perform while she is 8 months pregnant. It would be nice if she could donate some of her $50 million dollars that she has in her bank account. There are people that have hardly any money and are donating what they can. It would be nice to see her think and do something for someone besides herself and that gross husband of hers.
” And Louisiana native Britney Spears is doing her part; on her website, she says she’s offering area residents her ”thoughts and prayers.””
This is Typical Britney; during the tsunami relief efforts, what was Mrs. Federline doing with her millions? Why, buying chandeliers and dressers for her dogs, of course!
JB, we pick on Britney because she makes it so easy.
Also, who cares WHY NBC is doing a seperate telethon; the more money raised, the better.
I think that these telethons should feature some of the homeless victims of Katrina and have a number you can call to offer them a place to live. Craigslist has alot of people opening up their homes, but the ones who really need shelter have no access to a computer much less the ability to contact the people to accept their offer. Jerry Lewis has children on his telethon and tells their story so why can’t we do that for these homeless people. Come on America!!!
” Do you want her (Britney Spears) to get out and perform while she’s 8 months pregnant?”
JB – you have got to be joking!!!!!! With all the money that piece of untalented trash has in her pocket from fanatics like you…..she can’t offer something to her community????? Give me a break!!!! Even Hilary Duff had more class than that!!!!
You as a fan should be very upset by Britney’s lack of monetary concern for Louisiana!!
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