ILS1
08-31-2005, 09:19 PM
Updated: 8:12 p.m. ET Aug. 31, 2005
LOS ANGELES - Hurricane Katrina telethons reminiscent of benefits for tsunami and 9/11 victims were announced Wednesday with artists including Wynton Marsalis and Green Day, while Jerry Lewis’ annual Labor Day fundraiser will join in as well.
Lewis said Wednesday his telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association would include celebrity appeals for hurricane relief. MDA also will donate $1 million to help victims in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, he said.
“While the needs of ‘my kids’ are with us all year-round, Hurricane Katrina is a national disaster on a scale that’s difficult to comprehend,” the actor-comedian said in a statement. “We simply couldn’t ignore the need to help.”
Celebrities will appeal for donations for hurricane victims during the first four hours of the telethon and its concluding four hours. The broadcast begins at 9 p.m. EDT Sunday and ends at 5:30 p.m. ET Monday (check local listings for stations).
A special 800 phone number will be used for the Katrina donations, with proceeds going to the Salvation Army in the hard-hit states.
Hurricane relief efforts will be seen across a number of TV channels, which have been filled with images of tragedy and destruction caused by Katrina.
“A Concert for Hurricane Relief” will air on NBC, MSNBC and CNBC at 8 p.m. EDT Friday, NBC Universal Television Group announced Wednesday.
The hourlong special, hosted by “Today” show co-host Matt Lauer in New York, is scheduled to include performances by Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr. and Tim McGraw, all with ties to the affected areas, NBC said. Leonardo DiCaprio and other celebrities are expected to participate.
Viewers will be encouraged to donate to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
MTV lends a hand
Another aid effort was announced by MTV Networks, starting with a Saturday, Sept. 10, music special airing on MTV, VH1 and CMT and intended to raise funds for the American Red Cross and other organizations.
Besides Green Day, scheduled performers include Ludacris, Gretchen Wilson, Usher, Alicia Keys, John Mellencamp, the Dave Matthews Band, Rob Thomas, David Banner and Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington.
The special also will be available on MTV2, mtvU and VH1 Classic, as well as broadband video networks MTV Overdrive and VSpot.
The concert is part of what MTV Networks said will be an ongoing effort by its outlets to promote volunteer efforts as well as fundraising.
Information was to go out immediately on how viewers may join in relief activities and donate clothes and other goods.
Also Wednesday, MTV Networks’ parent company, Viacom, announced a $1 million donation to the American Red Cross and a worldwide matching gift program for employee donations. Other support efforts are planned by Viacom media properties including BET, CBS and UPN, the company said.
A 2001 telethon for victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks was carried on all major networks and drew nearly $130 million in donations.
In 2005, NBC Universal aired a benefit for victims of last December’s earthquake-triggered tsunami that struck parts of Asia and Africa. It raised close to $20 million, NBC said.
© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
TV Telethons Announced (www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9146525/)
LOS ANGELES - Hurricane Katrina telethons reminiscent of benefits for tsunami and 9/11 victims were announced Wednesday with artists including Wynton Marsalis and Green Day, while Jerry Lewis’ annual Labor Day fundraiser will join in as well.
Lewis said Wednesday his telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association would include celebrity appeals for hurricane relief. MDA also will donate $1 million to help victims in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, he said.
“While the needs of ‘my kids’ are with us all year-round, Hurricane Katrina is a national disaster on a scale that’s difficult to comprehend,” the actor-comedian said in a statement. “We simply couldn’t ignore the need to help.”
Celebrities will appeal for donations for hurricane victims during the first four hours of the telethon and its concluding four hours. The broadcast begins at 9 p.m. EDT Sunday and ends at 5:30 p.m. ET Monday (check local listings for stations).
A special 800 phone number will be used for the Katrina donations, with proceeds going to the Salvation Army in the hard-hit states.
Hurricane relief efforts will be seen across a number of TV channels, which have been filled with images of tragedy and destruction caused by Katrina.
“A Concert for Hurricane Relief” will air on NBC, MSNBC and CNBC at 8 p.m. EDT Friday, NBC Universal Television Group announced Wednesday.
The hourlong special, hosted by “Today” show co-host Matt Lauer in New York, is scheduled to include performances by Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr. and Tim McGraw, all with ties to the affected areas, NBC said. Leonardo DiCaprio and other celebrities are expected to participate.
Viewers will be encouraged to donate to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
MTV lends a hand
Another aid effort was announced by MTV Networks, starting with a Saturday, Sept. 10, music special airing on MTV, VH1 and CMT and intended to raise funds for the American Red Cross and other organizations.
Besides Green Day, scheduled performers include Ludacris, Gretchen Wilson, Usher, Alicia Keys, John Mellencamp, the Dave Matthews Band, Rob Thomas, David Banner and Linkin Park’s Chester Bennington.
The special also will be available on MTV2, mtvU and VH1 Classic, as well as broadband video networks MTV Overdrive and VSpot.
The concert is part of what MTV Networks said will be an ongoing effort by its outlets to promote volunteer efforts as well as fundraising.
Information was to go out immediately on how viewers may join in relief activities and donate clothes and other goods.
Also Wednesday, MTV Networks’ parent company, Viacom, announced a $1 million donation to the American Red Cross and a worldwide matching gift program for employee donations. Other support efforts are planned by Viacom media properties including BET, CBS and UPN, the company said.
A 2001 telethon for victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks was carried on all major networks and drew nearly $130 million in donations.
In 2005, NBC Universal aired a benefit for victims of last December’s earthquake-triggered tsunami that struck parts of Asia and Africa. It raised close to $20 million, NBC said.
© 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
TV Telethons Announced (www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9146525/)