Katrina Benefit Telethon Won’t Be Censored
NEW YORK – The producer of Friday’s one-hour telethon to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims said no special precautions will be taken to edit out political statements √≥ even though rapper Kanye West is on the bill.
But Joel Gallen, executive producer of “Shelter From the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast,” also doesn’t expect any problems.
West, on last week’s hurricane relief concert shown on NBC, departed from a prepared script to say that ” George Bush doesn’t care about black people.” He’s one of a dozen musicians scheduled to perform Friday.
Only a standard five- or seven-second delay will be employed to guard against any obscenities, Gallen said. He said he’s spoken to all of the musicians and actors who will be appearing on the show about not detracting from the mission.
“I think people understand that politicizing this will certainly not be a smart thing to do as far as inspiring people to call in and rally around this cause,” he said.
Sheryl Crow, the Dixie Chicks, Alicia Keys, Randy Newman, Paul Simon, Rod Stewart and Neil Young are among the other scheduled performers. Jennifer Aniston, Cameron Diaz, Ellen DeGeneres, Jack Nicholson, Chris Rock, Ray Romano and Sela Ward are also scheduled to appear.
The six main broadcast networks ó ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, UPN and the WB ó will all air the event live at 8 p.m. Eastern. Several cable stations including Bravo, Oxygen, TBS and USA have also cleared time for the commercial-free event.
Viewers will be asked to contribute to the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army.
The benefit concert will also be shown in at least 95 countries.
Gallen was the executive producer of “America: A Tribute to Heroes” shown shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. This year’s program will be similar in tone, he said, complete with no introductions of the artists.
“When I did this show four years ago, which was a very intense and emotional experience for me, I felt like that was a once-in-a-lifetime experience √≥ never thinking that four years later I would be asked to put something similar together again,” he said.
On cable, BET is holding its own telethon Friday, although it will interrupt it for a simulcast of “Shelter From the Storm.” MTV is showing a benefit concert Saturday night.
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