Last night's TV lineup was notable for two reasons: Conan's last show, and far more significantly, the Hope For Haiti Now Telethon for earthquake relief funds.
The mood was subdued, yet the underlying force of A-list stars was a force to be reckoned with. No one was more instrumental in this than George Clooney.
The actor spent a week pulling together the two-hour Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief, and donated $1 million of his own money.
Anderson Cooper's dispatches from the earthquake-torn nation and Wyclef Jean's closing message of hope for his fellow Haitians were particularly moving.
George Clooney and his army of A-list fundraisers.
You don't often see phone banks manned by the likes of Charlize Theron, Mel Gibson, Julia Roberts, Steven Spielberg, Reese Witherspoon, Cindy Crawford, Ben Affleck, Sigourney Weaver, Ringo Starr and Jack Nicholson - to name a select few.
Did we mention Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Simmons, Zac Efron, Billy Crystal, Gerard Butler, Neil Patrick Harris, LL Cool J and Selena Gomez were also there?
We could go on for hours about this event, which raised tens of millions for a good cause. Click to enlarge some images from our Hope For Haiti Now album:
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5 Comments
January 27th, 2010 3:37 PM
I LOVED THIS! The stars were NOT announced when they performed and there wasn't even a trailer on the screen giving their names, because it WAS NOT ABOUT THEM. I adore every single one of them who truly gave of themselves to help others in need. MARVELOUS JOB -- ENCORE1
January 25th, 2010 4:59 AM
I think whats happening is out rageous it's terrible we shouldnt have highs and lows royalty and poor we have people less fortunate than ourselves we manage but some people don't we are all born equally and should be treated equally but some where during life that equality and fairness changed some whare along the line why should they have to be the ones to suffer why cant we all treat eachother equally and fairly xx
January 24th, 2010 12:30 PM
I have an observation and thought about the current situation in Haiti.
Observation:
The earthquakes in Haiti have been devastating. For over a week we have watched the horror and misery brought by the 7.0 earthquake and aftershocks. Crumbled buildings, dead and dying bodies in the street, the misery of thirst and hunger, displacement, fear of continued destruction and medical emergencies without sufficient medical supplies and doctors. Our wallets have opened and nations of the world have scrambled to bring humanitarian aid. We rightfully feel horror, sorrow, compassion and grief for these suffering people.
Thought:
It occurred to me these images of suffering and devastation brought on by nature’s fury could easily be a snapshot from the streets of Iraq and Afghanistan during the Iraq wars and current Afghanistan siege by the US and other nations. Crumbled buildings, dead and dying bodies in the streets, the misery of thirst and hunger, displacement, fear of continued destruction and medical emergencies without sufficient medical supplies and doctors. However, there was and is not an outpouring of humanitarian aid to these people like what we see currently with Haiti. Perhaps the world thinks they are the ‘enemy.’
Think about it. The difference here is that instead of nature bringing the destruction, it is us bringing this destruction in an arbitrary war. We are not shown TV coverage of these wars, so when you look at the TV coverage today and see the images of horror and suffering think of what we are doing to mostly innocent civilians in the Middle East. Is this honorable war? Is there such a thing? Suffering does not take political sides.
If US citizens truly feel compassion for suffering people, they need to realize they are indirectly enabling more suffering. Demand the US government stop this arbitrary war in the Middle East and bring our troops home. Realize, on the one hand we are a nation of compassion and equality, but on the other hand we are a blitzkrieg of death and destruction. There is something wrong with this picture.
January 24th, 2010 9:46 AM
I watched some telethon and watched them pull a girl about 10 yrs old out from under rubble. She came out clean and smileing and nobody gave her water or food , they just held up the girl.
Looks like fake story to me.
January 23rd, 2010 6:05 PM
I saw the telethon and everyone did a great job.
Mary J. Blige was EXCELLENT. The song she sung was so beautiful and appropriate. She did an awesome job; show so much passion as she sang.
I was surprised, however, at the lack of communication skills actresses have. They were struggling with the conversations on the telephone.