COMIC RELIEF VI (TV)
Summary
This comedy special brings together comedians, movie stars, and television personalities to raise money to combat the problem of homelessness in America. The hosts, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, and Robin Williams, introduce these talented people who either do a stand-up routine or address the serious issues concerning homelessness.
Highlights include: Garry Shandling describes the arguments he has with his girlfriend on the topic of marriage, and men being led around by their hormones; Candice Bergen introduces a piece about children who are homeless; a clip from "The Burns and Allen Show" is shown; Mark Curry talks about going to see the movie "Jurassic Park," women calling in sick to work, and disgruntled employees; Brett Butler quips about moving from New York to Los Angeles, having breast implants, and bleaching her hair blond; Jason Alexander introduces a piece showing how the money donated to this fundraiser helps the cause directly; next, a clip from "The Jack Benny Show" is shown; Bob Sagat comments on why 1993 was a good year for him, his incredible parents, and the relationship with his wife; Alan King jokes about how you know you're getting older, having surgery on his knee, and the feeling of growing hair in places you don't need it; the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Henry G. Cisneros, reads a letter from President Bill Clinton praising the efforts of everyone associated with Comic Relief; Rosie Perez reiterates the need for donations and describes the gifts given in appreciation for various amounts of money donated; Dustin Hoffman introduces a piece that shows how the economic state of the country forces some families to become homeless; a clip from a Victor Borge comedy special is shown; a Comic Relief mainstay, Paul Rodriguez pokes fun at all those politically correct terms that seem to be everywhere, and ideas for Hollywood movies coming directly from stories seen on the nightly news; and Dennis Miller comments on just how messed-up the country really is, coming back to Los Angeles, and his recent visit to France and dealing with the attitudes of the French people.
John Larroquette presents a segment about the lack of health and medical care for homeless people; a clip featuring Dick Gregory is featured; Kevin Pollak discusses what meeting Dustin Hoffman was like, some common laws he would initiate if he could, and the upcoming Academy Awards ceremony; a special tribute to "Your Show of Shows" features clips from the program and a reunion of cast members Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Howard Morris, and Carl Reiner; Dennis Franz describes the countless personal problems homeless people endure every day; Marga Gomez performs a stand-up routine about being a lesbian, going to Disneyland and getting hit on by Minnie Mouse, men who ask for the sports section of the newspaper she's reading, and watching Spanish soap operas; the program examines the last Comic Relief and Hurricane Relief, which benefited Miami residents who were devastated by the natural disaster; Bob Zmuda, founder and president of Comic Relief, explains where the money has been going and names the corporations that have offered generous help; the mayor of Los Angeles, Richard Riordan, praises the efforts of everyone associated with Comic Relief; the cast members of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," perform a scene in which a T-shirt and a sweatshirt are found in the transporter room, and they mention former cast member Whoopi Goldberg; Billy Crystal performs his oldest routine from all his years of stand-up comedy; Miss America, Kimberly Aiken, introduces a piece about homeless women; a clip of a Lily Tomlin sketch is featured; Paula Poundstone talks about going to see "Beauty and the Beast on Ice," having a foster child, and the handgun problems in the country; Dave Chapelle quips about trying to fit in when he was on vacation in England, why he's not afraid of terrorsts, and the racial stereotypes made by all races; Steve Martin and Richard Belzer offer a tribute to the late Marty Klein, an agent to many top comedians and young, upstart comedians; Marisa Tomei introduces a piece about teenagers who have been on the streets for many years; a clip of "The Carol Burnett Show" is featured; and Robin Williams graces the stage with a typically wild and spontaneous routine.
Shadoe Stevens talks about donations, the gifts you receive with a pledge, and the worthy cause it is for; Carlos Mencia jokes about how many stupid people there are in this world, stores which post stupid signs, and watching the nightly news; Bill Maher examines government in the 1980s as compared to what it is now, how tough life is for everyone not just a particular group of people, and why people tend to go to psychiatrists more often than to church for confession; Kirstie Alley introduces a piece on the labels that are put on homeless children; Rick Overton comments on styles that have gone through cycles, the strange fascination with body piercing, and Marines coming to Broadway and trying their hand at acting; Paul Mooney mentions some of the issues that made the news in 1993, a message for President Bill Clinton, and sexism in America; Bobcat Goldthwait comes out as The Amazing Christo, a magician whose tricks never seem to work; Tisha Campbell introduces the last piece about the advancement of technology in the world and how it doesn't seem to be helping the people who need it most; and the performers join the Crenshaw High School Elite Choir for a rousing conclusion. This program is closed-captioned.
This selection from the Alan Gerry Cable Collection has been made available by the Gerry Foundation, Inc.
Details
- NETWORK: HBO
- DATE: January 15, 1994 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 4:59:59
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:40575
- GENRE: Comedy; Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy; Homeless persons; Homelessness; African-American Collection - Comedy
- SERIES RUN: HBO - TV series, 1986-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- John Moffitt … Executive Producer
- Pat Tourk Lee … Executive Producer
- Bob Zmuda … Executive Producer
- Nancy Kurshner … Supervising Producer
- Jaques Fiorentino … Co-Producer
- Jeff Thorsen … Associate Producer
- Walter C. Miller … Director
- Bruce Vilanch … Writer
- Buz Kohan … Writer
- Michael Peters … Choreographer
- George Duke … Music Director
- Nancy Severinsen … Music Supervisor
- Iris Stevenson … Choral Director
- George Duke and the Comic Relief Band … Music Group
- Billy Crystal … Host
- Whoopi Goldberg … Host
- Robin Williams … Host
- Jeffrey Tambor … Announcer
- Jason Alexander
- Kimberly Clarice Allen
- Kirstie Alley
- Richard Belzer
- Candice Bergen
- Brett Butler
- Sid Caesar
- Tisha Campbell
- Dave Chappelle
- Imogene Coca
- Crenshaw High School Elite Choir
- Mark Curry
- Dennis Franz
- Bobcat Goldthwait
- Marga Gomez
- Dustin Hoffman
- Alan King
- John Larroquette
- Bill Maher
- Steve Martin
- Carlos Mencia
- Dennis Miller
- Paul Mooney
- Howard Morris
- Rick Overton
- Rosie Perez
- Kevin Pollack
- Paula Poundstone
- Carl Reiner
- Richard Riordan
- Paul Rodriguez
- Bob Saget
- Garry Shandling
- Shadoe Stevens
- Marisa Tomei
- Bob Zmuda