CHRISTOPHER REEVE: A CELEBRATION OF HOPE (TV)
Summary
This special program, a tribute to actor Christopher Reeve, features inspirational stories and songs in a fundraising gala for the Christopher Reeve Foundation, held in association with the American Paralysis Association. Host Robin Williams opens the show by interacting with the audience, joking about Reeve's training as a Shakespearean actor, and poking fun at certain medical discoveries. Highlights of the program include the following: Mary Chapin Carpenter, who was once a childhood neighbor of Reeve's, thanks him for being a role model by singing "Keeping the Faith"; John Lithgow outlines the mission of the Christopher Reeve Foundation and the American Paralysis Association to aid spinal cord injuries; Stevie Wonder sings "Hold on to Your Dreams," accompanied by the Crenshaw High School Elite Choir; Ted Danson introduces Travis Roy, who became paralyzed while playing hockey for Boston University, followed by a film chronicling Roy's ordeal; singer Gloria Estefan mentions the accident that temporarily paralyzed her, and sings a song about it, "There's Always Tomorrow"; Phil Hartman introduces clips from the National Wheelchair Basketball Association finals of 1997; Amy Grant sings a tune about the patience that is required to improve situations; Willie Nelson sings "Peace in the Valley"; Tom Hanks introduces a taped interview of Reeve speaking about the progress made in treating spinal cord injuries, and the future possibilities; Christine Lahti mentions how dreams can liberate the handicapped, and introduces James Ingram singing "I Believe I Can Fly," as the Cleveland Ballet Dancing Wheels performs a ballet using wheelchairs; Aaron Neville sings a song of hope; handicapped comedian Chris Fonseca performs; and Deana Carter dedicates the song "That's How You Know It's Love" to people who spend their lives helping others.
Next is a film, narrated by Meryl Streep, that profiles the life of a disabled couple, Becki and Richard Melly, who are also present in the audience, and ends with Paul McCartney singing a portion of "Calico Skies." Other highlights include the following: handicapped comedienne Nancy Becker Kennedy performs a comedy routine about how to deal with people in wheelchairs; Jane Seymour introduces saxophonist Tom Scott, who plays the theme to "Somewhere in Time," the movie in which she and Reeve co-starred, accompanied by Sasha of Cirque du Soleil in an acrobatic ballet; Glenn Close introduces Reeve's wife, Dana, who sings "The Music That Makes Me Dance," the song she sang on the night she met her future husband; and Wonder, Carter, Neville, Grant, Carpenter, Nelson, and Estefan perform a medley of songs about friendship. Reeve concludes the program by dedicating the evening to some special people. Interspersed throughout the program are messages of hope and optimism by Winona Ryder and LeAnn Rimes. Includes commercials, promos, and public service announcements. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: March 1, 1998 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:55:00
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:52710
- GENRE: Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: Basketball; Handicapped persons; Specials; Spinal cord - Wounds and injuries
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1998
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "My Giant" (feature film)
- TV - Commercials - "Peter Pan" (home video)
- TV - Commercials - Advil pain reliever
- TV - Commercials - Alamo car rental
- TV - Commercials - Alamo rental cars
- TV - Commercials - Almay lipstick
- TV - Commercials - American Dairy Farmers
- TV - Commercials - American Express credit cards
- TV - Commercials - Buick automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Burger King restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Carnival cruise lines
- TV - Commercials - Centrum vitamins
- TV - Commercials - Century 21 real estate
- TV - Commercials - Children's Advil pain reliever
- TV - Commercials - Clairol shampoo
- TV - Commercials - Comtrex cold medication
- TV - Commercials - Country Crock butter
- TV - Commercials - Discover credit cards
- TV - Commercials - Duracell batteries
- TV - Commercials - Ethan Allen furniture
- TV - Commercials - Excedrin pain reliever
- TV - Commercials - Ford automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Gas-X anti-flatulent
- TV - Commercials - Hanes underwear
- TV - Commercials - Honda automobiles
- TV - Commercials - M&M's chocolate candies
- TV - Commercials - MCI telecommunications
- TV - Commercials - Mail Boxes Etc.
- TV - Commercials - MasterCard credit cards
- TV - Commercials - Mitsubishi qutomobiles
- TV - Commercials - National Cattlemen's Beef Association and Beef Board
- TV - Commercials - One A Day vitamins
- TV - Commercials - Payless ShoeSource stores
- TV - Commercials - Pier One Imoprts
- TV - Commercials - Purina dog food
- TV - Commercials - Ragu spaghetti sauce
- TV - Commercials - Red Lobster restaurants
- TV - Commercials - Sprint telecommunications
- TV - Commercials - Sudafed nasal decongestant
- TV - Commercials - ThermaSilk shampoo
- TV - Commercials - United States Postal Service
- TV - Commercials - Vaseline Intensive Care lotion
- TV - Commercials - Wendy's fast food
- TV - Commercials - Whirlpool home appliances
- TV - PSA - Ad Council/Environmental Defense Fund
- TV - PSA - Christopher Reeve Foundation
- TV - PSA - Partnership for a Drug-Free America
- TV - Promos - "20/20"
- TV - Promos - "70th Annual Academy Awards"
- TV - Promos - "ABC World News Tonight"
- TV - Promos - "America's Funniest Videos"
- TV - Promos - "An All Star Party for Aaron Spelling"
- TV - Promos - "Copycat" (telecast of a feature film)
- TV - Promos - "Dharma & Greg"
- TV - Promos - "Ellen"
- TV - Promos - "Home Improvement"
- TV - Promos - "NYPD Blue"
- TV - Promos - "Something So Right"
- TV - Promos - "Spin City"
- TV - Promos - "That's Life"
- TV - Promos - "The Drew Carey Show"
- TV - Promos - "The Practice"
- TV - Promos - "Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place"
CREDITS
- Christopher Reeve … Executive Producer
- Danette Herman … Coordinating Producer
- Michael B. Seligman … Supervising Producer
- Don Mischer … Producer
- David Leaf … Producer, Writer
- Louis J. Horvitz … Director
- Stephen Pouliot … Writer
- Allen Rucker … Writer
- Tom Scott … Conductor, Instrumentalist, Saxophonist
- Keith Young … Choreographer, For Cleveland Ballet Dancing Wheels
- Crenshaw High School Elite Choir … Choir/Chorus
- Iris Stevenson … Choral Director
- Cleveland Ballet Dancing Wheels … Dance Company
- Cirque du Soleil … Dance Company
- Randy Thomas … Announcer
- Robin Williams … Host
- Chris Fonseca … Performer
- Nancy Becker Kennedy … Performer
- Mary Chapin Carpenter … Singer
- Deana Carter … Singer
- Gloria Estefan … Singer
- Amy Grant … Singer
- James Ingram … Singer
- Aaron Neville … Singer
- Dana Reeve … Singer
- Willie Nelson … Singer, Instrumentalist, Guitarist
- Stevie Wonder … Singer, Instrumentalist, Pianist
- Mary Verdi-Fletcher … Dancer, For Cleveland Ballet Dancing Wheels
- Raymond Rodriguez … Dancer, For Cleveland Ballet Dancing Wheels
- Mark Tomasic … Dancer, For Cleveland Ballet Dancing Wheels
- Sasha … Dancer, For Cirque Du Soleil
- Glenn Close
- Ted Danson
- Tom Hanks
- Phil Hartman
- Christine Lahti
- John Lithgow
- Paul McCartney
- Christopher Reeve
- LeAnn Rimes
- Travis Roy
- Winona Ryder
- Jane Seymour
- Meryl Streep