AMERICA: A TRIBUTE TO HEROES {TERRORIST ATTACKS} (TV)
Summary
This special, simulcast over thirty-eight television networks and 8,000 radio stations, pays tribute to the men and women who were called to duty in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, through musical performances and anecdotal presentations. The special is a telethon to raise money for a disaster-relief fund created specifically for the presentation, and the only titles that appear on screen are the phone number for the relief fund and brief notes identifying the locations of the performers. No participants are introduced by name. The program begins with Bruce Springsteen's rendition of a new song called "City of Ruins." Tom Hanks then explains the motivation for the special, and Stevie Wonder plays a song from a satellite studio in Los Angeles. George Clooney relates an anecdote about a brave police officer who went to the site of the World Trade Center even though he was scheduled to retire just days after the attacks. Clooney also points to the phone banks in which celebrities such as Jack Nicholson and Adam Sandler take phone calls from home viewers who want to donate to the cause. The group U2 then performs "Walk On" from London, and a video is run featuring interviews with young Muslim children living in the United States.
Actor Will Smith and legendary boxer (and Muslim) Muhammad Ali then explain that the actions of the terrorists have nothing to do with the religion of Islam. Shania Twain performs a song, and Kelsey Grammer reads a quotation from John F. Kennedy. Tom Petty then performs his defiant anthem "I Won't Back Down," and Jim Carrey tells a story about a wheelchair-bound man whose friend stayed with him in the World Trade Center after it had been struck by an airplane. Enrique Iglesias performs the song "Hero," and another video is screened. In this tape family members of individuals who disappeared during the attacks discuss fond memories of their loved ones. Neil Young then performs John Lennon's "Imagine," and Cameron Diaz relates a story about a young teacher at a school in the shadow of the ravaged buildings who guided her pupils to safety on the day of the attacks. Alicia Keys plays a song, and Robin Williams pays tribute to a Morgan-Stanley employee who helped steer people out of the burning buildings. The next performers are Fred Durst and Johnny Rzeznik, who perform Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here," and Billy Joel, who updates his song "New York State of Mind." Jimmy Smits and Dennis Franz discuss the life of a New York police officer, and Amy Brenneman and Calista Flockhart read a selection from "The Diary of Anne Frank."
The Dixie Chicks and Dave Matthews each play songs, and New Yorkers Conan O'Brien and Sarah Jessica Parker talk about the events of the day of the attacks. Wyclef Jean then performs Bob Marley's "Redemption Song," and Tom Cruise eulogizes New York Fire Department chaplain Mike Judge. Mariah Carey performs her song "Hero," and Ray Romano speaks before the members of Bon Jovi play a reworked version of their hit song "Livin' on a Prayer." Lucy Liu presents next, followed by a song from Sheryl Crow and a story from Sela Ward and Jane Kaczmarek, who appear together. After a brief speech by Julia Roberts, Eddie Vedder appears with guitarist Mike McCready and organist Neil Young on a version of Vedder's song "The Long Road." Chris Rock speaks, followed by Paul Simon with "Bridge Over Troubled Water." After Robert De Niro speaks, Canadian singer Celine Dion performs "God Bless America." The program concludes with words from Clint Eastwood, and Willie Nelson leads all of the evening's participants in "America the Beautiful."
(The last number is cut off).
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: September 21, 2001 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 2:02:59
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:66620
- GENRE: Specials; Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Benefit performances; Fund raising; Music, Popular (Songs, etc.); Rock music; September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001; She Made It Collection (Beth McCarthy Miller)
- SERIES RUN: Various - TV, 2001
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Joel Gallen … Producer
- Beth McCarthy … Director
- Bon Jovi … Music Group
- Mariah Carey … Performer
- Sheryl Crow … Performer
- Celine Dion … Performer
- Dixie Chicks, The … Music Group
- Fred Durst … Performer
- Enrique Iglesias … Performer
- Wyclef Jean … Performer
- Billy Joel … Performer
- Alicia Keys … Performer
- Dave Matthews … Performer
- Mike McCready … Performer
- Willie Nelson … Performer
- Tom Petty … Performer
- Johnny Rzeznik … Performer
- Paul Simon … Performer
- Bruce Springsteen … Performer
- Sting … Performer
- Shania Twain … Performer
- U2 … Music Group
- Eddie Vedder … Performer
- Stevie Wonder … Performer
- Neil Young … Performer
- Ali, Muhammad (See also: Clay, Cassius)
- Amy Brenneman
- Jim Carrey
- George Clooney
- Tom Cruise
- De Niro, Robert
- Cameron Diaz
- Clint Eastwood
- Calista Flockhart
- Anne Frank
- Dennis Franz
- Kelsey Grammer
- Tom Hanks
- Mychal Judge
- Jane Kaczmarek
- John F. Kennedy
- John Lennon
- Lucy Liu
- Bob Marley
- Jack Nicholson
- Conan O'Brien
- Sarah Jessica Parker
- Pink Floyd
- Julia Roberts
- Chris Rock
- Ray Romano
- Adam Sandler
- Will Smith
- Jimmy Smits
- Sela Ward
- Robin Williams