Mariah, More Stars Join TV Tribute

ByABC News
September 20, 2001, 7:18 PM

September 20 -- (ABCNEWS.com) Mariah Carey, Wyclef Jean, Malcolm in the Middle's Jane Kaczmarek, Willie Nelson, and Jimmy Smits have joined the growing list of celebrities taking part in America: A Tribute to Heroes a two-hour live, commercial-free simulcast to raise money for the victims in last week's terrorist attacks

ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC are organizing the event in an unprecedented showing of unity amid the national crisis. It will air from 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern/Pacific, 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Central, and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Mountain.

If you are anywhere near a TV Friday, America: A Tribute to Heroes will be exceedingly hard to miss.

In addition to the "Big Four" networks, 10 broadcast and 17 cable networks will also broadcast the event. They include BET, Comedy Central, Court TV, Discovery, E!, Fox Family, FX, HBO, Lifetime, MTV, PAX, PBS, SHOWTIME, Sundance Channel, Telemundo, TLC, TNN, TNT, Univision, UPN, VH-1, and The WB.

A number of Westwood One and Clear Channel Communications radio affiliates across the country will also simulcast the special. Yahoo will broadcast the event on the Internet.

From Bruce to Julia "Hopefully, we'll be able to sort of raise the spirits of America a little bit, join hands all of us as a nation, and try to raise as much money as we can to help the victims' families," said Once and Again star Sela Ward, who will take part.

"I hope that America responds and digs deep and can give what they can give," said Dennis Franz of NYPD Blue, who has also signed on. "All the proceeds go to the relief effort. I'm hoping that this is going to do some good."

The talent roster for the special also includes (in alphabetical order): Bon Jovi, Amy Brenneman, Jim Carrey, George Clooney, Sheryl Crow, Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Robert De Niro, The Dixie Chicks, Clint Eastwood, Calista Flockhart, Kelsey Grammer, Tom Hanks, Faith Hill, Billy Joel, Alicia Keys, Conan O'Brien, Tom Petty, Ray Romano, Julia Roberts, Paul Simon, Will Smith, Bruce Springsteen, Robin Williams, Stevie Wonder, and Neil Young.