HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Two years after a historic fundraising telecast and the start of a groundbreaking grassroots movement, Stand Up To Cancer will return to primetime television in September, organizers announced Wednesday.
ABC, CBS and NBC are donating one hour of simultaneous commercial-free primetime for the fundraising special, which will air from Los Angeles on Sept. 10. It will be hosted by network news anchors Brian Williams, Katie Couric and Diane Sawyer.
HBO, Discovery Health, E!, MLB Networks, and Style also are scheduled to carry the fundraiser, which will invite donations to be made by phone or on the Stand Up To Cancer website.
Similar to the landmark 2008 broadcast, this year’s telecast will feature live performances by legendary music artists and appearances by film, television and sports stars.
"Stand Up To Cancer is a populist movement," said Couric, who lost her husband to colon cancer. "People of all ages are getting involved…Not only people who have cancer or who are dealing with it, but young people who want a cancer-free world in their future – we really think that’s finally attainable."
The original Stand Up To Cancer telecast, which raised more than $100 million, aired on Sept. 5, 2008 and was viewed in more than 170 countries. Throughout the program, many scientists and celebrities stood together in an unprecedented display of unity to combat cancer, including the late Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Aniston, Rob Lowe, Halle Berry, Ellen DeGeneres, Charles Barkley, Christina Applegate, Lance Armstrong, Tina Fey, Kirsten Dunst, Jack Black, America Ferrera, Neil Patrick Harris, Salma Hayek, Scarlett Johansson, Robin Roberts, Meryl Streep, Forest Whitaker and Abigail Breslin. Musical performers included Sheryl Crow, James Taylor, Melissa Etheridge, and a group that included Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, Fergie, Carrie Underwood, Mary J. Blige and several other recording artists.
Photo Credit: Virginia Sherwood / NBC
