Stars shine to honor heroes

You'd have to go back to "the greatest generation's" youth to find a star-spangled spectacular like Friday night's "America: A Tribute to Heroes." A USO show for the MTV generation, "A Tribute to Heroes" brought together some of the entertainment industry's brightest lights to raise millions of dollars for victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. More than 60 movie, television and recording stars volunteered to perform, speak or answer the telephone. The two-hour program, a no-host affair, was simulcast in English and Spanish across 31 TV networks, 8,000 radio stations and the Internet. ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC underwrote the costs of the program. Corporate sponsors underwrote other costs. Money pledged during the telethon will go to a special relief fund administered by United Way. "This is a prayer for our fallen brothers and sisters," Bruce Springsteen said at the start. He was backed on vocals by members of his E Street Band, singing "My City in Ruins," a hymnlike anthem he unveiled last Christmas in his native New Jersey. The song's subject is economic despair, but against the backdrop of the World Trade Center's twin towers, "My City in Ruins" took on new meaning. Tom Hanks appeared next. "Those of us here tonight are not heroes," he said. "We appear tonight as a simple show of unity to honor our real heroes." For security reasons, the program originated from undisclosed locations, with no audience or media present. If the word "live" hadn't appeared on-screen occasionally, viewers could be forgiven for thinking that much of the telecast had been recorded. Between musical numbers, an actor or actress would appear before a wall of candles and tell a story about some of the more incredible acts of heroism among the hundreds performed the day of the attacks. Candles were everywhere. A determined viewer might have been able to count 6,800 of them, or more - the estimated number of dead and missing. Hollywood also had a message to deliver about tolerance. Stevie Wonder chided those who "hate in the name of God or Allah." Later, Muslim schoolchildren on videotape told of being harassed in the days following the attacks. That was followed by an appearance by Muhammad Ali. Trembling from advanced Parkinson's disease, Ali spoke slowly but with unmistakable resolve. "I'm a Muslim," Ali said. "I've been a Muslim 20 years. I'm against killing, and all Muslims are against it." Amid the pleas for world understanding, it wasn't surprising that the telecast featured little of the flag-waving of recent days, although Tom Petty did strike a more defiant tone with his classic "I Won't Back Down." The program concluded with a patriotic flourish: Celine Dion, a Canadian, gave a stirring rendition of "God Bless America"; Clint Eastwood called on Americans to band together; and Willie Nelson led a "We Are the World"-style chorus of "America the Beautiful." So many celebrities offered their services that getting them all onstage was impossible. Dozens of stars instead took pledge calls. Performers weren't identified when they appeared on camera. No one said, "Ladies and gentlemen, Mariah Carey," or "Hello, I'm George Clooney." The celebrities, as advertised, seemed to check their egos at the door. There were, however, promotional opportunities: A press release announced that the Dixie Chicks would introduce a song on the telethon, "I Believe in Love." Although Nielsen estimates won't be available until today, if earlier displays of unity are any guide, about 80 million Americans tuned into "A Tribute to Heroes." An estimated 82 million viewers watched President Bush address a joint session of Congress on Thursday, and just under 80 million watched part of the network news coverage of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. Like Friday night's program, those telecasts were carried by multiple broadcast and cable channels. Organizers said an estimate of how much was contributed wasn't likely to come until early next week. Another televised benefit was announced this week: Cable's TNT will carry "Come Together," a live concert featuring songs written by the late John Lennon. More than a dozen artists, from Moby to the Isley Brothers, will perform at Radio City Music Hall on Oct. 2. Proceeds will benefit relief efforts in New York City. To reach Aaron Barnhart, The Star's TV critic, call (816) 234-4790 or send e-mail to the TV Barn Web site at www.tvbarn.com. To make a donation By phone: 1-(800) 710-8002 ON THE WEB: Click on www.tributetoheroes.org HOW KC HAS HELPED Money that major Kansas City charities have raised for disaster relief efforts since the terrorist attacks (as of 5 p.m. Friday): American Red Cross: $2,594,210 Salvation Army of Kansas and Western Missouri: $120,000 Heart of America United Way: $160,000 Heart to Heart International: $50,000 and two semitrailer loads of goods. Harvesters: Several truckloads of goods. @ART CREDIT:KEVIN MAZUR/The Associated Press @ART CAPTION:With a fallen firefighter's helmet on his piano, singer Billy Joel performed his "New York State of Mind" Friday evening during the national live telecast of "America: A Tribute to Heroes." Not all the stars appeared on screen; dozens answered the pledge phones. @ART CREDIT:DELORES JOHNSON/The Kansas City Star @ART CAPTION:Taking pledge calls from the Kansas City area Friday night at the AT&T Call Center in Lee's Summit were Regina Brown (front) and Lee Benvenuto. About 600 AT&T employees helped during the telecast of "America: A Tribute to Fallen Heroes." @ART:Photos (2, color and b/w)