July 15, 2004
Actor Sheen coming to Ohio with anti-Bush script
By Mark Naymik
Cleveland Plain Dealer
The president is coming to Cleveland next month to raise money for . . . Democrats.
Republicans shouldn't panic just yet.
The president in this case is Josiah Bartlet, the liberal world leader on NBC's White House drama "The West Wing," who is played by actor Martin Sheen.
A longtime political activist, Sheen will be here Aug. 14 to raise money for a new special-interest group created to campaign against President Bush specifically in Northeast Ohio.
Sheen, a Dayton native, is one of several celebrities who have agreed to help raise money or campaign with the group, Bring Ohio Back or BOB. It's the newest left-leaning group to funnel money into grassroots campaigning in Ohio and into airing political commercials in the state.
The group's honorary co-chairs are actors Chad Lowe and Fisher Stevens, who plan to use their entertainment industry connections to bring actors, musicians and comedians to Ohio to raise money, knock on doors, greet voters at fairs, and possibly appear in political ads.
Lowe and Stevens are planning a fall celebrity concert and bus tour in Ohio aimed at raising awareness about Ohio's economic troubles.
Stevens turned to Ohio after attending a meeting in New York City led by, among others, Democratic strategist and former Clinton administration official Harold Ickes, who heads the Media Fund, an anti-Bush group.
"I know people have problems with actors rambling" about politics, Stevens said in a phone interview from Los Angeles. "I want Ohioans to vote with their heart. I want to get the facts about the issues important to the state."
Similarly, Lowe, a Dayton native, said he was drawn to the effort because of Ohio's importance in the election and its economic condition.
"It breaks my heart to go back to Dayton and see the jobs that have been lost," he said in a phone interview from New York City. "The opportunities are just not there, and that's tragic."
Ohio Democratic strategist Gerald Austin and Jeff Rusnak, a political consultant with Burges and Burges Strategists, set up the group and will manage its operations.
Rusnak said the group hopes to raise $1.2 million for grassroots campaigning, direct-mail and some radio and TV advertising. He said this group differs from the others working in Ohio in that the money will be spent specifically in Northeast Ohio.
On Wednesday, the group launched its Web site at Bringohioback.org.
Under new federal campaign finance laws, political parties can no longer accept unlimited contributions from wealthy donors, celebrities, and unions to run their grassroots operations. As a result, groups like BOB, known as 527s, have sprouted up everywhere.
"Considering the cast of characters involved, the evidence continues to mount that this group is part of a long list of Kerry campaign shadow organizations that are using soft money to supplement his campaign," said Kevin Madden, a Bush campaign spokesman.
"As far as their message: It's the same tired song and dance. The John Kerry celebrity set parachutes in from out of town and bad-mouths Ohio's economy, preaching doom and gloom, and they think that that anger can serve as an agenda."
Lowe will be in Cleveland today and Friday to help organize the Sheen event and to work on a film project he plans to direct in Cleveland this fall.
For Lowe, the group is simply about getting voters involved in the election.
"I just feel the way a lot of people do, that this is the most important election in our lifetime, one that every one needs to participate in," he said.
Emmy Nominations
The West Wing received twelve nominations for this year's Primetime Emmy Awards.
- Outstanding Art Direction For a Single-Camera Series: Gaza
- Outstanding Casting For A Drama Series
- Outstanding Cinematography For A Single-Camera Series: 7A WF 83429
- Outstanding Single-Camera Sound Mixing For A Series: Gaza
- Outstanding Sound Editing For A Series: An Khe
- Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series: Martin Sheen
- Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series: Allison Janney
- Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series: John Spencer
- Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series: Janel Moloney & Stockard Channing
- Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series: Matthew Perry
- Outstanding Drama Series
July 14, 2004
Admin note
Sorry to those of you who read the news on the LJ feed, I had to tweak the template (again) for the rss feed. Hopefully it will look better now, and I apologize for spamming your flists. :)
--Morgan
For "West Wing," it's not the economy, stupid; it's the ratings
By Gail Pennington
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
LOS ANGELES - It's not just fans who are worried about "The West Wing." So is NBC - and so is Dick Wolf, whose "Law & Order" suffered a downturn last season for which Wolf is blaming his Wednesday night lead-in.
"OK, 'West Wing' was ratings-challenged last year," NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly admitted. "John Wells is not in denial about it."
Wells, the star producer of "ER," took over the reins of "West Wing" after NBC and Warner Bros. forced creator Aaron Sorkin out. Ratings of the White House drama, which had already been in decline, dropped 18 percent among viewers 18-49 in the first season minus Sorkin, losing 13 percent of its total audience.
"We're going to try to juice up the show creatively this year, and I'm excited about what I've heard," Reilly told TV critics meeting in Los Angeles.
Saying he didn't want to reveal too much, Reilly noted that "the Bartlet administration is clearly coming to the end of its term, and I think that's going to foster some really interesting developments." Later, offstage, he added that he didn't mean President Jed Bartlet (Martin Sheen) would fall victim to some sort of television coup, only that having the end in sight would raise the stakes for the administration.
Meanwhile, as "Law & Order" prepares to launch a fourth edition, "Trial by Jury," in January, ratings for the "mothership" are down 13 percent with viewers 18-49.
Wolf, appearing with Dennis Farina, who joins the "L&O" cast this fall as the cop who replaces Jerry Orbach's Lenny Briscoe, harrumphed when asked whether he was worried. Actually, he said, the decline puts the show right back where it was before "West Wing" gave it such a big boost. What's more, "L&O" built more on its lead-in last season than ever before - 46 percent, by Wolf's account.
In other words, "Law & Order" - already picked up through 2006 - isn't in trouble, but "West Wing" might be. Reruns aren't airing this summer, and the sixth season doesn't arrive until Oct. 20.
Quote du jour: "We only have 48 hours." - Jeff Zucker, asked to talk about mistakes he made as NBC's chief programmer before being kicked upstairs.
July 13, 2004
'West Wing’ faces major plot changes
By Lisa de Moraes
Canton Repository
LOS ANGELES — The Josiah Bartlet administration is coming to an end at the close of the upcoming television season — only three years into his second term, NBC suits report.
But they insist that does not necessarily mean “The West Wing” will be canceled. Thus continues the slow, painful unraveling of the once-great White House drama series.
“ ‘West Wing’ was ratings-challenged” last season, NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly told critics over the weekend, stating the obvious.
“John Wells is not in denial about it,” he said of the man best known for executive-producing “ER,” who took over “The West Wing” when its creator, Aaron Sorkin, was shown the door.
“I can’t reveal too much; all I can tell you is it’s not going to be business as usual,” Reilly continued.
“The one little thing I could say is that the Bartlet administration is clearly coming to the end of its term, and I think that’s going to foster some really interesting developments. ... So we’re going to try to juice up that show creatively this year, and I’m excited about what I’ve heard.”
“Juicing up” is not an expression “West Wing” fans want to hear in connection with the series. When you hear “juicing up” and “John Wells” in the same breath, crashing helicopters and tank attacks cannot be far behind.
On the other hand, Peter Roth, the man who runs Warner Bros. TV, which produces “The West Wing,” said it was too early to say whether the Bartlet administration would come to an end this coming TV season.
And yet Reilly seemed pretty certain of what he was saying to a room full of critics and columnists.
But then Reilly is a guy who’s capable of telling a room full of critics and columnists that the “Friends” spinoff “Joey” gave him “this magical feeling that happens only one in a great while,” that he “feeds off the energy” of his boss, NBC Universal Television Group President Jeff Zucker, and that a drama series in which Heather Locklear runs LAX “will have credibility.”
Can you ever really trust a man who’s capable of saying such things with a straight face?
Zucker also acknowledged that the Bartlet administration would pack it in at the end of this season. On the other hand, Zucker last season promised that “Coupling” would be the most talked-about show of the season, and he now says he knew “Coupling” was garbage from the time its pilot was shot.
“We knew we were in trouble when we saw the first taping of ‘Coupling,’ quite frankly,” Zucker said over the weekend. “I mean, we did. And it just wasn’t working.
“And you know, at that point you say, ‘Well then, why did you put it on?’ ” Zucker said, anticipating the next question. “I think that comes under the heading of, you know, you never know for sure, and sometimes miracles do happen. And that would have required a miracle.”
One sharp critic wondered how, given Zucker’s new position on “Coupling,” anyone could believe him when he raved about this season’s crop of new shows. The following is his response:
“We have five new shows and ... I always try to be candid with you. And, you know, I would say of these five, I think these are better than we’ve had in a long time.
“Ultimately it’s the viewers that will decide. It won’t be us, and it won’t even be this room. It will be the viewers that decide. And they’re the final arbiter.
“And you know, you have to make your own decisions and see what you think of these five new shows, and you’re not going to like every one of them. You know, that’s understandable.
“I think these are good shows, and I’m actually proud of what Kevin and the entire team has done. And — but I understand the skepticism that you might bring to some of that.”
Fall TV Preview: Uninspired NBC lineup to hit the air drip by drip
By MELANIE McFARLAND
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly and NBC Universal Television Group president Jeff Zucker might want to get right with The Man Upstairs.
Before a room full of television critics, Reilly declared his belief in the word according to Mark Burnett, dubbing him "Lord of the Godforsaken Television Business," thanks be to Donald Trump and "The Apprentice."
And this dynamic duo is Reilly's primary reason that, in his words, "We're not totally screwed."
With that, the summer press tour herd turned another corner in our eighth circle journey.
Truly Burnett's presence on NBC is a godsend to the network and to viewers. We daresay that, should Burnett, DreamWorks and Sly Stallone's "The Contender" perform as well as Zucker and Reilly are hoping in November, you may find a scene in the network's version of "A Christmas Carol" with NBC employees dancing around a golden effigy of the king of reality kings.
You have to wonder, though, if those programs are going to be enough, what with ABC's creative transfusion at the top and Fox's so-called piracy tactics. Not that NBC is in the absolute worst shape it has ever been in; however, it's a little disconcerting that the fall schedule is not looking better.
From a business standpoint, things are looking up. NBC is now an entertainment behemoth, having recently merged with Universal and greatly expanded its reach on cable. Airing across its networks (NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, USA, Bravo and Telemundo), the combined coverage of the summer Olympic Games will amount to upwards of 1,200 hours. That's more than 70 hours each day and guaranteed dominance in the Nielsens.
NBC is using the games as a springboard to launch its fall lineup, although the network intends to roll out its premieres over the ensuing weeks instead of in a single chunk.
"Hawaii," an ensemble cop show constructed on more commercial appeal than substance, gets a preview airing Aug. 30.
"Last Comic Standing," picked up for an additional fall cycle, begins the next day, premiering along with the computer-animated series "Father of the Pride" and "Scrubs." Nevermind that the adult-oriented "Father of the Pride," shown to critics in a Saturday evening screening, is beset with a weird cuddliness and endangered by jokes as sharp as salad tongs.
OK, I'll admit, I laughed a couple of times. How could I not? Four words: Monkey on man love.
Three more: Hide the children.
The idea is to allow new programs to stand out from the scrum by trickling them out at the end of August and beginning of September. "The West Wing" has been delayed because NBC doesn't want the lovable, fictional Bartlett administration to get in the way of the presidential debates. It returns Oct. 20 and airs in original episodes through the end with no interruption. The midseason show -- oh, sorry, Reilly says it's now called "the second season" -- "Revelations" slides into "The West Wing's" slot once it ends.
That's all fine and good, since the main concern seems to be the success of "Joey" once it hits Sept. 9, leading into the premiere of "The Apprentice."
During the introductory session for the "Friends" spinoff, which is being reshot, critics couldn't get past poking Matt LeBlanc's tearjerker button over the end of "Friends," prompting him to declare through faux sniffles, "It was like getting a divorce from someone you're still in love with."
When they weren't working LeBlanc's limited range, the folks were cracking wise about co-star Drea de Matteo's past role on "Sopranos" as a woman who was beaten and strangled -- "So, can the producers just tell us, did you like the way she took a punch?" -- instead of talking about her current role, which allows her to dole out the abuse.
Obviously, lots of people will be watching "Joey" because of their relationship with de Matteo and LeBlanc's best-known characters, but what about NBC's other assets?
There's the fine "American Dreams," which lacks stratospheric ratings; "The West Wing," a show Zucker admitted took a creative dip last season; "Las Vegas"; and the shows from producers Dick Wolf ("Law & Order" in all its guises, including midseason addition "L&O: Trial by Jury") and John Wells ("Third Watch," "E.R.," "West Wing").
The remainder of the new fall line includes "LAX," which has Heather Locklear and Blair Underwood playing the same roles they always play, and "Medical Investigation," which looks as rehashed as it sounds.
With critics talking about the best new dramas being on ABC, of all places, maintaining standards doesn't seem to be the best plan. Nevermind the near absence of sitcoms.
At the very least, Zucker and Reilly can find comfort in knowing they're not Fox chief Gail Berman, a woman due to be bombarded later on this week about two shows it won't comment on, "Who's My Daddy" and "Big Shot."
Fox's other plans largely consist of pirate raids on NBC and ABC's reality slates.
In response to NBC's announcing "The Contender," Fox rung up Oscar de la Hoya and put "The Next Great Champ" on the fast track.
Cloning what is already on the air is fair game in Hollywood. Ripping off programs that are still in the development stage is considered dirty pool. And dirty pool in an unscrupulous place like Hollywood means disgusting, biohazardous pool to the rest of us.
Anyway, the situation allowed NBC suits (men whose pension plans are partially dependent on human beings devouring night crawlers on "Fear Factor") to cavort up the high road.
"Quite frankly, they used to be innovators, now they're imitators," Zucker said. "... It's just bad for business and it's bad for everybody, and I don't think that all is fair in love and television."
July 12, 2004
NBC steps into the ring with fall reality programs
By Gary Levin
USA TODAY
LOS ANGELES — NBC is front-loading its fall schedule with a bigger dose of reality.
The network will extend Last Comic Standing, one of the summer's few successes, for a third edition starting Aug. 31 and will follow it with The Contender, producer Mark Burnett's unscripted boxing drama, on Nov. 9, two months earlier than planned. Both will air Tuesdays starting at 8 p.m. ET/PT, bumping Average Joe to next year. (Related story: Fall season shapes up)
The move is a response to Fox's similar fall series, The Next Great Champ, part of a trend in which reality copycats are rushed onto the air even before their originators. (Champ also is scheduled to air in November, and Fox will jump the gun on ABC's Wife Swap, due Sept. 24, with its own Trading Spouses, now set for July 20.)
NBC Universal Television Group president Jeff Zucker said the practice "raises some real ethical issues," but he declined to rule out doing it himself, saying only that he would "think long and hard" first. DreamWorks partner Jeffrey Katzenberg, who dreamed up the idea for The Contender, was more direct: "If imitation is the highest form of flattery, theft is the lowest form of creativity."
But Sylvester Stallone, who will serve as the Donald Trump of The Contender, offered his own version of Trump's signature line: "You're unconscious."
NBC spent the weekend touting its new lineup to TV critics at their semiannual gathering here. The network's programs will premiere earlier than usual to take advantage of the momentum of the Summer Olympics, which end Aug. 29. With many schools already back in session, "the Barcalounger will be in position" to kick off the season early, NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly says.
New drama Hawaii and animated Father of the Pride will premiere the week of Aug. 30, along with the returning Scrubs, Fear Factor and Last Comic. Medical Investigation, airport drama LAX and Friends spinoff Joey will start the week of Sept. 6, along with Las Vegas and The Apprentice, which will feature last season's winner, Bill Rancic, in two episodes.
The West Wing, which won't return until Oct. 20, faces changes: "It's not going to be business as usual," Reilly says. "The Bartlet administration is clearly coming to the end of its term, and that's going to foster some really interesting developments," including the possible end of the series, which hit a severe ratings slump last season, or star Martin Sheen's involvement in it.
For the other shows, NBC might need an early start: Although critics' opinions don't always mesh with the public's, many gathered here for the semiannual press tour had a lukewarm response to most of the network's five new shows, including pricey Pride, which screened an episode Saturday.
A Few Quick Remarks
By Lisa de Moraes
Washington Post
Monday, July 12, 2004; Page C01
LOS ANGELES, July 11
It's really, really hard to understand speed-talker Chris Matthews at 8:30 in the morning, though we can report with absolute certainty that everything he said today at Summer TV Press Tour 2004 seemed bright and snappy and extremely entertaining.
After the "Hardball" host had talked about this and that for about 20 minutes without appearing to stop for breath, a critic finally got in the first question, asking whether he thought the political conventions were more or less important this year in particular, and whether he thought the networks' planned coverage was adequate.
"Well-look-I-think-it's-not-going-to-be-the-old-days-of-arguing-whether-the-guy-from-Cayuga-County-is-going-to-help-or-hurt-or-cut-the-ticket-that-year -- trim the guy," Matthews responded. "Those-days-of-Germond-type-coverage-was-great-I-think-today-it's-about-people-want-to-see-these-people.-Let's-face-it-there's-a-third-of-the-country-to-half-the-country-that-can't-wait-to-hear-Bill-Clinton-come-back-and-put-on-one-of-his-rousers-Monday-night.-They-just-want-to-see-him-on-the-tube -- Elvis is back. They-may-have-bought-the-book.-They're-damn-well-not-going-to-read-it.-They-used-to-say-of-books -- once you put it down you can't pick it up. But-they-are-going-to-watch-him-on-television-because-he-is-great-on-TV-and-next-they're-going-to-get-sort-of-the-old-the-nostalgia-of-the-Kennedy-era-with-Teddy-with-his-last-hurrah.-That-may-not-be-as-exciting-as-that-but-it's-going-to-be-great-TV.-Then-you're-going-to-have-the-new-kid-on-the-block-John-Edwards-showing-his-stuff-Wednesday.-Then-of-course-we-get-to-see-if-John-Kerry-can-meet-the-standard.
"Hell of a week.
"And-I've-got-to-believe-they're-going-to-do-some-diversity-there-so-it's-going-to-be-great.-They're-going-to-have-to-have-somebody-else-talking-besides-those-four-guys -- Hillary will be up there -- it's-the-show.-It's-more-important-to-see-these-people-on-television-than-anything-else-in-this-convention.
"Yeah?"
"You didn't exactly answer the question," the critic responded.
How he could tell, I don't know.
The Josiah Bartlet administration is coming to an end at the close of the upcoming television season -- only three years into his second term, NBC suits report. But they insist that does not necessarily mean "The West Wing" will be canceled. Thus continues the slow, painful uraveling of the once-great White House drama series.
" 'West Wing' was ratings-challenged" last season, NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly told critics over the weekend, stating the obvious.
"John Wells is not in denial about it," he said of the man best known for executive-producing "ER," who took over "The West Wing" when its creator, Aaron Sorkin, was shown the door.
"I can't reveal too much; all I can tell you is it's not going to be business as usual," Reilly continued. "The one little thing I could say is that the Bartlet administration is clearly coming to the end of its term, and I think that's going to foster some really interesting developments. . . . So we're going to try to juice up that show creatively this year, and I'm excited about what I've heard."
"Juicing up" is not an expression "West Wing" fans want to hear in connection with the series. When you hear "juicing up" and "John Wells" in the same breath, crashing helicopters and tank attacks cannot be far behind.
On the other hand, Peter Roth, the man who runs Warner Bros. TV, which produces "The West Wing," yesterday told The TV Column it was too early to say whether the Bartlet administration would come to an end this coming TV season. And yet Reilly seemed pretty certain of what he was saying to a room full of critics and columnists here. But then Reilly is a guy who's capable of telling a room full of critics and columnists that the "Friends" spinoff "Joey" gave him "this magical feeling that happens only one in a great while," that he "feeds off the energy" of his boss, NBC Universal Television Group President Jeff Zucker, and that a drama series in which Heather Locklear runs LAX "will have credibility." Can you ever really trust a man who's capable of saying such things with a straight face?
Zucker also acknowledged that the Bartlet administration would pack it in at the end of this season. On the other hand, Zucker last season promised that "Coupling" would be the most talked-about show of the season, and he now says he knew "Coupling" was garbage from the time its pilot was shot.
"We knew we were in trouble when we saw the first taping of 'Coupling,' quite frankly," Zucker said over the weekend. "I mean, we did. And it just wasn't working.
"And you know, at that point you say, 'Well then, why did you put it on?' " Zucker said, anticipating the next question. "I think that comes under the heading of, you know, you never know for sure, and sometimes miracles do happen. And that would have required a miracle."
One sharp critic wondered how, given Zucker's new position on "Coupling," anyone could believe him when he raved about this season's crop of new shows. The following is his response:
"We have five new shows and . . . I always try to be candid with you. And, you know, I would say of these five, I think these are better than we've had in a long time. Ultimately it's the viewers that will decide. It won't be us, and it won't even be this room. It will be the viewers that decide. And they're the final arbiter. And you know, you have to make your own decisions and see what you think of these five new shows, and you're not going to like every one of them. You know, that's understandable. I think these are good shows, and I'm actually proud of what Kevin and the entire team has done. And -- but I understand the skepticism that you might bring to some of that."
© 2004 The Washington Post Company
July 10, 2004
NBC Will Rely on Reality, Aim for More Laughs
By Ben Berkowitz
Reuters
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Broadcaster NBC will rely on its top reality shows to bolster its fall schedule while seeking to improve ratings for scripted programs, especially the embattled comedy genre, its top executives said on Saturday.
Speaking to television critics as part of that group's summer press tour, Kevin Reilly, president of NBC Entertainment, said the network was in a strong position despite having lost two staples, the comedies "Friends" and "Frasier."
"The Lord giveth, and in the Godforsaken television business by Lord I mean Mark Burnett, thanks be to Trump," Reilly said.
Burnett is the executive producer and real estate mogul Donald Trump the star of "The Apprentice," the breakout hit reality show that debuted last season.
In an unexpected move, Reilly said NBC will bring back its summer reality series "Last Comic Standing" this fall, starting a third installment of the show right after its coverage of the Olympics in late August. The show has been a ratings standout for the network this summer and last.
Despite "Apprentice," which NBC Universal Television Group President Jeff Zucker called the most valuable show on television, and other hits like "Fear Factor," the executives said the network needed to focus on its bread and butter, comedies and dramas.
"I like a good reality show but my goal this season is to get the scripted stuff firing with the same thunder, especially comedy," Reilly said.
The challenge with comedy in particular, Reilly said, was finding an original idea.
"I think part of the problem with the genre is we had many decades of recycling too many familiar themes," he said. "We're looking for that next Larry David."
David was one of the creators of "Seinfeld" and has his own acclaimed HBO series, "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
SHOTS AT FOX
Zucker, whose quick rise through NBC's ranks culminated late last year with a promotion to oversee all news and entertainment at NBC and its cable networks, took aim at Fox, which has been accused of rushing reality shows to air that copy competitors.
Fox will have a boxing show that NBC charges is a copy of its forthcoming "The Contender," and plans an "Apprentice"-style series featuring British entrepreneur Richard Branson.
"Quite frankly, they used to be innovators and now they're imitators," Zucker said. "I think that it's not right what they're doing and I think frankly that they should be called on it."
Fox, which denies it is copying its rivals, was set to give its own presentation to critics next week.
As for the rest of the network's schedule, Zucker and Reilly said shows will begin to roll out on Aug. 30, immediately after the Olympics. One late starter will be "West Wing," which Zucker said the network will hold until after the U.S. presidential debates.
He also said the syndicated "Jane Pauley Show" will debut Aug. 30. It was cleared to air on 223 stations, the biggest-ever launch for a daytime television show, Zucker said.
July 04, 2004
I'm Rob Reiner, and I Approve this Message
Moveon.org, a political advocacy group, has enlisted the help of popular culture's most talented celebrities in the war to defeat Bush in 2004
By MATTHEW COOPER
Time
Saturday, Jul. 03, 2004
The liberal advocacy group MoveOn.org has already proved to be a force in the campaign to defeat President Bush, but it is about to get a big infusion of help from Hollywood. MoveOn's Political Action Committee, MoveOnPac, last week announced that documentary filmmaker Errol Morris (The Fog of War) will produce a series of campaign ads. The group is also about to announce that it has enlisted an all-star roster of directors, writers and Hollywood actors to make ads for the group. One is directed by Rob Reiner and written by West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin. Another is directed by indie-film veteran Allison Anders (Gas Food Lodging) from a script by radio lefty Al Franken. Comedian Margaret Cho wrote and directed an ad, another stars Danny Glover, and an animated spot features the voices of Scarlett Johansson (Lost in Translation), Kevin Bacon and Ed Asner. Two more ads are in production, one written and directed by Woody Harrelson and the other starring Alicia Silverstone.
The ads will be tested on focus groups before MoveOn decides when and where to air them on TV. They're the brainchild of Laura Dawn, a singer who often appears with techno-rock star Moby (who wrote the music for one of the spots). Dawn, 34, who works from her apartment in New York City's East Village, last year came up with the "Bush in 30 Seconds" contest, in which average Americans were asked to submit anti-Bush ads. "The idea was that if we did really well with the contest, we could do this afterward," says Dawn. Hollywood responded; now will the voters?
From the Jul. 12, 2004 issue of TIME magazine
