NEW YORK – NBC will hold a benefit concert Friday for victims of Hurricane Sandy featuring some artists native to the areas hit hardest.
Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi, both famously from New Jersey, and Billy Joel, whose own Long Island was hard-hit, are scheduled to appear at the concert, hosted by “Today” show co-host Matt Lauer. Other performers include Christina Aguilera, Sting and Jimmy Fallon.
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Bon Jovi, who was in London when the storm hit, urged people to donate to victims of the storm and asked those affected to have hope, comparing the weather disaster to 9/11.
“Once again we will have hurdles to clear and challenges we will have to face. … We may not have electricity, but we have power,” he said.
ABC also announced a relief effort, designating Monday as a “Day of Giving” where shows like “Good Morning America” and others would be used to generate donations from viewers.
The NBC telecast will benefit the American Red Cross and will be shown on NBC and its cable stations, including Bravo, CNBC, USA, MSNBC and E! Other networks are invited to join in, and the concert will be simulcast on Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Radio on SiriusXM.
Walt Disney Co. said it would donate $2 million to the American Red Cross and other rebuilding funds. Viacom Inc., the parent of “Jersey Shore” network MTV, said it would donate $1 million to relief and set up a $1 million employee matching gift program with the American Red Cross.
The sports world also has responded. The NFL and NFLPA joined together to donate $1 million to the Red Cross, Green Bay Packer Charles Woodson announced a $100,000 donation, and the New York Yankees donated $500,000.
Oprah now has own spot on Huffington Post
NEW YORK – Two of the most powerful women in media — Oprah Winfrey and Arianna Huffington — are joining forces.
On Thursday they launched “HuffPost OWN,” a new section on the Huffington Post website that will feature lifestyle advice and personal inspiration material from the Oprah Winfrey Network and Oprah.com.
Winfrey said she was “delighted to join the conversation” at the Huffington Post. In a blog post, Huffington said Winfrey is “made for the Internet,” given her qualities of engagement and authenticity.
There are now nearly six dozen niche sections on the Huffington Post.
Hackman says he slapped man in self-defense
SANTA FE, N.M. – Actor Gene Hackman had given clothes, money and rides to a homeless man, but this week he slapped the man when he became aggressive toward the Oscar-winning actor and his wife, according to a police report detailing the incident in Santa Fe, N.M.
The report said both Hackman and Bruce Becker, 63, agreed the incident began when Becker approached Hackman and his wife, Betsy, on a street Tuesday and asked for money.
Becker told police that Hackman called him a worthless bum and told him to get a job. Becker said he told Hackman, “Gene, you are just another Clint Eastwood, you are nothing but an empty chair,” an apparent reference to Eastwood’s Republican National Convention appearance last summer. That’s when Hackman began “pummeling” him, Becker told officers.
Hackman, 82, told police that Becker became angry and moved in close in a threatening manner. Hackman said he slapped Becker once to fend him off.
Police said Hackman acted in self-defense and no charges have been filed.
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