Almost fell off my chair, laughing....
Even though it was DEFINITELY NOT a laughing matter, I watched the Concert for Hurricane Relief on NBC, and almost fell off my chair laughing at how uncomfortable Mike Myers was when rapper Kane West went off script.
Mike was in no-mans-land. He was stuck on camera with nowhere to go. He looked like a deer in the headlights.
I am stunned by the length of time it took to start getting necessities to these people. Would aid have been shipped sooner if it was overseas? Seems so.
With that said, I don't think a benefit concert, to raise money for the victims, was the place to make a political statement.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9146525/
Updated: 10:33 p.m. ET Sept. 2, 2005
LOS ANGELES - It began, fittingly enough, with jazz from New Orleans natives Harry Connick Jr. and Wynton Marsalis.
But “A Concert for Hurricane Relief,” a heartfelt and dignified benefit aired on NBC and other networks Friday night, took an unexpected turn thanks to the outspoken rapper Kanye West. Appearing two-thirds through the program, he claimed “George Bush doesn’t care about black people” and said America is set up “to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off as slow as possible.”
The show, simulcast from New York on NBC, MSNBC, CNBC and Pax, was aired live to the East Coast, enabling the Grammy-winning rapper’s outburst to go out uncensored.
Story continues below ↓ advertisement
There was a several-second tape delay, but the person in charge “was instructed to listen for a curse word, and didn’t realize (West) had gone off-script,” said NBC spokeswoman Rebecca Marks.
As the show came to a close, host Matt Lauer noted that “emotions in this country right now are running very high. Sometimes that emotion is translated into inspiration, sometimes into criticism. We’ve heard some of that tonight. But it’s still part of the American way of life.”
In a statement, NBC said, “Kanye West departed from the scripted comments that were prepared for him, and his opinions in no way represent the views of the networks.
“It would be most unfortunate,” the statement continued, “if the efforts of the artists who participated tonight and the generosity of millions of Americans who are helping those in need are overshadowed by one person’s opinion.”
Lauer invited viewers to contribute to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund by phone or on the Web. Some 18 presenters performed musical numbers or gave information on the tragedy’s huge scope.
Louisiana native Tim McGraw teared up as he told Lauer, “I know the citizens that weren’t affected by this directly are gonna stand up and do good things for people.” He sang two songs, then became the first of the evening’s stars to sign a Gibson Les Paul Special guitar to be auditioned online.
Faith Hill, a Mississippi native, sang “There Will Come a Time,” with the inspiring lyrics, “The darkness will be gone, the weak shall be strong. Hold on to your faith.”
New Orleans son Aaron Neville performed Randy Newman’s soulful “Louisiana 1927” with the memorable chorus, “they’re trying to wash us away, they’re trying to wash us away.”
New York governor George Pataki presented the Red Cross with a check for $2.5 million and promised, “This great state will do far more.”
Make a bid on a unique Gibson guitar that is autographed by several celebrity stars. All funds will go go the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. Auction ends Friday, Sept. 9.
“In terms of property damage,” said actress Hilary Swank, “the estimate is at least $26 billion in insured losses and perhaps twice that in uninsured losses over a 90,000-square-mile area — approximately the size of Kansas.”
Other speakers included Lindsay Lohan, Eric LaSalle, Glenn Close, Richard Gere, John Goodman and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Comedian Mike Myers was paired with West for a 90-second segment that began with Myers speaking of Katrina’s devastation. Then, to Myers’ evident surprise, West began a rant by saying, “I hate the way they portray us in the media. If you see a black family, it says they’re looting. See a white family, it says they’re looking for food.”
While allowing that “the Red Cross is doing everything they can,” West — who delivered an emotional outburst at the American Music Awards after he was snubbed for an award — declared that government authorities are intentionally dragging their feet on aid to the Gulf Coast. Without getting specific, he added, “They’ve given them permission to go down and shoot us.”
After he stated, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people. Please call —” the camera cut away to comedian Chris Tucker.
The concert ended with the entire ensemble performed “When the Saints Go Marching In.”
Friday’s program was the first of several TV benefits planned through next weekend.
NBC and the five other major commercial broadcast networks, along with PBS, plan to unite next Friday for a special. The same night, BET will air a benefit. And on Saturday, Sept. 10, the MTV networks will air a special.
Mike was in no-mans-land. He was stuck on camera with nowhere to go. He looked like a deer in the headlights.
I am stunned by the length of time it took to start getting necessities to these people. Would aid have been shipped sooner if it was overseas? Seems so.
With that said, I don't think a benefit concert, to raise money for the victims, was the place to make a political statement.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9146525/
Updated: 10:33 p.m. ET Sept. 2, 2005
LOS ANGELES - It began, fittingly enough, with jazz from New Orleans natives Harry Connick Jr. and Wynton Marsalis.
But “A Concert for Hurricane Relief,” a heartfelt and dignified benefit aired on NBC and other networks Friday night, took an unexpected turn thanks to the outspoken rapper Kanye West. Appearing two-thirds through the program, he claimed “George Bush doesn’t care about black people” and said America is set up “to help the poor, the black people, the less well-off as slow as possible.”
The show, simulcast from New York on NBC, MSNBC, CNBC and Pax, was aired live to the East Coast, enabling the Grammy-winning rapper’s outburst to go out uncensored.
Story continues below ↓ advertisement
There was a several-second tape delay, but the person in charge “was instructed to listen for a curse word, and didn’t realize (West) had gone off-script,” said NBC spokeswoman Rebecca Marks.
As the show came to a close, host Matt Lauer noted that “emotions in this country right now are running very high. Sometimes that emotion is translated into inspiration, sometimes into criticism. We’ve heard some of that tonight. But it’s still part of the American way of life.”
In a statement, NBC said, “Kanye West departed from the scripted comments that were prepared for him, and his opinions in no way represent the views of the networks.
“It would be most unfortunate,” the statement continued, “if the efforts of the artists who participated tonight and the generosity of millions of Americans who are helping those in need are overshadowed by one person’s opinion.”
Lauer invited viewers to contribute to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund by phone or on the Web. Some 18 presenters performed musical numbers or gave information on the tragedy’s huge scope.
Louisiana native Tim McGraw teared up as he told Lauer, “I know the citizens that weren’t affected by this directly are gonna stand up and do good things for people.” He sang two songs, then became the first of the evening’s stars to sign a Gibson Les Paul Special guitar to be auditioned online.
Faith Hill, a Mississippi native, sang “There Will Come a Time,” with the inspiring lyrics, “The darkness will be gone, the weak shall be strong. Hold on to your faith.”
New Orleans son Aaron Neville performed Randy Newman’s soulful “Louisiana 1927” with the memorable chorus, “they’re trying to wash us away, they’re trying to wash us away.”
New York governor George Pataki presented the Red Cross with a check for $2.5 million and promised, “This great state will do far more.”
Make a bid on a unique Gibson guitar that is autographed by several celebrity stars. All funds will go go the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. Auction ends Friday, Sept. 9.
“In terms of property damage,” said actress Hilary Swank, “the estimate is at least $26 billion in insured losses and perhaps twice that in uninsured losses over a 90,000-square-mile area — approximately the size of Kansas.”
Other speakers included Lindsay Lohan, Eric LaSalle, Glenn Close, Richard Gere, John Goodman and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Comedian Mike Myers was paired with West for a 90-second segment that began with Myers speaking of Katrina’s devastation. Then, to Myers’ evident surprise, West began a rant by saying, “I hate the way they portray us in the media. If you see a black family, it says they’re looting. See a white family, it says they’re looking for food.”
While allowing that “the Red Cross is doing everything they can,” West — who delivered an emotional outburst at the American Music Awards after he was snubbed for an award — declared that government authorities are intentionally dragging their feet on aid to the Gulf Coast. Without getting specific, he added, “They’ve given them permission to go down and shoot us.”
After he stated, “George Bush doesn’t care about black people. Please call —” the camera cut away to comedian Chris Tucker.
The concert ended with the entire ensemble performed “When the Saints Go Marching In.”
Friday’s program was the first of several TV benefits planned through next weekend.
NBC and the five other major commercial broadcast networks, along with PBS, plan to unite next Friday for a special. The same night, BET will air a benefit. And on Saturday, Sept. 10, the MTV networks will air a special.
Comments
I can see Mike aka Wayne folding his hair behind his ears with both hands and saying exsquese me????
There could have been a little more foresight considering that they new well in advance that that storm was coming. It just goes to show you that if people place too much trust in government, this is what you get for your tax dollar. Finger pointing and chaos! The whole thing is sad but it looks as though things are starting to move forward anyway!
2¢
M.R.
FACT: :!: The initial aid offer from the our government ($35M) for the tsunami victims was such a joke that poor countries like Albania probably contributed more!!! It was not until leaders around the world, who were stunned by the small contribution, raised their voice that Bush decided to increase the tsunami aid to $350M. The size of contribution has to be measured by the particular country's GNP... To put things in perspective, we just got $600K from some poor African country to aid in recovery work in New Orleans!!! Not bad coming from one of the poorest countries in the world. Aid has been offered from other countries as well. Scandinavian countries offered specialized navy divers and aid specilists. Russia offered specialists as well. Actually MANY coubtries have offered help in one way or another. All turned down by our government.
With that said, the US has indeed done much good for the world, BUT what is the purpose of this poll anyway??? Don't forget the US is one of the wealthiest countries in the world and we can afford to help ourself as well as others. The rate at which help is initiated is tied to incompetent leadership, underestimating whet we're dealing with (not measuring up the urgency of the situation fast enough and making wrong assessments).
The situation would not have been as severe if the levies would have held up. Local government (the same people complaining about slow response in the aid effort) are the same that have neglected the warnings from specialists about the ability of the levies to hold a cat3. Anyway, that is a different story... Unfortunately, the experts were right
2¢
There are no hidden meaning behind it, and no agenda.
Help did arrive, but considering the conditions under which the work was done, well I think the failure happened even before the Katrina hit but ignoring expert advice that the levies would yield in a cat3. How do you aid when water is pouring into the the city, criminals are looting and shooting at rescue workers??? I am still surprised as to why our government has turned down offers from other countries to aid in search and rescue, draining, and general clean up. Latest thing I read was that the company responsible for collecting the deads is a TX based company with close ties to the Bush family and Bush campaign contributors. They have been getting quite an amount of critisism for how they have handled the job... It is sad when politics hampers the rescue effort of dying people.
Think this is just another example of government institution being caught off-guard without plans to handle situations like this. The same was the case for many of the coutries that had citizens in the tsunami areas in December.
But I missed the Mike Meyers part. Anyone have a link if it is online???
T
The scary thing is that FEMA is part of Homeland Security if I am not mistaken!!! Seems like they still have not learned squat as far as beurauCRAZY is concerned!!! Like any institution its all about power and the \"not invented here\" attitude from the \"bosses\" and leadership in general. The poverty problem became extremely transparent. Hopefully, someone will learn from this... But I doubt it