Every other year, broadcast and cable networks set aside their differences and come together for Stand Up To Cancer, a special launched by Katie Couric. This year’s special will, like everything else on television today, try to incorporate social media to allow viewers to connect. Stars from Jon Hamm and Rob Lowe to Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon will be taking part this year.
The 2014 hour-long special was announced last month and will be carried on ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox on Friday, Sept. 5. The live broadcast from Los Angeles will also be shown on Showtime, HBO, ESPNews, MLB Network, E!, Encore, Starz, TNT and other cable channels. It will even be carried by Canada’s major English networks.
According to the Associated Press, other stars that will take part this year include Pierce Brosnan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Halle Berry, Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Kiefer Sutherland and Eric Stonestreet. Instead of manning the phone bank, though, they will be connecting with viewers in a “digital lounge,” using social media platforms.
“We'll have plenty of stars reaching out to donors via social media, thanking them through Facebook messages, digital shout outs, Instagrams and tweets," Couric told the AP. "In other words, this year, we are so 2014!"
She added, “Instead of people calling in with the hope of talking to a celebrity, stars will be calling and sending social shout-outs to viewers at home.”
Dave Matthews, The Who, Jennifer Hudson, Ariana Grande and Common & Lupe Fiasco have signed on to perform.
SU2C helps raise funds for cancer research. The AP reports that since the 2008 program, $260 million has been pledged to the cause.
image courtesy of INFphoto.com